30,000 people still in limbo even as ESD meets deadline to resolve backlog of claims

OLYMPIA, Wash. — Jacquelyn Copley of Auburn is a single mother of three. So with the additional stress of unemployment, you can just imagine how difficult this pandemic has been for her.

"I've cried about this. I've screamed about this. I can't even begin to tell you how frustrated I am. I feel like no one cares," said Copley.

She was laid off in March from the school district, where she had worked as a substitute teacher for the last five years. She immediately filed for unemployment.

>> Related: State says it will meet deadline for some workers’ unemployment benefits, others still waiting

And though she received an initial payment of $254, her payments stopped when the state needed to verify a second job she held last summer. Her case is currently being appealed.

She shared her story as the Employment Security Department is declaring success in meeting Operation 100%, reporting that it met its July 31 deadline to resolve a backlog of claims. It's important to note that resolving claims does not mean everyone has received their money. And it still leaves more than 30,000 people in limbo, desperately waiting for money.

"I'm not declaring 'mission accomplished.' I am declaring 'milestone met,' and we will move on and focus on the other priority cohorts now," said ESD Commissioner Suzi LeVine.

LeVine said the goal was to clear a backlog of a specific group of cases by the end of Friday. That was a group of 81, 508 people who had applied for unemployment between March 8 and June 18. The other goal was to reduce the average time to process claims down from seven to four weeks.

"It's allowed us to accelerate speed to which we are resolving issues. And will help us get through the backlog of those who have received some form of payment," LeVine added.

It's little comfort for Copley, who has depleted her savings.

"I have paid into unemployment for most of my adult life. And the one time I'm using it and need it, it's not there for me. And it's not just not there for me. It's not there for four months. That's unconscionable," Copley said.

The state reported more than 900,000 people had received $8.6 billion in benefits since the pandemic started.

Cox Media Group