Emergency Unemployment Claims Can Be Filed Online

Governor Jim Gibbons today announced that Nevadans eligible for Emergency Unemployment Compensation Benefits authorized by Congress can now file claims for their benefits online through the Nevada Employment Security Division.

The Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2008 that Congress approved in late June extended additional unemployment benefits to individuals who had exhausted all their regular unemployment claims.

The state Employment Security Division notified nearly 50,000 citizens of their potential eligibility for these extended benefits and established additional telephone lines to handle the influx of calls those notifications generated.

Nevadans interested in filing for emergency benefits can now file their claims online at www.expressclaim.org. Telephone claims are also still accepted. As always, regular claims can be filed both online and via telephone.

“The Employment Security Division has done a tremendous job handling the major growth in call volume from people seeking to file emergency unemployment claims,” Gibbons said. “Offering the ability to file these claims online is just another example of the tremendous customer service this division offers Nevadans.”

Since the emergency unemployment compensation program took effect in July, the state has processed more than 15,000 claims.

“The division put all its efforts into processing claims by telephone when the program started because that was the fastest way to get benefits into the hands of Nevadans,” said Employment Security Division Administrator Cindy Jones. “Now with online filing, people will have another option to process their claims.”

Under the Emergency Unemployment Compensation provisions, additional benefits will be made available to people who have exhausted all unemployment claims and have no additional eligibility. The program provides up to half of a person’s original claim entitlement, so someone claiming benefits under this program will receive the same dollar amount he or she received through their regular benefits, but for half as long, or up to 13 weeks.

Governor Appoints Interim Personnel Director

Governor Jim Gibbons today announced the appointment of Shelley Blotter as Interim Director of the Nevada Department of Personnel.

Blotter, the current Administrator of the Employee and Management Services Division within the Department of Personnel, will head the department while a permanent director is identified.

“Ms. Blotter has been an employee of the Department of Personnel for more than 14 years and knows the department from the ground up,” Gibbons said. “I’m confident she’ll be able to navigate the complicated issues surrounding state employment.”

Blotter is assuming the position that has been occupied by Todd Rich, who has chosen to move back into private sector employment.

“I’d like to thank the Governor for having the faith in me to do this important work,” Blotter said. “State employees provide the backbone of the services we provide to the citizens of Nevada. Ensuring their issues are handled appropriately is critical to maintaining a high level of customer service to Nevadans.”

Blotter joined the Department of Personnel in 1994 and has served in a number of positions within the department. In 2004 she was promoted to Chief Personnel Manager in the Technical Services Division. When the department was reorganized in 2007 she became the Division Administrator for the Employee and Management Services Division.

Blotter is a graduate of the Certified Public Manager Program and is certified as a Senior Professional in Human Resources through the Society for Human Resource Management. She received a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, Human Resource Management from California State University, Chico. Her first day as interim director is Friday, Sept. 5.

 
Governor Appoints Three To PEBP Board

Governor Jim Gibbons today announced the appointment of three members to the Board of Directors of the Public Employees’ Benefits Program.

The appointees are: George Campbell, a retired attorney from the Nevada Attorney General’s office who represented PEBP, Leo Drozdoff, Administrator of the Nevada Division of Environmental Protection and Jacque Ewing-Taylor, a research fellow at the Raggio Research Center at the University of Nevada, Reno.

“I’m confident that each of these appointees will be an active, engaged member of the board,” Gibbons said. “The PEBP board is important to all public employees, and it’s critical that board members be committed to thoughtful deliberation on all issues.”

Qualifications for board membership are outlined by Nevada Revised Statute 287.041.

Campbell, who was recommended by the Retired Public Employees of Nevada, will fill the position requiring a retired state employee. Drozdoff will fill the position requiring an active state employee. Ewing-Taylor, who is being appointed to a second term, fills the position representing the Nevada Syste of Higher Education.

The PEBP Board is charged with establishing and carrying out the Public Employees’ Benefits Program, which offers insurance and other benefits to state workers.

PEBP currently provides benefits to an estimated 42,000 active state employees, retirees and non-state participants, such as employees of local governments.

For more information on PEBP, visit www.pebp.state.nv.us.