Weekly jobless claims in Delaware are still totaling more than $8.8 million a week, the Delaware Department of Labor reported last week.
The Delaware Department of Labor has received more than a quarter of a million unemployment claims since the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Since the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic, the Labor Department has paid out $1.4 billion in jobless benefits. Nearly $1.1 billion has been paid out of federal funds, with the remainder from the state jobless insurance fund.
Extended employment benefits will cease at the end of August. The extended benefits have been blamed for a labor shortage that has developed during the recovery from Covid-19.
More than three-quarters of unemployment compensation payments have been via direct deposit, with the remainder via debit cards and only two percent by check.
Delaware has been dealing with a surge in fraudulent unemployment claims, with employers receiving notice that individuals who never worked at the business or nonprofit filing a claim. In other cases, fraudsters have used the names of Delaware residents in filing attempts.
“DOL is taking a number of steps to stem fraudulent activity, and we ask for the public’s continued cooperation as we get legitimate claims paid as quickly as possible.” said state Secretary of Labor Karryl Hubbard.
Call the numbers below to report fraud attempts:
- Claimant Fraud – 302-761-8397.
- Employer Fraud – 302-761-8482
Other information
- Total claims paid (Week Ending 8/7/21) = $8,832,476
- Total claims received (8/1/21 – 8/7/21) = 659
- Total claims received (3/15/20 – 8/7/21) = 260,040
- Total Pandemic Unemployed Assistance (PUA) claims ceceived (since 5/16/2020) = 15,129
- Total PUA claims paid (since 5/16/2020) = 9,161
- Payments made for PUA claims (since 5/16/2020) = $156,454,580
