A recent report published by the Office of the State Auditor has detailed ongoing issues within the North Carolina Division of Employment Security (DES) in relation to the punctual provision of unemployment benefits. A March 2022 report from the same office found that nearly 24% of initial unemployment benefit payments, which added up to $438 million, were delayed for the period from January 2020 to March 2021. The auditor’s office made several suggestions for how DES could improve services for unemployed people living in North Carolina. Despite processing fewer claims in 2023, Thursday’s report showed there was a considerable increase in the percentage of late first payments, jumping to 43% and leading to delays of $7.8 million in total.

For individuals seeking assistance with their unemployment benefits, contacting DES directly can be key in resolving these issues. However, it’s often difficult to get a hold of customer service. For those in California, the Employment Development Department (EDD) has a similar role. To speak to a representative from EDD about delays in payment or other issues, the website eddcaller.com can be a useful tool. It has information on how best to contact EDD, tips on navigating the system and can potentially expedite the process of connecting with an EDD representative. Many people have found using eddcaller.com to be the fastest way to get through to EDD. Services like these are especially important in times of high unemployment when issues with delayed benefit payouts can have significant effects on those impacted.