MADISON – The Department of Workforce Development (DWD) today announced plans to make it easier for Wisconsinites to file for unemployment insurance (UI) benefits by updating the language for both its initial and weekly UI claim applications. DWD is currently seeking public input on the updated draft application questions online at https://dwd.wisconsin.gov/uiapplicationsfeedback/. The COVID-19 pandemic has underscored existing barriers to applying to receive UI benefits. To improve the UI application process, DWD has updated the questions to feature “plain language” as much as possible. “Plain language” is intended to be understandable to all individuals who are likely to use the UI application process, regardless of educational background or regional/cultural language differences, and to ensure application and question clarity. Changes to the application process will help ensure all those who are filling out either an initial or weekly UI claim can understand the questions quickly and easily and prevent inadvertent or erroneous answers that might otherwise prompt further action or investigation and delay an individual’s claim from being processed.