By Heart of Illinois ABC

BLOOMINGTON – People who’ve filed for unemployment benefits are starting to get their checks, although for many, the checks aren’t coming fast enough, State Rep. Dan Brady (R-Bloomington) said late Tuesday.

Brady hosted a conference call Tuesday night, with a panel of local economic leaders and representatives from his office talking about the frustrating process of applying for jobless benefits, business loans, and grants.

Brady said 73 people listened in on the conference call.

Brady said his office was “inundated” by phone calls in recent weeks as constituents found themselves unemployed or their small businesses closed after Gov. JB Pritzker’s directed residents to stay-at-home to slow the spread of the coronavirus.

The Illinois Department of Employment Security (IDES) was flooded by 500,000 claims for unemployment benefits. In a single week, from March 28 to April 4, IDES received more claims than all of 2018 or last year, Brady said.

“Finger-pointing isn’t going to get everyone their checks any sooner,” Brady said.

“So let’s work together to get people the help they need,” he added.

Brady reported the state agency overhauled its website, updated is phone system to increase its capacity by 40 percent, and also increased the IDES workforce. According to Brady, 173 state workers are answering phone calls, 273 employees are processing claims, while 93 people are working as administrative support staff, including in the mail room.

Brady represents the 105th Legislative District, which covers all of Normal, Bloomington’s east side, eastern McLean County, and parts of Livingston County, including Fairbury.

Heart of Illinois ABC can be reached at [email protected].