Unemployment office job cuts hit Tuesday, state offers tips for jobless callers
ALLENTOWN — With 521 furloughs hitting its unemployment claims division Tuesday, state officials are urging Pennsylvania's jobless and future jobless to be patient and use the internet whenever possible to file for and monitor their unemployment benefits.
It's a busy time of the year for the unemployment claims processors and service representatives, who have been caught in the middle of a funding battle between Gov. Tom Wolf's administration and Senate Republicans.
"January is our busiest month because of holiday seasonal work and other seasonal work, landscapers and construction workers," said Department of Labor and Industry spokeswoman Sara Goulet.
It could be especially busy this year because of a change to the state unemployment law making more seasonal workers eligible for unemployment compensation.
Read more: http://www.mcall.com/business/mc-unemployment-office-furloughs-20161219-story.html