I think my story will interest your readers and other people in my position.
I have lived and worked in North Carolina since 2015. I have been employed full time by the same locally owned toy store for almost three years now and was temporarily laid off at the end of March due to COVID-19. I applied [for unemployment benefits] as soon as I could and was found “ineligible” almost immediately with no explanation as to why.
After weeks of multiple application attempts and denials with the Division of Employment Security, I was able to receive one payment for the first week of April. I have been out of work for eight weeks now and have been unable to get in contact with anyone to receive the other seven weeks. To add insult to injury, the other day I received a letter stating that the one week of benefits I did receive was an “overpayment,” and DES requires that money back.
Between the dates of March 31 and May 15, I have sat on the phone for well over 12 hours and have contacted DES countless times. I have never spoken with a human at DES, and I am still calling as I type this out. I have heard a recording thank me for my “patience and understanding” with every call I’ve made, just before the recording, inevitably, hangs up on me.
Finally, a couple days before going back to work, I received full payment, and the back pay I supposedly owed was removed. Just now, I received a call from Sen. Terry Van Duyn’s legislative assistant, Irma, and they were the powerhouse that was able to assist me in getting results.
To this extent, if anyone is still trying to receive benefits at this time, I strongly suggest you contact your state senator. It took a couple of days, but not only did they resolve my issues, they called to check in with me, and make sure we were OK, and that is not only a shock, but a comfort.
I have felt through this that I, and those like me, have not had the opportunity to be heard, and I would very much like us to be.
— Victoria Quinn
Asheville
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