Audit Looks at Delay in Processing Unemployment Claims at Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development

Wednesday, December 16th, 2020 -- 10:16 AM

(AP) -The Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development was responsible for 11 of the 13 weeks it took, on average, to process unemployment claims filed since the coronavirus pandemic began, according to an audit released Monday.

The nonpartisan Legislative Audit Bureau report looked at a sample of nearly 270 people who had filed claims between March 15 and April 11 but who had not received payment as of June 20, the Wisconsin State Journal reported.

The delay in processing claims has led to intense criticism from Republicans who control the Legislature and place the blame with Democratic Gov. Tony Evers’ administration.

Evers replaced the head of the agency, while officials said an unprecedented number of claims and GOP-authored unemployment laws contributed to the delays and exacerbated delays.

Workforce Development transition director Amy Pechacek said in a written response to the audit that the agency does not dispute that the pandemic and increased workload caused delays in processing claims.

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