For laid-off Texans, the top challenge right now is finding a job.

But here’s a close second: reaching a human being on the state’s phone line to apply for unemployment benefits.

The experience is about as frustrating as a FEMA hot line after a hurricane. If you’re lucky, you get a busy signal.

The other day, when I was out in Deer Park interviewing laid-off refinery workers, I met Amos Wyant, a pipe welder for 30 years from Crosby. In one day alone, he’d called the Texas Workforce Commission’s local number for unemployment benefits 30 to 40 times, to no avail.

Another guy, a pipe welder from Pasadena, showed me his cell phone. By mid-morning on Monday, he’d called the line 29 times.

“The system does not work,” Wyant told me. “You can’t go in a building and talk to a human being. You got to get on the phone and then the line is always busy.”

Of course, callers are constantly encouraged by the hot line’s recorded voice to apply on the Internet, but that option isn’t available for some types of claims or updates. It isn’t convenient for workers without computers, and it isn’t preferred by others.

“I’m not an Internet person,” Wyant told me. “I’m 55. I’m old school.”

Wyant said that eventually, he did get through to someone who helped him apply, and he got a letter saying his claim was being processed.

That was in November: “I’ve been waiting for an unemployment check for three months,” he told me.

“Time after time after time, you just get plum disgusted. I finally just started borrowing money from my mother-in-law. And I’m about one of the lucky ones that has a mother-in-law who cares about me. The other people that cannot borrow, I don’t know how they do it.”

In the early afternoon, I tried every number on the Workforce Commission Web site, including seven local numbers for major metro areas and the 800 number for other areas. For all but two of the lines, there was no ring, no busy signal. Only a recorded message that said “due to high call volumes, we’re unable to handle your call at this time.”

Austin’s number brought a busy signal. Finally, calling Dallas, I got a voice, albeit recorded, that said “you have reached the Texas Workforce Commission.”

But after two minutes of pressing different options, a recording informed me I’d have to wait for human assistance. Average time: 19 minutes.

Workforce Commission spokeswoman Ann Hatchitt acknowledged problems as the agency experiences an “unprecedented” call volume caused by the federal extension of jobless benefits, rises in claims due to Hurricane Ike and the economic crisis.

“This isn’t how we want to respond to the claimants at all,” Hatchitt said. “This is a very difficult and challenging time for everybody.”

Although the commission reported that Houston-area unemployment stayed at 5.5 percent, unemployment benefits jumped by 18.4 percent (3,352 applications) from November to December.

Hatchitt said the agency makes every effort to keep up. Since summer, it’s added 336 phone lines (up from 2,181) and 180 call center workers (up from 600). Another 75 staffers will be added in March.

Asked about Wyant’s lost check, Hatchitt said “that shouldn’t happen,” and offered to investigate.

For most people, she said, the Internet is the best option for filing claims. For questions, the agency has added an online e-mail form, with a promise to respond in 48 hours.

Those in need of computer access, or human contact, can visit their nearest employment office operated by Workforce Solutions.

Although that option is limited, too. It helps Texans find jobs but doesn’t manage unemployment claims. And over the past year, Workforce Solutions has had to close or consolidate six Gulf Coast region locations.

The reason? Texas’ federal funding for the offices was cut because our state’s economy was faring better than other states.