Assemblyman William Colton (D – Gravesend, Bensonhurst, Bath Beach, and Dyker Heights) is saying that as COVID-19 epidemic started, my office was swamped with a phone calls from all over NYC pleading for help with applying for Unemployment Benefits.

"Within the past four months, my office was able to help an enormous amount of cases that we had received from people within the district as well as from the outside. I, together with my staff members were able to successfully help hundreds of people who came to me for help. I am thankful for the Governor's office and the Department of Labor for working with my office together helping to expedite a terrible logjam in processing claims stemming from the incredible number of claims due to the pandemic crises," Colton stated.

"The office is still receiving new unemployment requests for help. Community Liaison Declan Hong has been calling many of those who originally requested our help to see if they received their benefits and whether they needed any additional help and the office has been following up on any requests for additional follow-up for those who have run into any new obstacles," Colton said.

"Even though my office has been closed due to the pandemic, I am proud that my dedicated staff has worked from home to call some three thousand constituents to let them know that we are concerned about them and are still available to help with their problems, as well as to daily retrieve numerous telephone messages left on the office answering machine at 718-236-1598 or the office emails at coltonw@nyassembly.gov. Although due to the office temporary closing, it may take a day or two to respond to calls and emails, I am thankful to my dedicated staff who has been able to solve many critical problems, such as those dealing with unemployment, as well as many others," Colton added