Something Fishy Going On With New Jersey Unemployment Claims

Losing a job in this economy is bad enough.  Now imagine going weeks, or even months, without an unemployment check because the State refuses to process claims or answer the phone.

Sadly, that’s been my experience with the New Jersey Department of Labor and I am determined to expose them for the mess that they are.

My Experience with the Department of Labor

I was laid off the first week of August 2008.  I filled out my claim for unemployment benefits online the next day.  I then received a confirmation letter the following week with a date to claim my benefits via phone response. 

I called the number and followed the prompts as directed.  I was then told by the automated system, “Your unemployment payment can not be processed at this time, please call [insert number here] to speak with a representative.”- Click. 

I immediately dialed the next number only to hear another recording that said, “Due to the high volume of calls, we are unable to help you at this time. Please call back.” -Click. 

So I called back later. And the next day. And four times a day for three weeks straight, until I was convinced that the line had been taken off the hook. 

Out of desperation, I sent an email to Gov. John Corzine vowing to contact every newspaper and TV station to investigate the unemployment office if someone did not help me. 

My email did the trick and I was contacted the next day by a representative.  I was told my claim needed to be verified by my employer and a phone interview would be set up to do this. 

I asked the lady if someone would have helped me had I not contacted the Governor’s office.  She kind of laughed and said “probably not.” 

I then told her what I had gone through with the phones ringing off the hook and asked if the lines were broken.  She was clearly annoyed and stated, “Do you really want to know why no one answers the phones? It’s because the processors have been laid off during recent budget cuts by the Governor.  There is no one available to answer the phones”.

I was horrified that the state was operating like this—and at the expense of unemployed workers.

The Saga Continues

I was issued three checks immediately after speaking with my contact at the DOL.  When they arrived, I looked the checks over for a number and date to call back and re-claim my benefits; however, all three checks were blank so I assumed I was done with the claiming process.

Two weeks went by and I didn’t receive another check. Then a month passed with no check and I went into attack mode.

I got a hold of my contact at the DOL and told her that my checks had stopped. She informed me that my benefits were cut off because I failed to call the appropriate number and claim my check for the past month.

Disgusted, I immediately faxed over the stubs with the missing contact information.  The representative called back to admit that they had made a mistake and I would be entitled recover back pay and claim my benefits going forward.

Another two weeks have gone by and I still haven’t received a check.  I was told yesterday that a claims examiner would call me ASAP to reopen my claim but they never did. 

At this point, I feel entitled to my unemployment check and a regular paycheck from the state, as following up on my benefits has become a full-time job.

Show Me The Money….NOW.

I have two theories as to why the Department of Labor would make it so difficult to receive an unemployment check.  My first thought is they are hoping people will give up during the claims process in an effort to save a buck.  After all, this is the same administration that apparently laid off the claims processors to save money.  They must sleep well at night knowing they are saving additional cash by cheating people out of their unemployment claims.

On second thought, I read that a handful of states have run out of money to pay unemployment benefits.  I don’t want to start any rumors here, but they have made it almost painful to get a check.  And even when I did get a check, they tried to cut me off on a technicality by sending blank claim forms.  It wouldn’t take much to convince me that the unemployment fund has run dry in the State of New Jersey after that experience. It’s clear something is going on here. 

After all, we pay into the unemployment fund and deserve to have our voices heard.  We deserve to have someone pick up the phone at the Department of Labor and answer questions regarding our claim. We shouldn’t have to blow up the Governors inbox to get the attention we need with regards to unemployment checks.

And if the State is broke, we deserve answers-- rather than call an unattended phone line for weeks and months on end.