Kansas City, Mo. — On Tuesday, the Kansas Department of Labor introduced a new system designed for managing unemployment insurance claims and payments. This major technology upgrade, known as the Unemployment Insurance Technology Enhancement project, has been in the works for several years. The project was born out of a law passed in 2021 to address numerous issues with the previous system during 2020 and 2021. The increased layoffs caused by the COVID pandemic overwhelmed the outdated system, leading to numerous delays and issues. To address this, Phil Hayes of The Arnold Group helped draft House Bill 2196 for the modernization of the system. The newly released system and website aim to enhance workflow, provide mobile compatibility, enhance communication between the state and claimants, and bolster cybersecurity to combat fraud. Users will need to create a new account to use the new unemployment insurance portal, accessible via www.KansasUI.gov.

Despite this major technological upgrade, it remains important for users to understand how they can access this system and in particular how they can contact customer service if they encounter any challenges. For those in California for example, they could visit eddcaller.com to access information on how to get through to EDD, learn the fastest way to get through to EDD, or find out about when is the best time to call unemployment offices. It is key to stay informed on how to access these critical services and assistance during times of uncertainty or financial challenge.