DEPARTMENT OF LABOR AND INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS
DAVID Y. IGE
GOVERNOR
SCOTT T. MURAKAMI
DIRECTOR
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 10, 2020
STATE ANNOUNCES REVISED UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE INFORMATION
State Has Issued $803,200,377 in Benefits Since March 1
HONOLULU — The Department of Labor and Industrial Relations (DLIR) announced newly-revised numbers that more accurately reflect the progress made in assisting unemployment insurance claimants as well as accurately diagnosing the scope of the outstanding claims yet to be processed.
“Eighty-eight percent (88%) of the valid unemployment insurance claims that have come in since the beginning of the COVID-19 shutdown have been processed and paid out by the DLIR. We sincerely appreciate people’s patience and wanted the public to know the scope of the remaining issues as well as the scope of the incredible progress made,” said Deputy Director Anne Perreira-Eustaquio.
| No. of claims filed statewide: | 228,367 |
| No. of invalid claims filed statewide: | – 65,567 |
| No. of valid claims awaiting claimant to verify: | – 14,612 |
| No. of valid claims requiring DLIR action | 148,188 |
|
No. of claims paid: |
130,536 |
| No. of claims requiring DLIR action 6/9/20 | 17,652 |
The Department has worked to hone and refine unemployment insurance data to more strategically target those with pending claims as well as to evolve processing operations, including at the Hawaii Convention Center and Hawaii State Library.
“Our unemployment insurance operations continue to evolve as we work to address the remaining claims as well as the newly filed claims more strategically and quickly,” noted Deputy Director Anne Perreira-Eustaquio. “We are very grateful of all the state employees that have volunteered to help with this unprecedented situation as well as our hard-working DLIR staff.”
The Department’s operations continue to evolve including the following common issues:
- Incorrect deposit information supplied by claimants,
- No weekly certifications filed by claimants,
- Claim backdate issues,
- Separation from work that requires investigation,
- Claimants that have filed multiple claims, and
- Failure to create a username and password in the claimant online portal.
Like all States, Hawaii’s Department of Labor and Industrial Relations initially struggled to keep up with the unprecedented increase of unemployment insurance claims. Hawaii’s recent, typical average claims load of 20,000 spiked to 228,367 over the course of just a few weeks.
For more information about unemployment insurance and other labor issues please visit: https://labor.hawaii.gov/covid-19-labor-faqs/.
Equal Opportunity Employer/Program
Auxiliary aids and services are available upon request to individuals with disabilities.
TDD/TTY Dial 711 then ask for (808) 586-8866
# # #
View DLIR news releases:
https://labor.hawaii.gov/blog/category/news/
Media Contact:
Bill Kunstman
Department of Labor and Industrial Relations
[email protected]
https://labor.hawaii.gov
