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3:23 p.m. • 2-8-12

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Web site glitch snags unemployment claims


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ESC office
ESC office

Technical problems with the state Employment Security Commission Web site will likely delay unemployment benefits for thousands of filers, but they will get paid, an agency spokesman said.

Andrew James said Monday afternoon that engineers have added an additional server to handle the increased traffic to the ESC site, which crashed Monday morning after nearly 130,000 people tried accessing it over a two-day period to file weekly benefits claims.



"We didn't know what the limits were, and I think we reached the limits," James said.

The true test of the upgraded system, he said, will be to see how the system holds up Monday evening and Tuesday.

Hundreds of people lined up outside the ESC office Monday morning in Raleigh, some looking for answers and hoping to file their claims in person.

"It's very frustrating, because it's the beginning of a new year, and everybody wants their money," said Tonya Leslie, who was laid off from a textile job she held for 10 years.

"How am I going to eat?" asked Claudine Winfree, who lost her restaurant job about three weeks ago. "I'm on a fixed income. I don't have the money. I can't get food stamps. We need this money."

Anyone trying to file a claim Monday has until 9 p.m. to access the system, he said. They can also call 800-372-3453 or 877-841-9617 (for initial claims).

James said the lines are open and working but that callers may experience delays getting through because of the overwhelming number of people trying to get through.

James said that about 23,000 people usually file on a Sunday or Monday. He attributes the increase to the state's 7 percent unemployment rate.

There are approximately 300,000 people in the ESC unemployment system. About $33 million in benefits is paid out weekly.

RELATED TOPICS: Raleigh, Job Losses

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If the employer is paying the premium, the employee pays it by default. What could be simpler than that?

"Most people don't seem to understand unemployment insurance. Each month, you pay unemployment insurance. If you think you don't, ask your employer and they will let you know exactly how much is being sent in on your behalf."

Yes, and I am entitled to my money, hence it is an entitlement.

No, unemployment is paid by the "employer," not the worker. Each employer's tax rate is assigned based on the rate schedule in force and his/her own experience. Experience includes length of liability, tax payments, wages paid, timeliness of payments, and benefit payments charged.

So - go ahead and ask your employer, they will explain it to you.

strawberry- "IF" what I said is true? I assure you it is, so IF YOU are telling the the truth, I'm glad you are surviving. And it sounds as though you are either independently wealthy or gainfully employed. If you know people who are cheating the system and do not report them, then you are no better than they are...just my opinion, of course. If I was one of the self righteous, judgemental jerks surfing the internet looking for sites where I could feed my egomaniacal appetite by unfairly criticizing people on this thread, I would assume that you are commenting while at work, thereby cheating your employer out of time, resorces and money, but since I'm not and I don't know your personal circumstances, I will take the high road here and assume you are a shift worker, or had the day off today. Afterall, wouldn't that make you the same as those cheaters you referred to? Stay well.

Strawberry, you should take your soap box to Washington and talk to them about Bank and Auto bailouts. That is where this problem started Wall street not Main st. btw..you can file your claim by phone if the website is down...very easy

MeredithOne said: "Just for everyone's info: the ESC site is working now."

Thanks for the info!! Just filed mine.

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