A year into pandemic, California’s broken unemployment agency still hurting those in need

SACRAMENTO —

Nearly a year into the COVID-19 pandemic, California’s beleaguered unemployment benefits system remains mired in dysfunction, leaving many jobless workers in dire straits after their efforts to receive financial assistance have been stymied by jammed phone lines, overwhelmed staff and failed technology.

"It is clear that this system has broken and will need to be completely overhauled to ensure that these problems never occur again,"