ELLY GRIMM
• Leader & Times
The need for upgrades to the state’s unemployment insurance benefits system has been a major topic of conversation for a long time and recently, some work took place to help with just that.
Gov. Laura Kelly, joined by Kansas Secretary of Labor Amber Shultz, announced last Friday the launch of the Kansas Department of Labor’s (KDOL) new online system for unemployment insurance (UI) benefits. The system is available through KansasUI.gov.
Gov. Kelly prioritized enhancing KDOL’s outdated unemployment system and emphasized the need for a comprehensive upgrade to improve performance and reliability in a release from the State of Kansas.
“The upgrade is the culmination of a three-year project to modernize our state’s UI system,” Gov. Kelly noted in the State of Kansas release. “The new system will transform the experience of Kansans who need UI benefits as well as the employers and state agencies who use the system. I commend KDOL for working through this process to improve service for all Kansans. The current system was established in the late 1970s, and it has greatly struggled to keep pace with the advances in modern technology and the demand for services. Because of its age, issues have included slow processing times, frequent technical glitches, and difficulties handling high claims volumes. These problems led to delays in benefits and frustration among claimants. These challenges were made even more significant during the COVID-19 pandemic. Kansans applying for unemployment benefits will notice that the upgraded system uses easy-to-understand language and a modern interface. The system also offers more robust self-service options so claimants can file online and at their own pace, decreasing their need to call the UI Contact Center. Employers will find enhanced reporting capabilities and an improved interface. Both claimants and employers will appreciate heightened security measures to decrease fraud.”
The launch of the Unemployment Insurance Technology Enhancement (UITE) project is a win for Kansas because it demonstrates the state’s dedication to responsive and effective workforce support, the State of Kansas release continued.
“Launching KansasUI.gov demonstrates KDOL’s commitment to providing superior services,” Shultz noted in the State of Kansas release. “We know adapting to the new system will take a little time, but we are confident that users will have a good experience, and our team is ready to respond to issues quickly and continue to improve. KDOL communicated these changes to Kansas employers and current claimants through its website, email, social media, mail, and the news media. The agency sent 9,000 emails to active claimants and employers, mailed 80,000 postcards to employers, and emailed state agencies and legislators about the upgrade and to educate them about how to assist Kansans who have questions about the process. Human resources staff from across the state also had the opportunity to join a webinar hosted by the agency to learn about the UITE.”
Claimants must set up an account with the new system and can find FAQs, tutorial videos, and other resources available through dol.ks.gov/unemployment/overview
Shultz added efforts to ensure the best service for Kansans will be ongoing.
“We thank our partners at Tata Consultancy Services for their work in designing a vastly improved UI system for Kansas and helping us implement it in record time. We are also grateful to Gov. Kelly and the Kansas Legislature for their support and, of course, to members of our KDOL team who have worked tirelessly to help implement and communicate the changes,” Shultz noted in the State of Kansas release. “However, we know our task isn’t complete because maintaining the efficiency and reliability of an updated system will require continued investment of time and resources, We are proud that the system is streamlined, more efficient, easier to use, and more secure. We look forward to more improvements in the coming months.”
