Project Redesign: Pandemic Unemployment and the Social Safety Net
Applicants for pandemic unemployment benefits faced long wait times, complex processes, and significant administrative burdens.
This research brief from Project Redesign examines the challenges unemployed individuals faced when applying for benefits during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Based on interviews with 33 participants, the report estimates that collectively, they spent 6.5 years applying for and waiting on unemployment assistance between March and June 2020. Key barriers included unclear eligibility rules, confusing application language, technical issues with state benefits portals, and slow verification processes. Many applicants were forced to reapply, submit extensive documentation, or navigate unreliable websites, contributing to delays of up to 16 weeks. The report highlights the urgent need for policy and technology improvements to reduce administrative burdens and ensure faster, more accessible benefit delivery.
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