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This Austinite Called 2,000 Times In One Day For Unemployment. She Ended Up Going In Person.

Businesses across Texas have closed and laid off or furloughed their employees as the coronavirus pandemic spreads.
Gabriel C. Pérez
/
KUT
Businesses across Texas have closed and laid off or furloughed employees as the coronavirus pandemic spreads.

Phone lines and the website to apply for unemployment benefits in Texas have been jammed for more than two weeks now. The Texas Workforce Commission says it has already processed more jobless claims since March 14 than it did in all of 2019. 

But that's little comfort to the many people who are still trying to apply. 

We've heard from many folks in this situation. Kim Downman was one of them. Listen to her experience:

After this interview, Downman went to the Texas Workforce Commission building. She says a security guard there told her to write down her name and phone number. The next day, she got a call from the Workforce Commission and was able to apply for unemployment benefits over the phone.

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Matt Largey is the Projects Editor at KUT. That means doing a little bit of everything: editing reporters, producing podcasts, reporting, training, producing live events and always being on the lookout for things that make his ears perk up. Got a tip? Email him at mlargey@kut.org. Follow him on Twitter @mattlargey.
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