Neb. starts processing Pandemic Unemployment Assistance claims

LINCOLN, Neb. — Friday marked a state holiday for Nebraska as Arbor Day was celebrated, but Governor Pete Ricketts said offices like the Department of Labor continues to work to get payments out to Nebraskans.

Labor Commissioner John Albin said 40,000 claims have been processed in March 8.

"Forty thousand out of 100,000 when you consider that that's basically a year's worth of case load in seven weeks is pretty good performance by our team," said Albin.

But, Albin said 13,000 claims were just started Thursday when the new software became operational.

Those are the people who did not apply for regular unemployment and instead qualify under the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance program.

Not counting those claims, the governor said the state's goal is get 75% of applications processed in 21 to 28 days. The previous goal had been 97%.

He said the department has gone from 34 adjudicators to 166 to make it happen.

Albin said he's also formed a task force aimed at looking for applications that may have been missed.