Welcome to DU!
The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards.
Join the community:
Create a free account
Support DU (and get rid of ads!):
Become a Star Member
Latest Breaking News
General Discussion
The DU Lounge
All Forums
Issue Forums
Culture Forums
Alliance Forums
Region Forums
Support Forums
Help & Search
General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsHe Needs Jobless Benefits. He Was Told to Find a Fax Machine.
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/04/04/nyregion/coronavirus-ny-unemployment-benefits.htmlThousands of newly unemployed New Yorkers desperate to stay afloat are being frustrated by the states 1970s-era technology.
Mohammed Saiful Islam got a taste of how antiquated the technology that runs New York States unemployment-insurance system is when he had to go to a Staples store in the middle of a pandemic to fax his pay stubs to Albany.
Mr. Islam, a Lyft driver who lives in Queens and has been idled by the outbreak, is among more than 450,000 New Yorkers who have tried, often in vain, to apply for unemployment benefits in the past three weeks.
As he and many others discovered, the states archaic systems were woefully unprepared for the deluge of claims. In Mr. Islams case, he said it took him four days to reach someone who could explain what he had to do to complete the application process.
State officials admitted as recently as last summer that there were problems with the technology used for such applications, describing New Yorks unemployment-insurance systems as relics from the heyday of mainframe computers.
-----
Mr. Islam, who had never applied for jobless benefits in the 35 years since he immigrated from Bangladesh, said he was taken aback to hear that he had to find a fax machine to complete his claim.
But he put on a face mask and gloves and warily trudged off to a Staples store. Late this week, he was still waiting to hear how much he would receive, and when.
InfoView thread info, including edit history
TrashPut this thread in your Trash Can (My DU » Trash Can)
BookmarkAdd this thread to your Bookmarks (My DU » Bookmarks)
5 replies, 1035 views
ShareGet links to this post and/or share on social media
AlertAlert this post for a rule violation
PowersThere are no powers you can use on this post
EditCannot edit other people's posts
ReplyReply to this post
EditCannot edit other people's posts
Rec (9)
ReplyReply to this post
5 replies
= new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight:
NoneDon't highlight anything
5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
He Needs Jobless Benefits. He Was Told to Find a Fax Machine. (Original Post)
Demovictory9
Apr 2020
OP
DarthDem
(5,255 posts)1. Ridiculous
If we had a better tax base . . . sigh.
jimfields33
(15,793 posts)2. I thought NY had a decent tax percent to cover everything
One of the few states in fact.
HipChick
(25,485 posts)3. There are many free online fax servers
There is a boon right now for Cobol programmers..
Amishman
(5,557 posts)4. The fact that anyone still uses fax machines is depressing
Let alone a major state agency
Dinosaur technology should have gone the way of the telegraph years ago.
Cirque du So-What
(25,936 posts)5. Ironic statement
coming from you, AMISHman.