BOSTON —

The unemployment rate in Massachusetts has been rising this year. It's now 4.8 percent, half a point higher than the national average. And many of those out of work say they've experienced long delays this summer trying to collect unemployment benefits from the state, raising questions about whether staffing at the state agency that pays out benefits is sufficient.

The unemployment delays can be another hit for people who are already down. Latest Forecast

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After 10 years of service, losing his job came as a total surprise to Andrew Benack this May.

"It simply evaporated one day," he said of his job. "Due to restructuring under a new company president, they wanted to change the role into something more junior."

While he beg

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