ANNAPOLIS, Md. — Chairwoman Kelley, Chairman Guzzone and Senate Chair of the Joint Committee on Unemployment Insurance Klausmeier have sent a letter to the Governor and Secretary of the Maryland Department of Labor following the hearing held on Tuesday regarding Unemployment Insurance.
The letter, addressed to Governor Larry Hogan and Secretary Tiffany Robinson from the Maryland Department of Labor detailed more than a dozen issues that Marylanders stated they're facing with the program.
Claimants had just two minute during the hearing to summarize the days and hours spent trying to reach the Maryland Division of Unemployment Insurance.
Some shared how they’re facing eviction, struggling to support their families, and stopped buying critical medications because they have no money coming in and can't get an answer on when they’ll receive their benefits.
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"The committees are requesting an update on any plans developed or being developed to address the issues identified in the hearings held this week as well as the ability of the Department to make changes to the process as suggested above (including a time table for implementation)," the letter reads. "In particular, we are concerned about the general inability for Marylander’s to reach a live person who is able to assist them with identifying and resolving their specific issues in the new BEACON system, and would like an update on the Department’s plans to increase staffing and provide appropriate training to new and reassigned employees."
The full letter can be read below:
