CINCINNATI (WKRC) - State officials are acknowledging Ohio's system for unemployment claims is overwhelmed.
The phone number is busy constantly and the website crashes. Lt. Gov. Jon Husted says on Tuesday alone more than 400,000 contacts were made to the website.
"We have problems at the local level, perhaps where the person is connected in, but the team reassures me they're putting every effort into this they can. We are working overtime at it. We're bringing every human capability that we have to the technology that's available," Husted said.
In Kentucky, there is some good news for people who are either self-employed, independent contractors, freelancers, substitute teachers or child care workers for religious groups: These groups are now being allowed to get unemployment.
During his news conference Wednesday, Gov. Andy Beshear talked about the importance of this switch.
"We know there's going to be a lot more filing. If you get a busy signal or it takes a little longer, have patience with us. This is us doing everything we can to cover every person we can and to take what was an unfair system because of the coronavirus and to turn it into something that can help everyone," Beshear said.
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