State Senator Aric Nesbitt is questioning a Michigan Unemployment Insurance Agency claim about how it’s been handing a backlog of filings during the CODID-19 pandemic. He tells WSJM News the UIA said this week it met its goal to make a determination on all currently eligible, certifying unpaid claims that were filed before May 1. Nesbitt says there’s no way that’s true.
“The statement that all unpaid claims from prior to May 1 have been resolved or that recipients have been contacted is yet another example of the blatant dishonesty coming out of this administration during this COVID-19 pandemic,” Nesbitt said.
Nesbitt says his office gets contacted all of the time by people who have been trying to get unemployment for months.
“Earlier this week, I think just Tuesday morning, multiple constituents who have been waiting since March and early April contacted my office regarding the news that the Unemployment Insurance Agency sent out, and they have still not heard from the Unemployment Insurance Agency in months, if at all.”
Nesbitt says the legislative Joint Select Committee on the COVID-19 Pandemic heard testimony this week from people who still can’t get claims processed. He does note at least one of those who testified did get their claim resolved right after. Nesbitt says someone shouldn’t have to testify before a legislative committee to get what they’re supposed to be getting. He has called for an audit of the UIA by the state’s auditor general.
