A "glitch" in Tennessee's unemployment system left about 8,000 people unable to certify for their weekly benefits or facing denied certifications over the weekend, according to the Tennessee department of labor.
Unemployed Tennesseans scheduled to certify their claims on Sunday reported that the requirements for certification had inexplicably changed, requiring them to show that they completed three separate job searches, a step that was previously modified to offer other options due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
When applicants were unable to enter this information or entered information incorrectly, many saw their claims denied. The week ending July 25 was the last week that Tennesseans were eligible to receive the $600 federal unemployment supplement, funds which will be included in benefits paid this week following successful certification. The glitch, which could cause "short" delays in payments, also falls on the last week of the current month, when rent for the coming month is typically due.
'Nothing's certain anymore': Some Tennesseans struggle with delayed unemployment payments
The Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development stated it was aware of the glitch around 9:20 a.m. Sunday in a department Facebook post. The issue was resolved by 2:45 p.m., the department reported in a separate post, and the unemployment office has been working with the system's vendor to identify and correct each claim affected since.
"The issue was corrected by late morning and the vast majority of claimants scheduled to certify on Sunday were able to do so," Chris Cannon, the department's spokesman, stated in an email to The Tennessean.
To receive unemployment benefits, unemployed Tennesseans must file certifications each week. Due to the overwhelming number of Tennesseans currently receiving unemployment benefits, the Tennessee department of labor now assigns certification to specific weekdays based on the final digit of an applicant's social security number. The glitch only affected those who certified Sunday morning, according to the department.
Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, Tennessee's unemployment system required three job searches to be completed each week, but these requirements were modified in light of the pandemic, which has left several thousand workers facing furloughs or drastically reduced hours at their existing jobs and reduced the number of jobs available in the labor market.
The COVID-19 modifications to job search requirements are still in effect, according to Cannon. Work to identify claims impacted by the error in the state's unemployment system began Sunday afternoon.
"Most claimants should only experience a short delay in receiving their weekly benefit payments," Cannon stated.
What to do if this impacted you
If you were unable to certify Sunday:
People who were unable to certify on Sunday and did not have issues with their certification being denied can complete their certification between Wednesday and Saturday at any time, according to Cannon.
If your certification was denied:
Those who submitted their certifications Sunday and were denied do not need to take any action. Many claims that were denied due to the glitch have already been corrected, and the system should be able to identify and correct the remaining claims to pay the weekly benefit, Cannon stated.
If you appealed the denial of your certification:
The department of labor and the unemployment system's vendor are working to identify appeals filed Sunday for claims denied due to the glitch. The department and vendor will correct those claims.
"The goal is to identify claims impacted by the system error, either by denial or appeal, and pay them as quickly as possible," Cannon stated.
Reach Cassandra Stephenson at ckstephenson@tennessean.com or at (731) 694-7261. Follow Cassandra on Twitter at @CStephenson731.
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July 28, 2020 at 08:10PM
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'Glitch' in TN unemployment system impacts thousands: What to do if your claim was affected - Tennessean
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