Arizona's Ne
Arizona’s New Unemployment Portal: Glitches and Errors Plague Users
In September, the Arizona Department of Economic Security launched CACTUS, a new online portal designed to streamline access to unemployment benefits. The initiative aimed to provide Arizonans with an efficient self-service tool for managing their benefits—ranging from applying for assistance, filing appeals, addressing eligibility inquiries, and reporting job search efforts.
However, nearly a month after its launch, the system has become synonymous with frustration due to persistent glitches and errors. Many users have reported that instead of facilitating access, CACTUS is plagued by technical issues that hinder their ability to receive benefits promptly. Stories from affected Arizonans paint a picture of confusion and desperation as they navigate the problematic portal.
Sommers Bennett from Tolleson exemplifies many who find themselves caught in this bureaucratic quagmire. Despite being eligible for unemployment payments, she hasn’t received any funds due to errors within CACTUS—an issue that the Arizona Department of Economic Services acknowledges but struggles to rectify. Similarly, Chester from Ahwatukee has had his claims approved multiple times yet sees no money deposited into his account. Despite the system marking them as “paid,” he remains unable to access his benefits or get in touch with anyone for assistance.
Yuma’s Matt Gerhards also encountered issues when CACTUS seemingly created a loop, forcing him to file a new claim while simultaneously indicating that an existing one was already on record. His attempts at resolution included submitting claims via fax after initial contact methods failed, only to find these efforts unprocessed as well.
These individual stories are part of a larger chorus of complaints from Arizonans shared across social media platforms like Facebook and Reddit, highlighting widespread difficulties with CACTUS—ranging from claim submission failures to prolonged payment delays. Despite the state’s unemployment program’s promise of providing essential support funded by employer taxes, many find themselves without access to needed benefits due to these systemic shortcomings.
The Arizona Department of Economic Security maintains that over 60,000 claims were filed in the first two weeks following CACTUS’s launch, with more than $13.3 million disbursed to claimants. However, affected individuals argue otherwise, citing their own experiences as evidence of “typical government failure,” where they face rejection at a critical moment despite years of tax contributions.
As frustration mounts among Arizonans like Chester and Gerhards, who have never before relied on unemployment benefits, the impact extends beyond mere financial strain. It touches upon deeper issues of trust in public systems designed to provide safety nets during times of need. This unfolding situation continues to draw attention as stakeholders seek resolutions and improvements to ensure that CACTUS lives up to its intended purpose.
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