Nevada unemployment applicants share frustration as wait for benefits continues

LAS VEGAS (KSNV) — People vented their frustration with the unemployment system outside a state government building in Las Vegas Monday morning, saying they still have not received their benefits.

Nevada's Pandemic Unemployment Assistance program, or PUA, began taking weekly filing applications for benefits on May 23. PUA covers contract and gig workers and those who are self-employed, workers not covered by standard unemployment insurance.

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A spokesperson for DETR said last week that payments for those without pending program eligibility issues on their claims began rolling out Wednesday, May 27, and weekly claims would be processed in the order received.

Tabitha Asare was among several people standing outside the Grant Sawyer building north of downtown Las Vegas on Monday. She held a sign and wore a face mask that said "STILL NOT PAID."

"We don't have a sure date of when we're gonna get paid, and we just really need to get paid," Asare said, adding that she's been up day and night researching everything related to the unemployment system.

DETR's adjudication center for PUA was scheduled to start Monday, though multiple people have reported to News 3 they couldn't reach someone when calling the number.

News 3 has requested a comment from DETR on the adjudication center and will update once we hear back.