File photo
File photo
Illinois’ new online system for processing unemployment benefits for independent contractors is off to an inauspicious beginning after the private information of some applicants was inadvertently made public.
Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s office has described the stumble, which included the Social Security numbers of the victims being made public, as a “glitch” that was immediately corrected within an hour’s time.
Independent contractors became eligible in mid-March for such benefits in the wake of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, but only recently were able to access the state's system.
The new computer system for processing claims for federal benefits to so-called gig workers who have lost their jobs due to the deadly virus was formally launched in May with more than 1 million initial claims already being processed.
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