Frustration grows as people unemployed continue to face problems with unemployment applications

Some nurses are frustrated with unemployment amid long waits due to coronavirus pandemic

The nurse says she is still waiting for unemployment benefits.

PHOENIX - The Department of Economic Security is facing an unprecedented amount of claims for unemployment insurance as a result of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and the economic problems it is causing.

Officials say a record number of Arizonans need help. Meanwhile, many people who filed claims weeks ago are still waiting to be paid.

Nurses, meanwhile, are speaking out.

"I never even saw this coming. We were totally blindsided by it. I was just in shock," said Jamie Hess.

"I've been working for 31 years. I think the hardest part is that whole unemployment issue that I’ve never had to deal with," said Betty Bagwell.

Hess has been logging into the Arizona DES website daily. It's been more than three weeks since she filed for unemployment, and she said she has not received one update since.

"You get the debit card, you fill out that paper that you have to turn in, like, right away," said Hess. "I got mine the date that it was due, and then after that, you don’t hear anything else and you go on the website, there’s no update. It says you’re approved. It says what you’re gonna get, but there’s nothing there."

Hess says she can't even get a phone call answered, and knows a handful of nurses in the same situation.

"Light at the end of the tunnel basically a little bit of less of the unknown I guess," said Bagwell.

According to DES officials, nearly 420,000 people have been unemployed within the last five weeks, and it can take up to 21 days to get the benefits.

Like so many, this is new territory for Hess.

"I’ve never been through anything like this in my life. This is the first time I’ve ever been furloughed or laid off, and I’ve never applied for unemployment before," said Hess.

DES officials released a statement to FOX 10 that reads:

"Prior to COVID-19, there were approximately 120 staff across UI, including around 20 call center staff; now there are 430 employees total, with over 150 answering phone calls. We have also contracted with a private sector call center company to assist with the record-breaking call volume."

Hess is ready to get back to work, but as of now, shes behind on bills she needs to pay, and she's waiting for answers.

"I need money," said Hess. "I just can’t sit around anymore and sit by and wait for them to give me some kind of response, you know?"

Relief, however, could come in a different way for Hess, as on Wednesday, Gov. Ducey announced a resumption of elective surgeries on May 1, if certain requirements are met.

For people like Megan Juracek, who needs an ankle replacement, she knows she doesn't want to deal with ankle pain anymore.

"It’s basically destroyed at this point, so I’ve been trying to put this off as long as I possibly can," said Juracek.

Juracek is waiting for her surgeon's office to call, so that she can be rescheduled. She also knows with the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic staying for some time, she will remain patient.

"I don’t even have a surgery date at this point, so I’m hopeful, but I’m not crossing my fingers either. Once I have something on the books I’ll be very excited," said Juracek.

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