Struggling to file for unemployment? I was too.
Sydney S. is one of Empower Work’s trained peer counselors. Amidst COVID-19, a number of our volunteers were furloughed or lost jobs. She shares her experience filing for unemployment and some lessons learned.
I filed for unemployment on March 20th and as of September 9th, have yet to receive a confirmation as to if my claim will be accepted. This situation has been stressful, overwhelming, and has impacted my mental health. Has this happened to you too? Millions of Americans have been in hold patterns with their unemployment filings since COVID hit, and I feel that acutely too.
My situation was a little bit different, given that I have lived in three different states in the past year. For anyone with a situation that is slightly different from the “norm,” most state unemployment sites direct you to call them rather than filing online. However, no one was prepared for the millions of people trying to call for answers at once and the outdated systems didn’t help.
This went on for weeks while I tried to call in upon opening just to simply ask someone if I was filing with the correct state, since some sites had different information. I finally found a fax number and a form online at the California EDD site for unemployment and made my best guess as to how to fill it out in hopes that someone would receive all the materials at the other end of that fax number.
Exactly 18 days later I got a confirmation that my claim was received but the information was all incorrect. Once again I was instructed to call if the information needed fixing, and, once again, I could not get through. After hand writing letters and sending electronic “request for help” messages on the site, in late May I eventually was told my claim was denied since my “identity could not be identified.”
While this may sound like bad news, I was actually excited because at the bottom of the notice it said I could appeal and then speak with a judge…finally someone I could speak to in person! June 2nd I had my virtual phone trial with a judge, who listened to my questions and would make the final decision as to if I was entitled to unemployment for the 4 weeks I was without a job due to COVID-19.
I am not giving up. It was no one’s fault that a pandemic hit and millions of people needed help with an already outdated system that was understaffed. But there are so many people who did not have access to wifi, a fax machine, a printer, or who did not have the time to write letters and fight back for what they deserve. I think it’s important to know that there are many more people in need than polls and numbers are showing.
Hopefully some of the things I have learned through this process can help others who are waiting on unemployment or have questions. Some information is below.
Filing for unemployment amidst COVID-19
First and foremost, I want to reinforce: you are not alone. This is a challenging time and a challenging system (or systems since they vary from state to state). And it’s normal to be stressed and overwhelmed by it–it’s our lives on the line! If you need someone to talk to and process the stress, Empower Work is a great resource (just text 510-674-1414).
Second, you have a right to unemployment–and it’s been expanded in many states under the CARES Act (and hopefully will be updated soon as well).
Here are three challenges I experienced filing for unemployment and what I learned
Finding clear information as to what state to file in.
The challenge: For those who have lived in a state for a short period of time and/or who were laid off of a job that they had for only a short period of time, where to file can be confusing. This period differs state to state based on their unemployment rules.
What I learned: Most online unemployment claims will ask you questions on the first page which will allow you to continue filing or will tell you that you have to file elsewhere. That is a good place to start rather than looking for specific instructions as to where and how to file for your situation. For example, Oregon state’s online claim asked if I worked in Oregon from January 1st 2019 - December 31st 2019, since I did not work in Oregon for the entire year of 2019 the system immediately said I had to file in the previous state I worked for.
Materials being rejected.
The challenge: I had to send copies of accepted forms of identification in order for my claim to be accepted. The images were clear and readable when I copied them, but when they were received and scanned into the larger file, they were no longer readable.
What I learned: I suggest making the images extra light and with color if possible, to avoid having to appeal. My forms of ID were 1) my driver’s license, 2) a prior w-2 from the employer I had in the state I was applying for unemployment (not necessarily the job that I had when I was laid off) and 3) my Social Security Statement. The judge said that the Social Security Statement was very helpful and I recommend using it, since it was easy to obtain and it is very useful information. Your Social Security Statement shows how much you have paid in Social Security and Medicare taxes. It explains how much you would get in Social Security benefits when you reach full retirement age. If you become disabled and unable to work, you may be eligible for disability benefits. In addition, if the family members who depend on you outlive you, they may be eligible for survivor benefits.
In order to get your Social Security Statement for proof of ID, visit ssa.gov, click “my social security”, and create a free account. There is an option to download your statement on your main home page.
Slow in response.
The challenge: I would receive responses from the EDD that were timestamped weeks prior to when I received them due to COVID-19. Letters would tell me I had to reply within 5 days of the time stamped date, yet I would receive the mail weeks after that date happened.
What I learned: Don’t give up. Know that the offices are lenient and understand there are a lot of errors in the system.
The impact all this work to file for unemployment has had
This affected me mentally for months. I was extremely anxious to open the mail and see anything from unemployment, as each letter made me stressed, emotional, and angry. I was sick of dealing with this. I felt pressure to find any possible job since I wasn’t receiving unemployment, and after trying hard for four weeks I was hired full-time and was very grateful! However, at the same time, because of the economy, I was making a lot less than what I would be making on unemployment or even in other roles, which also made me mad.
I’ve reflected on this experience quite a bit. If I was this stressed and mentally taken over from this process, I can’t even imagine how many others are doing. I don’t have kids to feed. I have a partner who kept his job and could support us both with his income until I found a new job or got unemployment benefits. I have parents who have incomes and could help me if I needed it. I have a wide support system and I recognize that privilege. That is not the majority of people affected by this pandemic. And that’s not ok. Unemployment should be easy, seamless, and accessible because our lives are on the line. It’s a critical moment.
What can you do if you’re experiencing challenges with filing unemployment?
Document everything! I took pictures of every piece of mail sent and received between me and the unemployment offices in case I had to prove anything. Make an “unemployment” folder so it is easy to find all of those documents to refer to again and name them and date them so you can easily prove a timeline. I ended up not needing this, but it was very helpful during the virtual appeal trial since I was able to reference what I had done in order to show my effort.
Keep trying. Keep calling, keep following up, keep writing letters. Reaching out to people on social media, or your friends, to see if anyone knows anyone personally who works in that field can also be helpful.
Get support. This all takes a toll. You don’t have to feel alone in this. You can reach out to a sounding board like Empower Work to talk to a peer counselor immediately and confidentially about what you’re facing and talk through some game plans.
Need support right now?
Trained peer counselors are a text or chat away.
