As thousands of South Carolinians watch their mailbox for their unemployment check, the Employment Security Commission is scrambling to remedy an ongoing computer problem. Officials say the software cannot handle the hard times we currently face.
"Maybe we haven't done the best job all the time, but it's not due to a lack of effort,” says Clark Newsom, spokesperson for the ESC. "When you're trying to deal with as many people as we are, unemployment now at 12%, there's gonna be some problems."
To hopefully address those problems, South Carolina is now part of a four-state consortium. The group has received a 10-million dollar grant for a feasibility study. The study will determine if it is realistic to create a new benefits computer system for all four states, which include South Carolina, North Carolina, Georgia and Tennessee.
"Once the feasibility study is done, we'll be eligible to apply for a 50-million dollar grant for the new hardware and software needed to put that in place, said Newsome. Newsome said state lawmakers will also have a part to play in this new strategy. When the legislature reconvenes in January, it will expect commissioners to answer important questions, according to Democratic Senator John Scott.
"Will this system help us for both short term and long term planning? We will have some say in terms of whether or not this thing will fit the need."
Scott says with the state having already borrowed over 50-million from the federal government to extend benefit checks, he hopes the new plan will pay off.
"If that will open up for training and retraining with employers and allow employees the chance to opt in and do different things, it could be a good system."
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