Calls in Texas for help with unemployment benefits rose 'to the millions' as result of coronavirus

A woman looks at the signs saying that the Workforce Solutions office is closed due to the Covid-19 outbreak, Wednesday, April 1, 2020, on Harrisburg in east Houston. Services are still available online and by phone, but the physical office is closed. less A woman looks at the signs saying that the Workforce Solutions office is closed due to the Covid-19 outbreak, Wednesday, April 1, 2020, on Harrisburg in east Houston. Services are still available online and by ... more Photo: Mark Mulligan Photo: Mark Mulligan Image 1 of / 1 Caption Close Calls in Texas for help with unemployment benefits rose 'to the millions' as result of coronavirus 1 / 1 Back to Gallery

Calls to the Texas Workforce Commission, which administers unemployment benefits, rose “to the millions” within a week, state officials said, as closures necessary to slow the spread of the virus leave hundreds of thousands of Texans out of a job.

ON HOUSTONCHRONICLE.COM: Everything you need to know about filing for unemployment in Texas

To help relieve pressure on the call centers, Texas launched an automated virtual assistant to help Texans sign up for unemployment insurance. The chatbot can answer common questions about the unemployment benefits process.

“Our top priority is to eliminate the backlog, get Texans registered and on the path to getting the benefits they need,” said Ed Serna, TWC executive director. "The sheer weight of the demand right now is unprecedented.”

The state has also hired new workers, reallocated staff from other departments and added new phone lines.

ON HOUSTON CHRONICLE.COM: Texas unemployment filings expected to surpass all of 2019 in matter of weeks