“Now more than ever we need our state department to make this right," Joseph Zinder said about applying for benefits.

Joseph Zinder tried the hotline, the chat feature and email. He even sent in a handwritten letter. Nothing.

Zinder, like many Michigan residents, is struggling to navigate the state’s application process for unemployment benefits. A system designed to handle thousands of claims is being asked to service hundreds of thousands of newly unemployed residents struggling to make ends meet in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic.

That system has crumpled under the stress.

“Unfortunately I am at the wrong end of this thing, just like many others,” Zinder said. “It is unfortunate for many that we are not getting through. Hopefully they figure out how to field more of our calls and messages so people can continue some financial stability.”

Zinder filed his initial claim March 22. He has yet to receive a single check and is struggling to even connect with a representative.

“Our lifestyles as we know them are going to rapidly change as this situation unfolds,” he said. “Now more than ever we need our state department to make this right.”

Courtney Dunbar has been out of work for more than a month. The Carleton resident filed for unemployment March 15, and the initial process was fairly straightforward.

“It took a while because I have had many part- time jobs,” she said. “So I had to go through and it was complicated about what day did (I) quit, what day did (I) start, why did (I) quit, all this and that. Once I was able to get through that, it was generally pretty easy online, but the calling and getting a hold of an actual person is nearly impossible.”

Dunbar has spent the past three weeks calling hundreds of time a day, waking up at 8 a.m. every day and spending hours on hold just to never reach a live person.

“It’s definitely been really frustrating,” she said. “It’s been over a month and I haven’t been paid at all, and I haven’t been able to get a hold of anybody.”

Eventually the system will begin flowing and those waiting for money will experience at least a modicum of relief, but until then, it’s important for those experiencing financial struggles to utilize the other tools at their disposal beyond the state’s floundering unemployment system.

Monroe County Business Development Corp. (BDC) President and CEO Tim Lake has been mostly observing the state of the local economy from the perspective of local employers, but he said a lot of the same advice he’d give to small business owners applies to their employees.

“(They need to) get with their landlord, get with the bank or mortgage company and let them know (they’re) under duress,” Lake said. “Stop those payments ... get with the utilities, which is another typically large monthly payment and kind of stop that or slow it down, do whatever program they have available ... What cash you do have, really those resources need to concentrate around food.”

Along with the eventual unemployment checks, most people also will be receiving their stimulus checks from the government in the next few weeks. Lake urged people to spend that cash wisely.

“Be smart with that money when it does start flowing,” he said. “Don’t be stupid with it.”

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