PIERRE, S.D. (DRG News) – One year ago, the South Dakota Dakota Department of Labor and Regulation was paying out a little over half a million dollars ($504,000) per week in unemployment benefits.

Department Secretary Marcia Hultman says the amount going out each week now is exponentially larger.

She says staff from other areas in the department are being trained so they can also help take calls and process claims.

Hultman asks the public to be considerate when talking with Department of Labor staff.

Hultman says they’ve added capacity to the unemployment call center and wait times have been greatly reduced.

She reminds those receiving unemployment benefits because of layoffs or reduced hours due to COVID-19, you must return to work if called back. A “refusal of work” and could disqualify claimants from receiving reemployment assistance benefits (unemployment insurance).