I had collected 3 weeks of unemployment with the quarantine but went back to work part time since I worked at a convenience store/gas station and that made me essential. (to work, not for any benefit post Covid-19) I was supposed to be able to collect a partial payment but it wasn’t going through when I tried and there wasn’t a remedy to fix it unless I spent the day calling the office.

Seven months later when I started losing the feeling in my hands, my boss let me take a lay off to figure out my medical problems. I collected 3 weeks and the 4th pay period they implemented a two step verification process since fraud was being reported at a much higher rate.

When I signed on, the message stated that a code was sent to my email and to type it in. I quickly realized the email on the screen was not my email. I tried to edit it in my settings and it stated that a call to the office is the only way to reset my email. I tried everything I could think of to change it so I could file for my weekly certification for benefits but everything required a phone call. If anyone ever had to call the unemployment office, you know somedays you cant get through at all. It took 3 weeks to talk to anyone.

When i did finally get through I was told they would contact the fraud department and someone would get back to me. I was desperately trying to get more information because I spent the last 6 hours calling, hearing a busy signal, hanging up and redialing. I was hungry, my water was shut off and my electric would be too if I didn’t resolve this.

They did fix my account and I had one week left on my claim I could collect. It turned out I couldn’t collect my partial 7 months earlier because that’s when it started. I tried my best to keep my cool, but I couldn’t help thinking this didn’t have to happen. Why did I set up passwords and security questions when I first opened this claim? I should have been able to change my email on line when I noticed this almost a month ago. I paid into this system with every paycheck I earned but when I needed the help I heard , “there’s nothing I can do.”

So I agreed to wait and let the fraud department handle it. At least I could collect my final week, it’s better than nothing. The following Sunday I logged in to file my claim and I was hijacked again. Great, just great.

I collected 3 weeks out of at least 9 checks about a year later and just got tired of arguing with a different person every time I attempted to resolve this. Not to mention the stress, late fees and turn on fees charged by uncaring utility companies. That is the problem, my problems were my problems, nobody cared.