I suggest first thing Saturday morning. They start taking calls at 7:30 a.m. We got through on the 2nd call, and then had only an 18 minute wait for a claims specialist. Good luck everyone.

tg24...you are right. When it's their fault, they don't pay.
When it's YOUR fault, they collect.
Kind of like when the welfare office makes a mistake. If THEY make a mistake, they collect. When YOU make a mistake, they collect.
Either way, you're out.

It is a pain to get through...and you do have to straighten out your issues.

stacie, I wouldn't expect to get more than 2 weeks worth of your pay. They don't back pay, even when it's their fault. He better just keep dialing and hope he gets through. And in the mean time, look for other alternatives. There's no way they'll cut you a 3000K check. Sorry!

Getabike u obviously didn't read what I posted he is enrolled he has been filing since Nov 23 and they owe him more than 3000 dollars now another question they have could mean no check for another 6 weeks

Remember when Gov Doyle promised to get rid of 10,000 state jobs? He didn't reach that level, but he did get rid of a lot of state positions, even positions funded by federal grants like unemployment insurance. He was still preventing hiring employees when the economy started looking worse. It has only been recently that he has allowed hiring of employees, but it takes time for people to be trained for jobs. A little late, Gov Doyle!

omg! everyone is so right. i had to laugh, it took me and my husband both two days and continual dialing of a total of 245 calls to get thru and then a 45 minute wait and this was done on a cell, and that was twice as annoying.then do you know what the question was? they wanted to know if he was planning to go back to lsi. lol, he said they closed. now im very sure unemployment was aware of this, they were notified there was going to be a mass lay off, and that company was included. good luck to those of you who havent got thru yet, keep trying.

I hope those that need help via this system do get through and get the help they need.
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Remember this system/road blocks/red tape when you start thinking the Government should be in charge of Health Care.

nutty: if you're reopening a prior claim within a year of when you filed originally, then, yes, you are able to do so without having to make a phone call to speak with a representative... if it's been over a year since you're last claim, then you need to speak with a UI Claims specialist... my husband made that mistake of not calling, thinking that everything would automatically be set up by going on line... he waited for his check... luckily, this was prior to the 21 + day wait... a week passed, and no check... he called up to find out what why he hadn't received his payment... that's when we learned what the difference was... so, if anything, you were one of the lucky that was able to reopen an existing claim in opposition to having to file a new one...
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times are bad everywhere... let's just hope that we all can pull through it...

i have been trying to contact unemployment by phone,via e-mail with no success since my benefits started... they owe me money! go figure... all i can say is be patient . becuz geting bent out of shape wont help... apply for ur extensions a week early cuz it can take up to a month for them to kick in... and good luck job hunting everyone...!!!!!

With the high number of unemployed workers, the toll on their system must be staggering.
You'd think they'd be prepared for this. After all, they had advanced notice of the layoffs. It wasn't (poof) a surprise to them.
I'll admit, the process is anything but user-friendly.
Calling the legislators won't do any good. They are getting their paycheck. Remember, didn't the lawmakers get their, what was it, 5% raise?

Slow down and try try again eventually you'll hit something that helps.

Add 60+ workers from Hufcor as of Feb. being laid off. I wish all of the unemployed luck as it is a hassle for everyone. Im glad my taxes are done...

Ya know what's really fun? When they overpay you and then charge you five grand for their mistake.

stacie1017, first you have to enroll in the unemployment benefits program. Once you've completed that, you then have to file for a weekly benefit check. The manual will explain the steps involved as well.

After trying to file on line, I was notified I must speak with a claim specialist. It took a lot of patience and an entire day to finally get through. After getting thru, I only had to wait 45 minutes for a claim specialist. I'm not sure, but maybe I was lucky to get thru!

Not everything can be done online - somethings require actually talking to a human being and that has been IMPOSSIBLE!!!! It is sinful really. Pay bills??? There isn't even enough money for gas to get to the grocery store much less anything for bills. It would be better to be put on hold for an hour than to have to keep calling back over and over just to be hung up on.

I think what they are doing to everyone is not right. My husband has been filing since nov 23 and has yet to receive a check. Now another question that they have could mean no check for another 6 weeks. I'm so frustrated what are they going to pay our bills in the mean time? He has over 3000 coming this is so ridiculous. Thanks for letting me vent.

All these frustrated people that are having a hard time getting through to unemployment should contact WI's State Represenative's Office. What's happening with the unemployment phone lines is not right...........!!

Well, I had to get my husband all signed up--and it was so simple. It was a month ago..maybe that makes a difference--but I did it online-never had to call anyone--it took about 5 minutes. Very very simple. Now I just go online every Sunday, and a few clicks and its done. I do feel bad for anyone that doesnt have computer access. Remember, the Hedberg Public Library has computers to use as well.
Good luck!

even with filing your initial claim online, you still have to call a representative to complete the application process... either way, you'll have to use a phone to set up your claim...

I for one would rather work than be put through this. I too kept getting a message telling me to go online to find an answer to a question I had and if I couldn't find the answer there to call back. I couldn't find it, so I called back and somehow got into the same loop. I also tried a number on their website that turned out to be some advertising agency. It's criminal what they put us through.

It is virtually impossible to get through to a human being at unemployment. I know someone who tried over 40 times in one day and when the line wasn't busy and they were able to get through at all, when they finally got to the step where they were going to be able to talk to a person, they got a message telling them to go online and then said "goodbye" and hung up on them. Same person sent a letter late spring/early summer to try to clear up some over-payments and some shortage issues and that letter has never been acknowledged. This is a total mess and no one seems to care that besides the fact that this is BEYOND frustrating, people are going without needed money that they have coming to them and they are powerless to fix the situation by themselves.

hello more phone lines are needed not just the extra people it took me 2 weeks to get through to ask about an overpayment issue!! thank god i can file my claim on the internet!

They even hired extra people. The state needs to do something about this.

You cannot do everything via internet if you have questions.. I have tried for TWO WEEKS, starting at 7am.. Also if you fill out just one wrong thing via the internet-then you are denied and it takes up to TWENTY ONE days to receive a call back. Insane.

hey, someone is hiring.