State Reps Grill IDES Officials

A joint committee of state representatives is hearing from officials from the Illinois Department of Employment Security. Committee members grilled IDES officials yesterday during a hearing over the agency’s lack of responsiveness to fraud and needed unemployment assistance. IDES Acting Director Kristin Richards says the agency is overwhelmed with about 20-thousand tasks per workday. Richards says response times vary depending on the issue. State representatives were also firm that personal contact by callers with an IDES employee are critical. Many residents have complained about long hold times or the inability to get through to officials.