The EDD took two weeks to "re-set," and lawmakers asked today what's improved since then. They weren't too impressed with the answers.
RELATED: East Bay widow can't get tax refund until she proves death of husband
EDD officials reported that a new ID verification system is now in place, and 64 percent of new claims were automatically verified. But lawmakers said EDD has barely put a dent in a backlog of 1.6 million claims that go back as far as June - and won't get cleared up until next year, leaving many folks still waiting for benefits.
"You've done some caseloads, but it went down from 1.6 million to 1.3 million, so not a big dent in that... You're saying you won't liquidate the backlog till 2021. Can you tell me why it's gonna take that long?" asked Assemblyman Jim Cooper (D - Elk Grove).
RELATED: CA EDD employee speaks out, says thousands losing unemployment benefits by mistake
"Yes it's gonna take that long because the work is complex and complicated and we have X number of professional staff," said Sharon Hilliard, director of the Employment Development Department.
The EDD also reported it has 75 open fraud cases going on, but the director said the EDD has no idea how much it has paid out to scammers. Some legislators think it's in the billions.
VIDEO: East Bay woman watches via text as scammer drains EDD benefits
Woman watches via text as scammer drains EDD benefits
Take a look at more stories and videos by Michael Finney and 7 On Your Side.
RELATED STORIES & VIDEOS:
- Unemployment claims paused for 2 weeks as report reveals 600K awaiting benefits in EDD backlog
- Coronavirus employment recovery will not be equal across Bay Area, new report predicts
- $2.5 million in EDD fraud leads to arrest of 44 suspects in Beverly Hills, police say
- CA begins sending extra $300 per week in unemployment benefits, but many will not receive the supplemental aid
- California lawmakers to conduct emergency audit of EDD
- California woman's stolen information used to collect thousands in unemployment benefits
- Proposed $300 unemployment benefit 'inadequate,' Newsom says CA working on solutions
- California EDD: The most commonly asked questions we get about unemployment and PUA
- California woman shares hack for getting through EDD's overloaded unemployment helpline
- Florida man erroneously receives 12 letters from the California EDD
- California state senators request Newsom create 24-hour helpline for EDD
- Governor Gavin Newsom unveils new task force to tackle EDD backlog
- Out-of-work Californians finally receive benefits, only to be mysteriously cut off
- Unemployed workers share how they got through EDD system to finally receive benefits
- FAQ with EDD: From getting through on the phone to $600 payments, 7 On Your Side gets your questions answered