PIERRE, S.D. (WNAX) – Since late March the South Dakota Department of Labor and Regulation has received over 14,000 claims for unemployment benefits.

Department Secretary Marcia Hultman says they are working through them as quickly as possible.

Hultman says there will be another surge when independent contractors and self employed are added.

Hultman says they have to make some internal changes to roll out benefits to those people.

Hultman says their online system has been performing well and urges people to file that way for a quicker response. She says most people will get their first benefit payment in about 10 days after they file.

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