Jobless soon can file their claims on Internet

Mathis Winkler

Monday, Oct. 22, 2001 | 9:50 a.m.

Laid-off Nevadans should be able to file unemployment claims over the Internet by January.

Currently all claims have to be filed over the phone. Many people who lost their jobs in the wake of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks have complained about long waits as state officials have scrambled to handle a doubled load of claims.

The Internet filing option, which is funded by a $500,000 grant from the federal government, should have been up and running by now, said Birgit Baker, administrator of the state's employment security division.

But since people who file claims will tap into the state's computer system, some security issues still have to be worked out, Baker said.

She added that states that already use the Internet filing system have seen 20 percent to 40 percent drops in phone claims.

"It would be a huge advantage for us and the customers," Baker said. "And there will be no wait times."

People who don't have Internet access will be able to use computers at the state's JobLink offices, where state employees will also be able to help them file a claim, Baker said.

State officials have handled almost 32,000 unemployment claims since the terrorist attacks and fielded calls from more than 29,000 people seeking information.

The also assisted about 3,000 laid-off workers at two support centers in Las Vegas and Henderson that were set up after the attacks, Baker said.