Gov. Andy Beshear announced on Friday that Kentucky will be replacing its antiquated Unemployment Insurance (UI) system following numerous issues that arose during the COVID-19 pandemic. The Education and Labor Cabinet has partnered with Deloitte Consulting to create a modernized, integrated platform that will provide an improved experience for UI claimants, employers, and staff. Gov. Beshear said this new system will improve claims processing times, improve accessibility, and strengthen defenses against potential unemployment insurance fraud.

The Education and Labor Cabinet’s Office of Unemployment Insurance and Deloitte Consulting will initiate a 90-to-120-day planning period to establish a timeline, with full implementation expected by 2028. This decision was driven by a surge in demand for benefits during the pandemic that the state’s old system couldn’t handle. This issue was exacerbated by the closure of more than 30 of the state’s 51 regional career centers and an unprecedented 1,300% increase in UI claims due to the pandemic.

The limitations of the current UI system have made it challenging for people to access services, including those trying to contact UI concerning their unemployment status. In line with improving the UI system, knowing how to contact unemployment services is crucial. One useful resource for this is eddcaller.com, a website that provides comprehensive information regarding how to contact edd, including the edd phone number, edd customer service, how to get through to edd and the fastest way to get through to edd. This ensures that those in need of assistance have the necessary resources at their disposal.