LAS VEGAS (KTNV) — Software bugs and long processing times. Frustration continues to build as many out of work Nevadans spend countless hours applying for their pandemic unemployment assistance claims.
“It was pretty frustrating. I kept on taking deep breaths saying you need this money and you need this help.”
Libby Peterson is one of the tens of thousands of Nevadans who filed for pandemic unemployment assistance. She says it took four and a half hours to file her initial claim Because of issues she had with the website. She says it would delete what she typed and even rejected her banking routing number after putting it in several times.
“Had to back up and get it to accept that and it’s Wells Fargo, so it’s a national bank,” she said.
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Peterson feels there should have been more beta-testing before the launch of the website, By Having an engineer go through the steps users would.
“Oh did I do this right? Oh, I entered something different,” Peterson said.
Peterson says people should try filing their claims online instead of over the phone to avoid long wait times. Filers should have their tax documents ready to go to upload to the computer.
List of resources for Nevadans during coronavirus pandemic
“Get your paperwork together. You need your 2018 W-2’s and 1099s and 2019 W-2’s and 1099s,” she said.
There’s even a dedicated Facebook group for filing PUA claims in Nevada. On their page you will find people helping each other as they navigate through the system. Peterson says her claim was successful and says there’s a light at the end of the tunnel for others filing.
“Just be patient. Mark out an afternoon,” she said.
The Department of Employment, Training and Rehabilitation says, Peterson’s online frustration isn’t a trend they’ve seen. They are however working with their vendor to determine the root cause of the issue. DETR reports more than 45,000 p-u-a claims have been successfully filed so far.
DETR says you will be able to file weekly claims beginning this Saturday online.
