Davids Secures New Funding to Improve Kansas Unemployment Insurance Systems

Today, Representative Sharice Davids announced the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) has awarded over $4.5 million to the Kansas Department of Labor (KDOL) to improve delivery speeds of unemployment insurance benefits. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Kansans applying for these benefits were met with significant delays due to outdated technology. This funding was provided through the American Rescue Plan Act, in which Davids was the only member of the Kansas delegation to support.

"Under the previous Kansas administration, our state's unemployment insurance systems were neglected for nearly a decade - forcing our state to rely on outdated technology during the worst health and economic crisis of our lifetimes," said Davids. "A year and a half later, the American Rescue Plan continues to provide strong, targeted, and effective relief to hardworking Kansans. I'm proud to have supported the bill and will continue working to ensure Kansans' needs are met and costs are lowered."

During the pandemic, Davids' office helped over 1,000 Kansans get connected with KDOL after experiencing delays in receiving their unemployment benefits. To fix this issue, along with voting for the American Rescue Plan which previously provided funding for KDOL technology upgrades, Davids announced support for a bill that would invest in the technology needed to modernize unemployment insurance (UI) systems in states across the country, including Kansas.

Earlier this year, KDOL formally kicked off a $48 million, 26-month-long effort to modernize the state's UI system thanks to American Rescue Plan funding. Kansas' current mainframe system used to process UI benefits was created in the 1970s. The last major push to modernize began under Governor Sebelius in 2005 but was subsequently abandoned in 2011 by the Brownback administration. That decision directly led to the systemic inefficiencies and vulnerabilities that occurred within the state's unemployment system during the pandemic.

The new funding announced today supports projects designed to expand outreach, promote awareness, improve technology, streamline instructions, provide translation services, increase staffing, and address other accessibility issues in marginalized communities. Administered by the DOL's Employment and Training Administration, the grant will allow Kansas to implement projects that seek to ensure systemic barriers do not prevent those in need from accessing UI benefits. In total, $18.2 million was announced to enhance UI systems in Kansas, Illinois, and Ohio.