PHOENIX — The Arizona Department of Economic Security paid out more than $519 million last week to adults qualifying for unemployment funds.
The massive release of funds comes as Arizona and the nation remain in the worst unemployment hole since the Great Depression.
By comparison, the state paid just over $160 million in unemployment dollars the previous week. The reason for the sharp increase is due to the federal Pandemic Unemployment Assistance program, which is now being administered by the state.
PUA applies to Arizonans who are self-employed, freelancers or independent contractors. $355 million was paid from PUA funds.
State House Representative Mitzi Epstein, D-Tempe, has been tracking Arizona's unemployment crisis closely and how the state is responding. Epstein was critical of how the state initially responded to unemployment claims during the first few weeks of the crisis but says she has seen a vast improvement.
“A light switched. progress is definitely happening,” said Epstein. “People are contacting us to say, 'The money is in my bank account.' They are saying the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance checks are starting to come through.”
But many Arizonans are still waiting for their first unemployment check.
Krystal White works in food services at Grand Canyon University. White was paid with vacation time when she was initially laid off, and her case is in the hands of an adjudicator.
“This is my eighth week filing a claim and so I’m trying to borrow money here and there and trying to pay my bills,” White said.
DES told White she should have answers within the next two weeks.
“If you haven’t had success, keep plugging away, keep filing every week,” Epstein said, in regards to Arizonans who have not seen their claims successfully processed. “if you still have problems, contact your legislator.”
