Frustrated filers emailed NBC Connecticut saying they've had more problems getting through to the Department of Labor by phone or email this week than ever before. The agency says it's all due to higher than usual demand.
One email read: "You can't access the website because of the server load... you wait on hold sometimes for 20 minutes before their system hangs up your call or tells you to call back in a few days."
Another email read: "Still can't get into unemployment lines. It's been three days."
"This week hasn't been typical," said Paul Oates, a spokesman for the Department of Labor. "It's the holidays, there's such a high claim load, and with continued extensions things are just growing and growing."
The delays prompted the agency to post a warning to consumers on its website.
The Department of Labor is now processing about 50 percent more claims now compared to this time last year, according to Oates. Also, the upcoming Christmas holiday may have prompted more people to try submitting claims Sunday or Monday, compared to typical weeks, said Oates. The agency is closed Thursday for a furlough day, and closed Friday for the holiday.
"We're catching up. You just have to keep trying," said Oates.
