Hoosiers ready for cash to roll in

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) - We continue our focus on the unemployment as we follow the money. Department of Workforce Development leaders told us that they've already paid more than $6 million in benefits.

So we asked our viewers on Facebook whether they'd gotten their vouchers and subsequent payments. Many of viewers responded. Most have not yet gotten payments. But a few are very relieved. It’s money they need now.

Stephen Ketchum, 21 is back at home with his mom and dad. He had been living at the apartment complex where he worked. Then he got laid off.

Asked what it was like to return home he answered, "I didn't really like it."

Neither did his mom and dad. They love their kids dearly, but three of the four have been laid off. Two are back home. Dad is the only one in the home working.

"It's harder on my husband. He's a plumber, and his job is slow right now cause there ain't no houses being built," said Tina Davis, Ketchum's mother.

Ketchum feels his parents' pain. He says he's trying. He's applied everywhere.

"Scrapyards, warehouses, fast food, still nothin'," said Ketchum

But without a high school diploma, a good job - any job - is hard to find. When Ketchum's unemployment benefits stopped last month, the family budget went bust. Kechum was desperate - checking the Department of Workforce Development's online filing site daily.

Then Thursday, this from the department's commissioner.

"We've already processed about a third of the people, and many of them have gone online and they've done what they need to do, so some six million dollars has been dispensed to those individuals as of this morning," said DWD Commissioner Mark Everson.

Ketchum is one of those individuals. He filled out his vouchers on Wednesday and got 158 dollars on Thursday.

"I didn't know I was going to get it that quick; didn't even know if I was gonna be able to get it," said Ketchum.

Many of you have asked us why you haven't gotten retroactive voucher for the eight weeks you weren't paid while Congress debated the extensions. It may be that you received a check for all the benefits in one tier. DWD leaders say the computer program will automatically move you to the next tier, then issue your voucher and subsequent payment.