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The state Department of Labor & Industry is working through glitches as it begins paying benefits for two unemployment programs to benefit those out of work because of COVID-19, following Congress’s reauthorization of the programs after they expired just before the end of last year.
“I understand how frustrating it is,” said acting Labor Secretary Jennifer Berrier. “Not everything has gone as smoothly as we wanted.”
The Pandemic Unemployment Assistance program and the Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation program ended Dec. 26, and the federal government didn’t complete its extension of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act that renewed them until the next day and then didn’t give states guidance for the renewal until Jan. 11, according to a department news release.