The Employment Development Department said Friday it will open 25 offices statewide on Saturdays beginning today to help Californians use state phones and computers to file for unemployment insurance benefits.
EDD Director Patrick Henning announced the move after he and his department were criticized by Sen. Dean Florez, D-Shafter, who questioned whether "leadership at EDD" and Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger himself were properly prepared for surging unemployment in California.
"This department clearly has not been proactive in preparing for the type of worst-case scenario they are experiencing," Florez said. "It also speaks horribly about the level of planning in the Governor's Office. There's been no planning for contingencies, compared to other states."
EDD's Sacramento office at 2901 50th St. will open from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Staff will help the unemployed use phones or computers to file for unemployment benefits. Call centers will also be open for callers to file.
Henning said he decided to open the EDD offices on Saturdays because of the "extraordinarily difficult times" working families are facing. EDD staffers have volunteered to help, he said.
Good, but not enough, says Florez, who will co-chair a hearing into technology at EDD and its impact on the quality of public services. It will be the first of two hearings to examine how EDD has performed as state unemployment approaches 11 percent.
The Bee has reported how thousands of Californians have failed to reach EDD operators to file unemployment insurance claims by phone, despite dialing toll-free lines for days and weeks. Each call that fails to reach an operator results in the playing of a recorded message, and Verizon is paid 5 cents each time it plays.
Florez said that's an example of "poor planning" and his committee wants to hear from unemployed people who've been unable to get through.
"People who are simply trying to get their (UI benefit) money for their next mortgage payment," he said. "Taxpayers deserve some answers."
EDD and Acting Labor and Workforce Development Agency Secretary Doug Hoffner deny the administration was unprepared, saying officials have taken several steps to boost and improve services.
EDD's Henning said call volumes and claims for benefits are at record levels; twice as many people are filing for benefits compared to last year.
In January alone, EDD processed 525,000 initial claims that include regular UI and federal extended benefits.
Call The Bee's Andrew McIntosh, (916) 321-1215.
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