Georgetown unemployment office overrun with claims

Lines of unemployed people snaked into the Georgetown Professional Building on Route 113 across from Wal-Mart. The Georgetown office of the Division of Unemployment Insurance was packed Tuesday, Jan. 6, as jobless workers waited hours – some all day – to file for unemployment insurance benefits.

Once inside, it was standing room only as job seekers filled six rows of chairs waiting for one of four clerks to process hundreds of applications.

Ronald Lewis is a 58-year-old Milton truck driver whose hours were reduced, he said. “I would just like to be doing my job making deliveries,” he said. Last January, when he filed for insurance benefits for the first time, Lewis said he was in and out of the office in 20 minutes. On Jan. 6, Lewis said he arrived at 7:30 a.m. By noon, he was still sitting on a stair reading the newspaper. “And, I’m just re-opening my claim,” he said.

Of the 13 agency workers in Georgetown, four are temporary employees, who began in July after the federal government added unemployment benefit extensions, said Tom MacPherson, director of the Delaware Division of Unemployment Insurance.

“With the unemployment rate increasing, all of our local offices are much busier than they have been,” MacPherson said. As new fiscal quarters approach, the office processes even more claims, he said. The unemployment department has four offices statewide. All have increased their temporary employees to meet increased claims, MacPherson said. “Everybody does a little bit of everything. Everyone is cross-trained,” said MacPherson. “Now, it’ll be all hands on deck, so to speak,” he said.

MacPherson said since the unemployment program is federally funded, there is no cost to the state. The agency also anticipates having enough money to pay unemployment benefits, at least for now, he said.

Precious Dorsey, 19, of Millsboro, is an out-of-work cashier. Waiting outside the office, she said, “I’ve never gotten seen yet. I’m just waiting. This is the first time I’ve filed for unemployment. I got laid off three days ago – by phone,” she said.

Harrington resident Gary Johnson got his pink slip on Dec. 30. He said he knew it was coming because, as a marine mechanic at G.N.J. Marine, work has tapered off.

Johnson said, “I got here at 8 and they’ve gone through 15 people in the amount of time I’ve been here. I was talking to somebody who said in the summer there were 30 people a day. Now, it’s like 150 a day.” He said he was told to bring a letter of intent to rehire from his job, pay stubs, a driver’s license and a Social Security card. Johnson considers himself lucky. He’s only 20 and he’s taking mechanics classes at Sussex Technical High School’s adult education program. Still, he said he needs gas money to get to classes. “Hopefully, I’ll find a part-time job,” he said.

One 60-year-old woman from Harbeson, who wished to remain anonymous, sat on the stairs reading a book. She clutched her number and said she had been waiting for three hours to file for unemployment. She said her hours working at a Rehoboth Beach outlet store were reduced after the holidays. “I’m down to nine hours this week. I averaged 30 hours a week before,” she said. “This is my retirement job until I can collect Social Security. At least I’m not in as bad shape as the other people,” she said.

How to file for unemployment benefits

To be eligible for unemployment benefits, an individual must have a work history, be able to work, available to work and actively seeking work, and register for work with the division of employment and training unless exempt by law.

Visit the nearest unemployment insurance claims office and bring proof of name, address, Social Security card. You may substitute information with W2 or pay stub with name and Social Security number on it, along with a picture identification card. Veterans who have served within the past 18 months must present DD 214 (Member 4) form to file for benefits and reason for job loss.

The Division of Unemployment Insurance Office is located across from Wal-Mart on Route 113 at 600 N. Dupont Highway, Suite 207, Georgetown. For more information, call 800 794-3032.