Unemployment applicant says she was on hold for 9 hours before hang up

RALEIGH, N.C. — Stephanie Jones is a nurse without a job.

Action 9′s Jason Stoogenke first interviewed her last week. She was applying for unemployment. or at least trying to.

“It’s not even loading when you try to go on the internet and you can’t get anybody on the phone,” she said at the time."

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Since then, Jones has been emailing Stoogenke almost daily:

“Been on hold now for an hour and 50 minutes."

“On hold again …”

“Bringing tears to my eyes”

“I have not worked since March 13th, and another week I will be without income.”

“Almost 3 weeks!”

And here was the biggest shocker: A few days ago, she told Stoogenke she was on hold more than nine hours in just one sitting. She showed him the screenshot of her call history.

Jones: "Nine hours and 10 minutes.”

Jason: “And then did you get through?”

Jones: “No, the phone rang like I was getting ready to be transferred to someone and it hung up.”

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Last week, the North Carolina Department of Commerce said it:

• Hired 50 more workers
• Shifted 100 people from another part of the department
• Outsourced to a private call center
• Bought more than 500 computers and other equipment
• Added computer servers
• Doubled printing and mail capacity

Then, during the Council of State meeting this week, N.C. Auditor Beth Wood offered up her staff to help take calls too.

"If there’s any way that you can use my very talented, educated staff, I’m offering all of us, myself included. I can answer a phone and take notes,” she said.

In the meantime, here are three things you should ask your boss if you lose your job:

1. When’s my last paycheck?
2. Do I get paid for vacation or sick time I didn’t use?
3. What happens to my benefits, like health insurance?

And do this: Get your reviews and a letter of recommendation just in case you end up having to get a new job.

Many continue to say they?re having trouble applying for unemployment Many continue to say they?re having trouble applying for unemployment

According to the North Carolina Department of Commerce, which runs the unemployment program, the fastest way to apply is online.

If you have questions, check this list of FAQs.

You can call, but it admits “long wait times.” So you may want to use this form instead.

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