MANSFIELD -- The expanding list of people falling off the unemployment benefits roll is wreaking havoc at the Richland County Job & Family Services office.
Richland County Commissioner Ed Olson said 30 percent of all people on welfare in Richland County have never been on welfare before.
He said he spoke with Sharlene Neumann, director of Richland County Job & Family Services, who reported hundreds of people who have hit 99 weeks on unemployment benefits are now showing up at Job & Family Services. It is their first time seeking assistance, and they need help navigating the system.
Unfortunately, Olson said, the local Job & Family Service staff is down from 122 employees to 77.
"It now takes six to seven weeks to process a claim," he said. "Since this recession began, the number of faces has increased 50 percent."
Olson said the local situation brings into focus the importance of support services......
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