The last public hearing in 2018 was a tepid affair, and the 2016 public hearing led to an avalanche of testimony about winter work search waivers but no changes in unemployment whatsoever.
So, a public hearing in the midst of this pandemic is nothing to be excited about. In light of the pandemic, this hearing is split across two days and takes place via webex, a difficult on-line conferencing tool that is great in corporate environments but a pain to use across numerous platforms and technologies, especially where broadband access is limited. Here, for example, is the help Department offers for the toll-free number.
Today’s session was less than remarkable. Besides myself, there were about 25 observers and 12 witnesses (a 13th never managed to get her computer audio working, a common issue with webex). In lieu of providing basic information about the claim-filing process or even some sympathy to those describing their frustration, the Department’s representatives maintained that they could provide no information in response to such queries, even general queries, and was solely there to listen to public testimony.
And, if participants did not connect on right at 2pm (the scheduled start of today’s hearing, which was supposed to last until 4pm), they may have found no connection whatsoever. The Department abruptly ending the public hearing at 2:49pm when there no more speakers who had not yet testified.
Note: There does NOT appear to be any legal basis for ending a public hearing simply because no one from the public is currently in attendance. In-person public hearings continue for the entire scheduled time, as participants may well have planned to arrive at a certain time rather than appear immediately at the beginning. By ending this hearing prematurely before the scheduled ending time of 4pm, the Department violated its own notice for this meeting.
You can still register for the session tomorrow, Nov. 10th, from 4:30-6:30pm.
At the very least, you can voice your displeasure at the crazy delays in processing claims, the problematic portal the Department provides to claimants, continuing discrimination against the disabled, or the Department’s failure to provide the actual questions you are asked when filing a claim.
Just do not expect at the moment that someone will respond to those concerns.
Wisconsin Unemployment 
Hello,
I am receiving a notice that I need to pay back half of the PUA benefits that I was given. (“Notice of Overpayment”) I did everything the application told me to do. Not sure if there are many other WI residents receiving this notice. How are they going to expect people to pay back all or half of the PUA money that was used for bills, food, etc during a PANDEMIC? This will make the economy worse. Many people are barely getting back to their feet with jobs and barely making enough to pay monthly expenses. I called to the UI office and the lady even had no idea what it was, she was no type of help. I hope this issue gets fixed. People do not have 5k laying around during a pandemic to pay back to the government.