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>> THAT'S RIGHT. THE DEPARTMENT OF UNEMPLOYMENT ASSISTANCE HELD ITS FIRST ONLINE TOWN HALL SUNDAY AND THE ISS MOST OFTEN RAISED, I'VE FORGOTTEN MY PASSWORD, AM LOCKED BY PHONE. SINCE THEN, WE'VE RECEIVED MANY EMAILS WITH THE SAME COMLAINT ONE EMAILER WROTE, "HUNDREDS OR THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE LIKE MYSELF ARE UNABLE TO FILE FOR UNEMPLOYMENT UNTIL WE'RE ABLE TO GET A HUMAN ON THE PHONE TO UNLOCK OUR ACCOUNT ASSOCIATED WITH OUR SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER BECAUSE CAN'T REMEMBER A PASSWORD FROM OVER 10 YEARS AGO. ANOTHER WROTE, "IT RECOGNIZED MY SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER AND PROMPTED ME TO LOG IN. UNFORTUNATELY, I DO NOT REMEMBER MY PASSWORD. RIGHT NOW, I AM NOT GETTING ANY INCOME DUE TO NOT BEING ABLE TO FILE A CLAIM THROUGH UNEMPLOYMENT. 5 INVESTIGATES CONTACTED THE UNEMPLOYMENT OFFICE, AND THEY TOLD US THEY RECENTLY POSTED NEW INSTRUCTIONS ON HOW TO RESET A PASSWORD ONLINE. IT'S ON THEIR COVID-19 UNEMPLOYMENT WEBSITE. IT TAKES Y THOUGH THE PROCESS STEP-BY-STEP. WE'VE POSTED THAT ONLINE. BUT, THERE ARE ARE STILL PEOPLE WHO WILL HAVE TO SPEAK WITH SOMEONE BY PHONE.FOR EXAMPLE, IF YOU HAVE AN OLD CELL PHONE NUMBER ON FILE. AND, IN THAT CASE, YOU STILL WILL HAVE TO MAKE A REQUEST FOR A CALL BACK THROUGH AN ONLINE FORM. THERE WERE ONLY 50 PEOPLE STAFFING THE CALL CENTER THAT HAS BEEN SWAMPED WITH TENS OF THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE MAKING CLAIMS THE ATTORNEY GENERAL HAS CALLED FOR INCREASED STAFFING AND THE ADMINISTRATION TELLS US THEY ARE WORKING ON IT.IF YOU WOULD LIKE INSTRUCTIONS GO TO OUR MOBILE APP AND FIND THIS STORY.

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The coronavirus-driven rush for unemployment benefits continues and so does the frustration for many newly jobless people who have tried but failed to put in their claims through the state online system.When the Department of Unemployment Assistance held its first online town hall Sunday, there was one roadblock mentioned more than any other: What do you do if you can't remember your password from a previous unemployment claim?Since then, WCVB has received many emails with the same complaint. One emailer wrote, "Hundreds or thousands of people like myself are unable to file for unemployment until we're able to get a human on the phone to unlock our account associated with our social security number because we can't remember a password from over 10 years ago."Another wrote, "It recognized my social security number and prompted me to log in. Unfortunately, I do not remember my password... Right now, I am not getting any income due to not being able to file a claim through unemployment."5 Investigates contacted the unemployment department and they told us they recently posted new instructions on how to reset a password online. They gave us a link to instructions on their website that will take you through the process step-by-step.But there are still people who will have to speak with someone online, particularly those who have an old cell phone number on file with the unemployment office from a previous claim. Those people will have to make a request for a call back through an online form.Prior to the virus outbreak, there were only 50 people staffing the call center that has now been swamped with tens of thousands of people trying to file claims. Attorney General Maura Healey has called for increased staffing and Gov. Charlie Baker’s office told us they are working on it. For more information on how to file a claim and reset your password, CLICK HERE to learn more.