Muncie area unemployment claims up along with waiting period for checks

By Joy Leiker, Star Press

jleiker@muncie.gannett.com

MUNCIE -- Becky Watson waited eight weeks to receive her first unemployment insurance payment from the state.

Lynda Turner got hers after just two weeks.

And Gary Gillette is still waiting.

In a day and age where the wait at the WorkOne office is longer than the line to get into any of the city's restaurants, Hoosiers are counting on the money they receive from the state as they search for new jobs, learn new skills and beef up their résumés.

At the same time, the Indiana Department of Workforce Development is processing more claims than ever before, double today what they handled a year ago, said Marc Lotter, the department's communications director.