Jobless jam state phone lines

ALBUQUERQUE (KRQE) - Losing a job is bad enough, but unemployed New Mexicans are finding extra frustration in trying to get through to the state's unemployment hotline.

So many people calling the state Department of Workforce Solutions for unemployment benefits, many get this recorded message instead: "Due to high call volumes, all available phone lines are in use. Please try your call again later."

Denise Ferrari-Martinez said she didn't even get that.

"A busy signal," she told KRQE News 13. "A constant busy signal."

The department has extended hours, hired 15 more people and bought more phone lines.

However that's little comfort for Ferrari-Martinez who lost her secretarial job last month,

"There's bills to pay," she said.

Now her full-time job has become listening that recorded message over and over again, she said.

"The shoe is not on the other foot at the moment," she continued. "They don't know what I'm going through and what hundreds or maybe thousands of people are going through in this state.

"Something needs to be done; something needs to be done."

She isn't the only one fed up. It's become a topic on a local blog site with one blogger claiming he called 357 times in one day.

Joe Lucero tried to get through for a week and then finally went down to the department to talk to someone. Instead he was told to use the phone in one of the building's rooms to call the same number.

"It's been really hard," Baca said.

Workforce Solutions knows many people are trying to get through, department spokesperson Carrie Moritomo said.

"Sunday we had about 95,000 that actually came in to the call center," she said. "At this time, compared to last year it's about double of what we were paying last year.

"We realize that people are frustrated and that it can be frightening."

She suggested calling on Thursday or Friday when fewer people are dialing in. Unemployed workers can also try applying for benefits online.

However some viewers have told News 13 so many people log on that the Web site becomes too busy to access as well.

The Department of Workforce Solutions will be open all week except New Year's Day.