Everyday at work, I hear a lot from constituents in our community who are really struggling, are concerned and looking for answers. Each day this week, I’m going to post about one of the topics I hear the most about, with the best resources I have to help. And if anyone has specific issues, please directly reach out to me.
This is the most frequent issue I hear about from individual constituents. So many people have been waiting for weeks, unable to pay rent, afford food and other essential needs. This backup is mostly due to a system that was unprepared for the large volume of applicants. And with the added emergency funding granted from the third Coronavirus Stimulus package, more people than ever before are eligible for unemployment benefits requiring the state to update the website and application. But sometimes, a case is so unique or something goes wrong when filling out the forms that you may need to speak with someone directly, which is often challenging with the volume of callers. The most frequent mistake I have noticed is not certifying every week – even if you haven’t received any money yet. See here for more information. https://dol.ny.gov/…/certify-weekly-unemployment-insurance-….
This document is the best I have seen explaining eligibility, the different programs, how to apply and frequently asked questions: labor.ny.gov/ui/pdfs/ui-covid-faq.pdf.
Please feel free to contact me directly as well, I will do my best to help. The offices of your current state elected officials may also be a good resource.