Top Reasons Your Unemployment Claim is Stuck, On Hold, Suspended or Still Pending (Even After End of PUA, PEUC and $300 FPUC Programs)

Despite the end of enhanced unemployment extension programs (PUA, PEUC, $100 MEUC and $300 FPUC), many people are reporting issues with getting their past or overdue claims processed, and as a result facing long delays in receiving their payments. See the sections below for the main reasons why and where applicable I have tried to offer some possible solutions and related articles with more information.

Also see the comment forum after at the end of this article where people have encountered such scenarios and provided some state specific tips to resolve your unemployment benefit claim payment issues.

People who forget to action official unemployment agency requests or alerts

Many claimants have had their claim get stuck due to inaction or ignoring critical communication from their state unemployment department. Especially when it comes to new identity verification and documentation requirements as part of all the 2021 program extensions that required existing and potential claimants to take certain validation actions to get the extra benefit weeks added to their account balances. A recent example was in California where many claimants ignored messages or stop payment alerts from the the EDD, which caused their claim to go on-hold and miss several weeks of payments.

Many states are trying to be proactive with communications or claimant actions, but due to old systems and understaffed departments many unfortunate jobless workers have slipped through the cracks. So make sure you are proactive on checking communication (e.g. look in your spam folder) and responding/following-up in a timely manner.

Waiting on identity verification approvals

As part of new legislation to combat rampant fraud associated with the enhanced unemployment benefit programs, especially under PUA, new identity check requirements were put in place to verify claimants and their eligibility for benefits. This has had two adverse effects when it came to unemployment claims. One it has slowed down claims processing as state agencies had to institute these new ID checks or outsource processing to third parties.

Secondly it also inadvertently caught out a lot of legitimate claimants who were flagged as fraudulent in automated system checks. This caused several weeks of delays for many claimants and per the above point if they ignored or missed the official requests for taking required validation actions they saw their claim get stuck.

To combat identity related fraud a number of state unemployment departments, including those in Nevada, Colorado, Arizona, California and New York have turned to third party vendor ID.me and their proprietary A.I. facial recognition software to verify claimant identities ahead of receiving unemployment benefits. There have been issues reported with this system, even with the back-up manual trusted referee manual verification process, but it has led to an overall reduction in fraudulent claims.

Most states and ID.me do provide step-by-step guide on how to deal with identity issues through their app, so review these and ensure you have followed all the verification steps. Most state unemployment agencies and ID.me have said the bulk of issues have been worked through and only a handful of complex cases remain to be resolved.

End of Benefit Year (BYE date)

With many folks getting unemployment for over 12 months, they would have passed their benefit year end mark and would normally need to file a new claim to keeping getting paid. For PUA recipients this has not been a big issue as many state UI agencies automatically continued payments for this group of claimants who wouldn’t qualify for traditional, EB or PEUC unemployment programs.

But for those eligible for the extended PEUC weeks, they would have needed to file a new claim in the majority of states (New Jersey auto processed new claims for BYE) and if they don’t follow their state’s instructions on filing the new claim, generally at or soon after the BYE date, they could have seen their benefits lapse despite being eligible for extended weeks of coverage.

Missing documentation

New federal provisions require PUA applications to show wage evidence documentation and/or it they don’t want to accept the base payment. New claimants in 2021 had to provide this documentation within 21 days or their claim would have been suspended. Existing claimants from last year had 90 days. So many who have seen their claim held up has been due to missing documentation that they generally need to load on to their state UI portal. Once the agency accepts and reviews the documentation, they will follow up for more information or restart the claim, including any retroactive payments.

Work Search Requirements

Most states are reinstituting work search requirements which means claimants will need to show evidence for 2 to 5 job searches/contacts (requirements varies by state). Some states – like Florida and Texas – are more thorough than others and have a higher bar and enforcement of work search requirements. If you don’t meet job search requirements, which you normally need to validate when you certify for continuing benefits, your claim could be suspended until you provide the required information.

Because the reintroduction of work search requirements is being done differently on a state-by-state basis, many claimants are seeing their benefit payment suddenly stop and/or face challenges in certifying. If this happens and none of other reasons discussed in this article apply it is likely due to you not showing or submitting evidence of your work searches. Check any correspondence you may have received from your state UI agency or go to their website and look for their new/reintroduced work search requirements.

End of Pandemic Unemployment Benefits and $300 payment

All states, including those who announced an early end to one of more of the pandemic unemployment programs, are no longer paying benefit weeks after September 6th. If you are waiting for your benefit payments for weeks covered after September 6th, even if you have a balance or weeks remaining, you won’t be getting these since the federal funding provisions are no longer available.

Retroactive claims prior to September 6th would still be paid subject to adjudication and validity of your back dated claim. But this will vary on a state-by-state basis and could take some time to process.

Other Options

The above points are not exhaustive and there are many states who are just behind advancing claims or responding to issues due to antiquated systems or resource constraints which have resulted in claim processing delays through no fault of the claimant.

Also in many cases many claimants think they are eligible for payments (e.g. in the PUA program) but have not carefully read the eligibility criteria and when they apply or asked to reapply for an extension their claim gets denied. They assume it is stuck, but being denied or deemed ineligible is a different issue. However the solutions below may work for cancelled claims as well.

Get the latest money, tax and stimulus news directly in your inbox

How I Can I Get Help With My Unemployment Claim?

If you do face an issue with your claim getting stuck, denied or being put on hold, make sure you review official communication from your state UI agency or on their website to ensure you get compliant with what they are requesting and provide it via their online portals or to an official site/mailing address. Trying to fix it on your own is where you should start. It is also worth searching online (see our UI resource page) or in the many Facebook groups or forums to see if others have run into the same issue and if they had a legitimate fix. Just be very careful as there are a lot of scammers or malicious actors out there trying to steal your money and never provide sensitive information (SSN, address, phone numbers) to an unofficial or non-verified source.

In some cases, you may also find that the claim hold-o could fix itself if due to a temporary technical glitch being resolved or states finally clearing their massive backlog of pending claims that they need to manually verify. This was the case in Virginia and New York where the $300 FPCU was delayed a few times due to system and bank processing issues.

If you have done all this and still cannot get movement on your stuck or pending claim then the best course of action is to call your state unemployment agency’s customer service call center and get help from an live representative. However, reaching a live agent is no easy task and only around 10% to 20% of calls are being picked up or returned at this time given the massive volume of claims and new programs to manage.

Finally, if you cannot solve the issue around your claim getting stuck on your own or via a live agent then consider contacting your local state representative to try and get them to help with your case. This is not a silver bullet solution but these government officials often have more access to other state agencies and can guide you more effectively (especially if they want your vote in the future!).

I do know some people have contacted the media (real and social) or used alternative approaches to get attention for their pending claim, but it will be hard to get a specific resolution to your case via these means as a lot of times the reason for the claim suspension is specific to the claimant. The best advice at this point, if your claim is eligible, is to stay persistent and patient. Once your claim is approved you will be retroactively paid for any missing weeks. Feel free to leave a comment or question below this article and I’ll try and provide you some general guidance.

Subscribe via email or follow us on Facebook, Twitter or YouTube to get the latest news and updates

95 thoughts on “Top Reasons Your Unemployment Claim is Stuck, On Hold, Suspended or Still Pending (Even After End of PUA, PEUC and $300 FPUC Programs)”

  1. Laid off from my job on 8-21. Filed claims each week with New York State unemployment from 8-21 through 1-22 and never received a penny. The total claims were about $6000. Status just said “pending”. Tried calling about 50 times but each call cut out due to “high call volume”. Didn’t receive a single communication from them in all that time. I’ve been working for 28 years straight and never looked for unemployment. It’s disgraceful that citizens in this country cannot get help when they need it. BTW, you folks saying to “call your representative” make me laugh. Give that a try and see how that works out for you. We are on our own out here folks. Save as much money as you can because no one is going to help you when you need it.

    Reply
    • I’m over here in Albuquerque New Mexico been waiting 17 weeks and nothing it’s been on hold the whole time and every time I get a hold of a live agent they tell me the same s*** that they sent my case to a supervisor and it’s in the order that it’s received which is not true because I had a friend who applied for unemployment like weeks after I did and they already received theirs so and I’ve been approved for every single thing except hearing back from my employer they just need to hear back from my employer where I was working and they’re not in the handbook it says that they’re allowed to wait only 10 days and I’ve been waiting 17 weeks like it’s insane I’ve been evicted from where I was staying because I think I’m lying about getting this money I became homeless over this s*** and I’m out here in the freezing cold now trying to get paid but they owe me

      Reply
  2. Im going through this in Virginia also waiting on a appeal hearing going on 22 months now for my PUA retroactive benefits payment that I’m eligible for ,instead I’m going through hell financially and mentally this is not what they promised. !!!!!!

    Reply
    • It is the same here in New York State. I have been calling the hotline weekly. No live agent picks up. I get immediately hung up. I’ve been out of work since Thanksgiving and still nothing. Now, today I managed to find out that my claim is in pending status. Whoopee do. Still no money to pay bills.

      Reply
  3. I seriously have no clue how to receive what I’m supposedly still owed for the months of November and December of 2021. I also re-applied or tried to because the company I was working for recent months of this year 2022 went under. I am having issues being accepted now? I don’t get any of it. I have sent my ID and social more than 7 times to clear up any issues but STILL having issues of moving forward. I am in need of assistance because I keep trying to keep my head up and keep feeling like I’m just losing out even looking and trying to work. So annoying!

    Reply
  4. I lost my job as a result of “reduction in workforce”. I filed for unemployment in February, 2022, and waited and waited for benefits. I called and called and no one could tell me anything. One day, I received a phone call from the Special Investigations unit of the DOL. The agent asked me for my email and for my mother’s maiden name. He stated the email they had did not match what I gave him nor was my mother’s maiden name spelled correctly. I provided other emails I have used over the years and none of those matched the email he had on record. Apparently, the reason for the call was that someone filed a claim back in November of 2020, which was a fraudulent claim. I was instructed to file a fraud claim online, which I did and I received a confirmation from DOL, which stated I did not need to do anything further. I was told my benefits were on hold and that they would be released. Unfortunately, that did not happen. After a few more calls, not getting through and being promised someone from the Special Investigation’s unit would contact me, and they did not, I contacted our Assemblyman in Albany. A day later, I received a phone call from DOL, confirming my information, and a day after that, I received all my back pay. I thought, great! Now I will begin to receive my payments on a regular basis. Wrong! It has been two months since I received any benefits. I contacted my Assemblyman again, but no response. I have called DOL but cannot get through. My local DOL informed me they cannot help me with my benefits, they only call me to confirm that I am actively looking for work to ensure I receive my benefits. Ha!!!! I’m working my tail off looking for a new job and receiving nothing to assist me until I do. My claim is still pending and on hold. I told the local DOL that I was not going to certify for weekly benefits any more, that I gave up! It makes me mad that those on public assistance get everything handed to them and don’t have to do a thing, but because I lost my job and some idiot decided to try to file a claim in MY name, I’m being punished!

    Reply
  5. I lost my job in July 2021. I filed for unemployment and my claim has been pending since then. Six months and nothing. I call and can never reach an agent due to “high call demands”. The last time I was able to speak to an actual person, they advised me to keep claiming every week(which I have been) and still nothing. 24 weeks and no one is able to help me.

    Reply
    • Have you tried to contact your local state representative? Also your state UI should have a formal appeals process.

      Reply
      • Virginia. Dont give a hoot about nothing but they’re pockets. And you cant file an appeal if your claim is still pending.

        Reply
        • You Got that Right Payment stopped in November 2020 I couldn’t find out what the problem was til May 2021 documents were submitted per their request & here we are 2022 & nothing just being told it’s waiting on a deputy Commissioner smh.

        • Iam have the same problem here in Virginia,waiting a year for benefits whom can i write in the state, someone who willingly look into their cases.and get results, we the people of this United States should not suffer this way and pay taxes with employment, to keep electives in office, appoint a special committee to help lawsuit of vec and help the American people..

      • Need help in Virginia..can the people of the United States, put public pressure on elected officials, and come together to get benefits that will help the American people get thru this corona virus, we the people are still suffering daily..the federal government policy was for people to receive this money..

        Reply
    • I can’t even claim my weeks. The website keeps telling me my weekly claim has already been filed when it hasn’t.

      Reply
    • Try using the employer option when you call, this works often for me. I don’t use the claimant options because they all are busy. As long as I get a live person to talk to it works the same. Also, assuming you still haven’t gotten your money, when you do get your money it’s gonna be a pretty big bag so don’t give up. Good luck 2 you Monica.

      Reply
  6. The last time I received any payment from Unemployment was the week ending 7/18/2021 after that nothing. I done the IDME Video Call and sent in all documents that was requested of me. I.ve been calling unemployment everyday and spoken to plenty of Representative and Supervisors and they keep telling me the same thing that ” they sent confirmation to Keybank or to their ( unemployment ) Banking Unit. Once I call Keybank and asked them if they received any confirmation from Unemployment they say NOT YET but speaking to a Supervisor from Keybank She said all they have to do is send in a email and it only takes a minute.. I also have sent a message to Unemployment Commissioner Roberta Reader and asked her for her assistance in helping me with this matter but I haven’t as of yet heard back from her. No one should have to wait this long for help. Time’s are hard and I.m a U.S Citizen that Vote

    Reply
  7. My husband has worked all his life ! Never had to get unemployment! Paid taxes !! His dads dealership shut down in July cause his father passed away due to covid My husband signed up for unemployment in July 2021. It’s been pending ever since!! He’s applied to several jobs which he wasn’t hired! Why is he still pending. We’ve used up most of our savings to pay monthly bills since July! What’s next welfare till he gets hired?

    Reply
    • This same thing is happening to me. I list my job in July 2021 and applied for unemployment. Present day, my claim is still pending. I file every week as advised by one of the representatives that I was able to speak too. I’ve filled out forms in November and still nothing.

      Reply
    • Same here in New Mexico. I tried to file with our Human Rights Division for my Civil Rights be so violated as our Unemployment division has been closed for a year due to supposed remodel? But the website we’re forced to use is broken. Cant open critical “Correspondence” from them & can’t get thru to live rep to ask for Supervisor help to get critical Correspondence letters addressed so my Claim is forever on hold! As I lose everything I worked my whole life for. Gonna be evicted soon & I’ve been begging our Govenor Michelle Lujan Grisham for help with this disgusting mishap, & it’s election time! But no such luck. Her & Senator Ben Lujan have ignored all my pleas for help on this horrific issue hurting 100s of suffering New Mexican’s daily. & after the “Plandemic” that took so many’s people’s careers away from them! I know who I won’t be voting for & have never been more ashamed to be an American sadly.

      Reply
  8. Another sad story…. It seemed like Covid hit and everyone got to sit on their asses and find out what they really liked to do in their lives, while I delivering food, than I worked for DCFS and on my orientation papers I put I had a delivery of controlled substance charge in 2012 for giving a would be friend a couple of my hydrocodones. Trust me paid the price. I have a Bachelor’s in Social work so I have been working whatever I could until I can get back into what I wanted to do to begin with. I have one felony I’m 41 now and that has be 9 years and 7 months old and after passing all my DCFS training and Testing, I was ready to get cases at LSSI. Than Lutheran set up a Termination Meeting with me. They told me that it was DCFS’s call that LSSI wanted me and DCFS wanted 10 years past that horrible delivery of controlled felony 9 years and 7 months ago.

    Reply
    • So just go and reapply in 5 more months bro. You’re at the end of it don’t give up. In the meantime, keep filing and maki.g those calls to get your unemployment. Good luck bro ! Stay

      Reply
  9. 36 weeks processing. Pennsylvania PUA (Philadelphia), Haven’t been paid since Dec 2020. Still Processing. No other paperwork is needed. I was told this many times by well over 30 phone reps. “You just have to wait till someone gets to your file, the system is back up. Well the PUA started with me filing and ended Sept. 4th. I saw it come and go, STILL NO PAYOUT. No computer that slow or system. What are they doing trying to find a loophole so they don’t have to payout? A reason to say NO. or just need enough people broke and frustrated on the streets to keep the flow of trouble happening. I know it’s a bigger budget put in place to handle violence.

    Reply
  10. I initially filed my claim in MD on 01/03/2021. I AM STILL JUMPING THROUGH HOOPS. I am writing a formal demand letter then I am going to file a complaint through the court system. I have contacted the DOL deputy secretary, secretary, and the governor.

    Reply
  11. An error in the PA UI system would not let me file for my PEUC after my BYE date in July 2021. I called in to get assistance, was given ticket numbers and no answers or help. Finally spoke to a UC specialist who received the same error message I did while trying to finalize my PEUC application. He stated I was eligible, it was a system error, and once it was resolved I would be receiving all retroactive pay. He also said he would give me a call back. That never happened and I never received any of my PEUC payments prior to the program ending. I put in another ticket and was emailed back weeks later and the UC rep. The email mentioned nothing at all about my PEUC claim or the 7 weeks I’m owed. Instead the email stated I qualify for regular UC but that claim is under review for employment separation. No one has an answer for what happened to my PEUC claim. Will I ever get that retroactive pay? Or should I count my losses?

    Reply
  12. Im in Florida and was determined eligible for PUA because I was self employed. Since the quarterly in March 2021 they have now decided to move me to regular UI which Im not eligible for and there I still remain. Ive apparently went through identity theft and have had to upload my DL and SSN which Ive done and completed. Only to continue to claim weeks that I haven’t received. My account has locked up 3 more times, the most recent being 2 days ago…where I AGAIN had to resubmit Id AND SSN WHICH THEY SHOULD HAVE 14 COPIES OF BY NOW! I can’t call. It immediately sends me to the fraud department where I have had ZERO% SUCCESS OF TALKING TO A SINGLE PERSON IN OVER 500 CALLS! Ive applied for all the assistance programs i can, Im currently sitting with no power in my home, received an eviction notice last week and for whatever reason ALSO didnt receive my child tax payment this month. Im a single father of 2. Ive never received a child support payment in 8 years and the mother has been able to claim one of my boys every year on her taxes!!! I am beyond frustrated and haven’t the slightest clue what to do. Apparently neither does anybody else in any of these departments nationwide! Families need help and nothing is being done at all. 6 months and no progress at all…I would say patient is an understatement. Something has got to give!

    Reply
  13. I just want to say that its crazy how most of us are legit and getting the run around even after providing all documents needed however if I were a refuge or from a foreign country I could walk into this country and collect double maybe more for being from some place other than the all mighty USA no ID me no documentation not speaking English just no hassel with anything really . those people have never paid taxes here but people like us have to prove we pay taxes but the people coming from countries that we protect can just come collect our money for nothing. No questions or ID me or citizenship. Huh nothing like hurting tax paying Americans so that we can fight other countries wars only to take from us to give to non citizen foreigners…

    Reply
    • Exactly, you are an American hopefully, judging by your entitlement with an attitude like that I’m sure yours is right around the corner. #bestwishes

      Reply
    • I agree with this so much!!! This is almost exactly what I said the ones being patient humbled and most of all legit!!! Plus these laws were meant to help rescue and secure our economy boosted they give us statistics say the economy is back to normal!!!! Yet some of us just being self employed doing what we had taken care of families and loved ones facing the covid head on!!! I remember my governor say we don’t need masks than got sick!!! I guess since eventually he felt better everybody should like everyone us has a security private health care. I mean dude I really been feeding homeless people doing extra for people idk. Trying to beat higher prices for a odd jobs even by the health emergency In place all I’m saying the constitution and laws have provisions.. Shouldn’t we be able to report our state agency’s for fraud instead of them routinely reporting us!!!.

      Reply
    • Another family who can’t agree any more so.. It makes us so sick to Think that everybody comes to the good old USA with nothing but when they leave they leave with an education ,no loans for school ,they get paid , get a Social Security number etc.. so who wouldn’t want to come to America and get everything handed to them we look like the laughingstock of a country..I’m pretty sure we’re not banging on other countries doors to better ourselves!!

      Reply
    • Nope! Neither. Never collected Unemployment in my life. Just recently lost my job due to the Vaccine Mandate! Which I feel, should be “FREEDOM OF CHOICE!” Have worked in the Medical field for Assisted Living for over 7 1/2 years, loved every minute of it! Worked through Covid, when Alot of people bailed! And now that I need help, everyone has an excuse! If Unemployment is willing to give me a job, I’d be happy to go to work, so people like me can get the benefits they deserve! Thank u for listening!

      Reply
  14. Please I need helpi haven’t received 5 weeks of check don’t know how to go about it no nothing about computers I did speak to a girl 3 weeks ago she gave me a ID# and said some one will get in touch in 10 days no one called can’t get through what can I do I’m 88 yrs old in good shape still want to work. Can someone please advise me thank you

    Reply
  15. I’m in NY.
    received Monetary Determination letter in April 2021. Have been certifying each week and the only thing on my status page says Claim is still being processed.
    Today I received an email stating
    “This letter is proof that you have received all your eligible payments…..”
    Ummm, this letter is not proof, because I have not received one penny!
    I tried calling and “due to high call volumes, please call back…… click.
    What to do????
    Help!!

    Reply
    • Same. Have only been able to speak to about three people since august of 2021. Mine has been pending since July 2021

      Reply
  16. 15 weeks payment on hold. Nobody knows anything about it. They just say it’s waiting for approval. No notifications or anything. Bull crap

    Reply
    • I’m still waiting for payments beginning in mid March through the end of June. They finally helped start them in July, but never bothered to pay the earlier benefits. I’ve called, I’ve emailed, nothing seems to work.

      Reply
    • Yes! Me too!! So incredibly aggravating! Every time I call a rep it’s the same BS answer, we are waiting for them to make a decision. This Sunday will be my 15th week of certification and it still says pending issues. How long does it take to make a damn decision? I emailed the director of CO unemployment but of course no response and have escalated it twice now. I even asked for a call back from a supervisor and was told well there’s no guarantee they can call you back. I’m excuse me, they better freaking call me back or I am going to talk to them in person at the unemployment office. This is just insane that I have been waiting since July 2022 to get even one payment. I don’t understand why they can’t pay you for at least one month and then just take it back if you’re not supposed to get it. Grrrr!

      Reply
  17. My daughter has been summitting every week she was showing me she received a few payments then around May until now all she gets in reply is pending…. PENDING ……. PENDINGGGGGGG (PENNSYVANIA)

    Reply
  18. I am praying for you. I hope everything works in your favor. I’ve been in escalation since April 29th 2021. I haven’t got paid since April 17th, 2021. A supervisor put in mine manually and did not update for the following week. Now, it is saying last paid week 4/17/21 next payable week 4/17/21. I was told escalation takes up to 8 weeks, it’s now June 30th and nothing has changed on my status. I was told I have to wait another 8 weeks because a rep put in another escalation. This is just pissing me off. All I can do at this point is pray. I know God will answer our prayers. Best of luck to you. God bless!!

    Reply
    • Oh wow! Eight weeks?!? That sounds like my situation I haven’t received payments since May 17th and the escalation was sent on thr 25th. I’m still waiting.. Did yours go through yet?

      Reply
      • Hi Ariell. Same with me. I faxed them documents to prove who I am on May 24th which was my deadline date. I got the letter 1 day prior. I been unemployed since this covid crap started(April 20th). I have 9 weeks of pay held. Rent is late & utility shut off notices are coming.

        Reply
    • I’ve also been waiting…
      4 months now!
      They say, still pending.
      Pending what!!? I worked 9.5 years with no time off. What’s the deal?
      I can’t believe it’s taking this long to process.

      Reply
      • I just want to say that its crazy how most of us are legit and getting the run around even after providing all documents needed however if I were a refuge or from a foreign country I could walk into this country and collect double maybe more for being from some place other than the all mighty USA no ID me no documentation not speaking English just no hassel with anything really . those people have never paid taxes here but people like us have to prove we pay taxes but the people coming from countries that we protect can just come collect our money for nothing. No questions or ID me or citizenship. Huh nothing like hurting tax paying Americans so that we can fight other countries wars only to take from us to give to non citizen foreigners…

        Reply
    • My name is Stacey too, that’s the exact same thing happened to me. I’m on my second escalation, since June 12 here it is September 28 2021. It’s a shame I have no money to pay my bills‍♀️

      Reply
    • Hey how u doing do u got paid yet cause I’m on escalate for 16 weeks and nothing i apply for unemployment since April 2021

      Reply
      • My claim has been in escalation almost a year now I just keep getting told it’s in ESCALATION!!!!!! Ughhhh.

        Reply
    • We can feel your frustration and aggravation along with stressation (not a real word lol).. My husband work over 40 plus yrs and was blessed to have been.. However we had to open up a claim then did ID.ME received the paperwork given us the Green light to start claiming benefits!! Yah couldn’t believe how smooth it went… NOT.. claim our benefits for the first time and heard Not Payable.. Many phone calls were made even to Our State Legislators Offices..The Representative from Unemployment who we spoke to keep on saying my husband birthdate he was correcting her to the right year.. Now our claim is in Monetary hold.. Aggravation to say the least so because of our state representative mistake now took away food from our mouth and bills that need to be paid it’s terrible to think how incompetent somebody is working for our state keep one day at a time ask God to give us strength to get through these trying difficult days God bless everybody

      Reply
  19. So sorry to hear what everybody is going thru, tried for the past few weeks to get verified, 1 mistake made on that stupid system I cannot move forward. I’ve been stuck on the same screen for weeks asking support for help and they can never give me answers to my questions. This whole system sucks!!!

    Reply
      • I’ve been in kwese since last September, I’ve written hand written letters, email ed them called beyond belief. First ID.me and now fact finding, which I’ve been there since May. They are just trying to buy time until September 6th. So they don’t have to pay anything. You might think your going to get paid . Don’t be surprised what happens. And then on top off that they was going to lock me up on food stamp fraud. I wasn’t and still not getting unemployment, but their records say I am. And I can’t do anything about it

        Reply
  20. I haven’t received my benefits for 6 weeks and I’m facing eviction. I have attempted every solution listed in this article to no avail. I am absolutely fed up with this lack of competence displayed by my elected officials in Ohio. It will definitely be reflected in the polls

    Reply
    • I’m in nj and it the worst I initially applied in 4/12/20. Didn’t get first payment until first week of June to this day they owe me backpayments. On March 3/20/21 before the year they stopped my pay. After 100 calls with representative that give you absolutely no information I was finally able to understand that I was waiting for I’d. Me email to verify my identity. They never send tht link I was able to acquire that ink by reaching out to my local senators office. Took me a month to verify with I’d.me ridiculous and now three weeks after still waiting for njdol to release payments. Called today and I have to Waite for a specialist to call me about my claim and all those weeks I had been claiming up until 6/12/21 magically disappeared (how convenient) and the system won’t let me ceritify . They are playing games. It’s very clear to me now .

      Reply
      • I have the same problem , been since June 2020 , and still waiting on a adjudicator to contact me , I just got through again today after again and a Candace picked up the phone, put me on hold and got disconnected. Really disgusting how they treat the American workers . Worked my whole life ,never took a penny from anyone and payed more than my share of taxes and they treat us like second class citizens.

        Reply
    • I agree, I haven’t been paid for 10 weeks, I’ve had to borrow money from family and friends just to keep my utilities on and food on my table! I uploaded employment verification per their request and was told by an adjudicator it was uploaded into a 1040 tab instead of where it should have went?? I’m not letting up on this claim I have a legitimate claim & they owe me! I need to pay people back funds they so generously gave to help during this unemployment nightmare!!

      Reply
  21. I been put on Hold for 4 weeks on MD and They said i had a job. and i haven’t had a job since March 2020 and i have three kids in my home and i Have asked for them to reopen my case and it still haven’t done anything yet they said it’s because they are verification that i don’t have a job and i dont and it’s sticks that they put my account on hold. i been home with my kids taking care of them. and i been applying for jobs on Indeed and the Md jobs doent even have much jobs to apply for. in my job description and they want me to apply there and no one hires on that app. It sticks and i thing they need more telemark work so if they are not going to hire in person at least over phone hiring will be better.

    Reply
  22. I’m happy to know I’m not going through this alone. I feel everyone’s pain for sure. I lost my job at the end of February I applied and my acct has been loved ever since. I have sent in ids like requested and still nothing. I have thought of ending my life over this because I can’t pay my bills and so stressed out. I have no one to talk to. The one friend I have think I’m stupid and thinks I did something to make this happen. She likes to throw digs out because she’s getting help left and right knowing im suffering. I’ve tried everything everyone else has tried. I have been told the same things everyone else has said. It’s crazy and we are in different states. I hope and pray that each and everyone of you get your money and get back on your feet. I hope that you all come out way better after it’s all over with. I know the pain this has caused all of you. I cry all time. I even emailed the state rep and she pretty much told to go out and job it’s not that easy when you can’t even think straight. Because of the problems this has caused it’s bad enough loosing your job and the way that makes you feel. Knowing that I’m not alone going through somehow it’s telling me that taking my is not worth.

    Reply
  23. my claim is on hold because of a underpayment from 2013?!?! after they gave me benefits for 9months then without any warning nothing for 5 weeks now and my ebt just stopped the same week.. no warning just starving

    Reply
    • Hi there! I’m so sorry to hear you’re going through this! EBT should not have stopped. EBT has increased by 15% until September 6, 2021, so you should get the highest amount of EBT in your state. Mine is 430 in Alabama and on the 1st you get an additional $94 every month on top of what you get the same day every month. I would definitely call and find out why it has stopped. If you download the EBT Fresh app it will have updates on the EBT increase. Good luck and I’m praying you get some info and yourEBT starting back.

      Reply
    • I have received a notice of monetary determination 2 weeks ago , was given a confirmation number as well. when I call to get answers as to why I have not received payments for the last 2 weeks, I’m told my unemployment is being reviewed or processed but yet still no payment..have I done something wrong as I had to change my portal in between getting the notice and not being paid! they gave me codes like L.O. 4 and F.C. 19 which no one can explain the codes to me .. its very frustrating and I can not help but to feel they are holding back information on me .

      Reply
      • Hi there! You should have gotten payments directly after you got your monetary determination in the mail.
        (I got my payment before since the mail is running so late)
        I have a pending issue on my unemployment claim right now because I had to file a completely new initial claim because they apparently owe me money from PUA. Plus, I only got 9 weeks of regular UI when in Alabama it’s supposed to be 14-20. So I got a letter stating I have money left from the CCA (Continued Cares Act) it’s been over a week and still haven’t gotten paid. I know a lot of people who have had pending issues and it’s been weeks but I have been paid in a timely manner since March 2020 when I first filed. There is a new portal for my state (Alabama) to upload your driver’s license, SS card, etc for identity verification. Good luck to you and I’m praying everything works out!

        Reply
    • No I really don’t mine have been on hold since February. I have never seen nothing like this in my life. We as taxpayers really need to make changes. They keep telling me that COVID related issues.I tell you this we as taxpayers need to contact our legislators to find out what is going on that people pay into the system and now we can’t get the money that we paid into the system to get benefits. I need help to feed myself as well as my family. Please help me

      Reply
  24. I received my weekly benefit amount but I didn’t get my extra 300 how do I know if I will get it I still have eligible claims and a6000 dollars balance will I receive my extra 300 and how can I find out

    Reply
  25. I have repeatedly call to discuss my unemployment in Alabama. Each time I was told that since I answered a question wrong (a question with no correct response to choose for my situation) that I now have to wait for them to play catch up. That there are people as far back as may 2020 who are back logged. From the first call to the last call it’s always the same conversation! I even had one of the charity organizations that have a volunteer to help with unemployment try to help but she said everything is good I qualify but was all she could do I’d just have to wait.

    This has been since November and even with a job now it’s impossible to get catch up! Especially with huge rise in prices everywhere!

    Please help
    Lisa

    Reply
    • My husband’s claim was paid once in August ( last year) and then we started with the lust of issues. We’re in Alabama too. The first thing was it said he was on leave of absence. ( Cleared that up) then it was flagged for possible fraud. Had to fax ( not email) all the stuff again. The lady said 2 weeks ago they’re backed up. But who knows…..
      Have you had any updates on yours?

      Reply
  26. Like many others I have been stuck since the Fraud knowing questionnaire showed up on April 14th 2021, right away I uploaded documentation they asked for and then waited a couple weeks for the determination. When nothing was happening I began calling everyday, sometimes multiple times to see why I am still pending when I am who I say I am. A couple representatives said everything looked good and they would add a note saying all was good on their end so no need to acquire any further information. When I called back in a couple days later I was told I needed to upload a second form of id and since that was missing most likely my case went thru the adjudicators multiple times and was skipped over. Instantly after getting off the phone I took a selfie holding my id under my chin as she requested… She said to wait 24 hours for my documents to load on their end and to call back for them to make a determination based on the proof I sent… I waited and called back to get a very rude rep telling me to wait…. As of this past Sunday I have certified my 5th week and still nothing. My landlord served and eviction and my car is due for repossession due to defaulting on payment agreements I have made with both… I can’t eat or sleep from worrying about losing everything I just built back up from a bone/blood infection I almost died from a couple years ago that put me in the hospital getting 30 staples in my back and neck then a nursing home while I learned how to walk again. I had only the clothes on my back after losing everything then. I cant handle rebuilding again. I have worked so hard for the things I have right now… I dont know what to do anymore !!!!

    Reply
    • Mine has been stopped since then too and no one will help (from Maine). I have so many late payments and fees that Im seriously scared for my financial well-being (Im only 21, this could effect my future). And no place will hire me, Ive been applying for work since April 10th.
      Please share if you get your checks and if they end up getting back to you! Id love to know what to do…

      Reply
  27. Going on 8 weeks without a payment…I have certified through I’d.me…they have put the money into my online account….but still says pending….5/23 will be 10 weeks..this sucks!!

    Reply
    • Yep 10 weeks for me and no answers! Calls are not answered, emails not responded to.
      10 weeks of calling and emailing and stressing! For what?? Nothing, apparently. So I get it, the stress, the uncertainty. It all leads you to believe that nobody actually gives a crap about you. No light at the end of the tunnel. I understand devastation and disappointment more than I though possible.
      Getting assistance from churches, friends and family is no way to keep living.

      Reply
      • Same here but 17 weeks (INDIANA), PUA is approved but UI still pending. But all my vouchers, etc…say “no issues.” Why can’t they just take the yellow box that reads “attention: something is wrong with your account” OFF. They have done it before. Car already repossessed, we don’t get snap or foodstamps, so very I go hungry most of the time to make sure kids eat…normal circumstances, CPS would take your kids for lack of food in the house. House in forbearance, then probably forclosure. Have no internet and disconnects for utilities. I am 50+ and have worked all my life, youngest is 15. Thank you Indiana Unemployment for….ruining my credit, taking my car, and probably house and letting me starve. Karma sucks.

        Reply
    • Hi, I feel your pain. I filed my application on 04/06 and case it’s still pending. Sent 3 escalations and nothing have been processed. Now, my state just removed the online chat agents and the phone lines are always busy (which I think its BS). Its insane and disrespectful, we are all struggling some more than others but we are all trying to survive and not starve. I’m literally about to loose my mind, Saving are gone and summer its here with 3 children it’s hard to keep food on the table and a roof on our head.

      Reply
      • I hate to admit it but I’m getting there.ive been working construction for over 30 years and never collected.

        Reply
    • I’m having the same problem but I got verified Tuesday how long did it take you to get your benefits back that stop mine 2 weeks so far

      Reply
    • I’m in Ohio , it’s been 10 weeks I haven’t been paid PUA, their good about flagging you but when it comes to fixing any issues after providing them the information they requested it’s taking forever! Good luck on your end. I’m not letting up on my claim it’s very legitimate and their responsibility to get things DONE right!!
      It’s definitely a failed system!

      Reply
  28. AGREED 150% FOR MARYLAND AS WELL! LAST YEAR, I WENT 5 MONTHS WITH NO $ AND 100’S OF LETTERS TO THE GOVERNOR, 50 STATES CONGRESSIONAL REPS WHO ARE SUPPOSED TO BE HELPING US BC TIFFANY ROBINSON @ MDOL DOES THINGS SLOPPILY. ALWAYS HAS. ALWAYS WILL. LOST ME HOME OF 53 YEARS & MY CAR. . .OF COURSE – AFTER LOSING MY JOB. HAD TO FILE FOR SOCIAL SECURITY 57 YEARS EARLY. WORKED ALL MY LIFE AND PLANNED TO WORK THRU RETIREMENT AGE. OUR BLESSED STINKING GOVERNMENT CUT MY SOCIAL SECURITY BENEFITS FROM 1800 A MONTH (@ RETIREMENT AGE) TO 700 A MONTH, BC I WAS FORCED TO TAKE IT EARLY . . . ALL BC MDOL WOULDN’T DO THEIR FRIGGING JOB. DMOCRATS WANT US GVNMT DEPENDANT AND IT IS SICK DISGUSTING. WORKED MY ASS OFF ALL MY LIFE, RAISED 3 CHILDREN & NOW WHAT? HOMELESS. NO CAR OR JOB. YES MY DEAR PEOPLE – THIS IS THE GOLDEN YEARS – AHEAD OF ITS’ TIME. ALL THE GLORIFIED LIES THAT MDOL HAS THEIR ACT TOGETHER IS JUST THAT. MORE LIES. ENSURING THEY KEEP THEIR JOBS – ALLOWING THE BACKLOG TO STAY OFF THE CHARTS. GO TO HELL GOVERNMENT. KEEP SUPPORTING OTHER COUNTRIES AND GIVING THEM MONEY OUT OF OUR POCKETS, WHILE YOU LITERALLY STARVE US AND CHEAT US OUT OF EVERYTHING WE HAVE WORKED FOR OUR WHOLE LIVES. START WITH SHUMER AND PELOSI – LYING BACKSTABBING FAKE ASS 6 FIGURE SALARIES THAT SHOWS THEY DON’T GIVE A DAMN ABOUT ANYTHING BUT BEING POWER HUNGRY VULGER HOOD RATS. SURE PELOSI – U WANT TO DEFUND THE POLICE, YET PAY 6 FIGURES PLUS A YEAR FOR SECURITY. WOULDN’T WANT TO MEET YOUR MAKER. KARMA IS A *&^%$. SO IF YOU WANT TO GET YOUR UNEMPLOYMENT MONEY – KEEP CALLING. KEEP THEM STEADILY EMPLOYED AND HIGH BAKLOGS – BC THEY ARE NOT GOING TO HELP YOU. THEY DONT GIVE A HOOT HONESTLY. NEITHER DOES THE MEDIA OR ANY OF BIDEN’S THEFT OF ELECTION POSITIONS. GIVE IT UP.

    Reply
  29. Had 11 weeks deposited into my account early Feb. Was unable to claim and to this day receive only error messages, telling me my claim can’t be processed at this time. Called NJDOL and they admitted to putting down the wrong date, escalated my claim. Spoke to NJDOL APRIL 22nd and was told that I’d receive an email or phone call on April 26th. TODAY April 30th? I called AGIAN because I received NOTHING. The agent on the phone now tells me my claim has to be escalated AGAIN. So now I have to wait ANOTHER 4-8 weeks! Money is in my claim balance! They won’t let me touch it until it’s reviewed! For the 3rd TIME! Over 16 weeks without government approved assistance!! GOVERNMENT APPROVED!!! I’m 50 years old, divorced, with two children. One of which is in college!! The NJDOL is currently ruining my life, if they haven’t done so already! I’ve lost my apartment, car, life savings, and my daughters college money that I started saving at age 25!! Before I EVEN HAD KIDS! Every CORRECT financial decision that I made in my life has been destroyed by the very state that I was born and raised in! I’ve emailed EVERYONE in this state asking for help. And have received ZERO replies. Even the NJDOL’s commissioner! Who has his own Twitter account, ignored the 50+ tweets and DM’s. Even the one I sent last week telling him I’ll be homeless after TODAY! And probably dead soon after. And still NOTHING! Newspapers and media don’t want the real story of what’s happening! And it’s not only me! This is not the way I thought my life would end! I’ve busted my ass for 35 years. Had money taken out of my check every week for unemployment! And this is money that the President of the United States approved! FOR PEOPLE WHO LOST THEIR JOB! A job worth 6 figures!! A job I did since the age of 15!!! I’ve commented on here before, several times. All ignored!!! So yea I’d gladly reach out to a state representative!! Problem is I’ve already done that. The NJDOL loves to tell us to be patient and wait like everyone else. But THEY don’t seem to understand, THE BILLS I PAY FOR LIFES Necessities will not be patient and will not wait! I believe I speak for a lot of other NJ natives when I say “NEW JERSEY IS WITHOUT A DOUBT THE WORST PLACE TO START A LIFE”. On the news or in the paper, I always hear about all the money the US just hands out to third world countries without blinking an eye! But when we have a crisis RIGHT HERE? The money goes out but only to the states that know what the hell they’re doing. How about giving us an ACTUAL EMAIL address for someone or some ANYTHING that won’t be sent back? Every .gov email apparently isn’t working anymore. Especially the ones having to do with THIS MAJOR PROBLEM!!

    I will say this though. I did receive ONE reply. And I received it 10 minutes after I sent it too! Unfortunately it was from the DOL for PA!! The DOL from another state responded to an email that wasn’t meant for them and had no reason to answer it AT ALL! But they did, and they apologized for the situation NEW JERSEY put me in. And that I emailed the wrong agency. Lol. But an important email to the NJDOL? Hahahahaha. This place is a joke!! The commissioner is a joke! If the DOL is so backed up? Why not give some of the 200k unemployed people in NJ SOME JOBS!!!!

    Reply
    • For one thing, NEVER EVER EVER send an email and expect to get help. I learned that the hard way. Also, don’t ask for help from people who answer the phones. Most of these people are uneducated morons who don’t know their a$$ from a hole in the ground. You need to ask for a specialist when you phone, or schedule a callback from a specialist. Secondly, you need to leave any and all correspondence you have with your local unemployment office. If the office is closed, like it is in my state, they should have a drop box located near the entrance to the building. LEAVE ALL CORRESPONDENCE YOU HAVE IN THIS BOX. In my state, they check these boxes multiple times daily. I would write a long letter explaining your situation as kindly as you can . This will go a long way towards fixing your problem. Include copies of ALL documentation you have that could help your claim. The more the better. Also, this is a “just in case,” include a copy of your driver’s license. On each page of correspondence, it is IMPERITIVE that you include your Claimant ID, your Date of birth, and your social security number, because documents can and do get lost all the time. Having this information on your correspondence is vital in getting your claims resolved without adding more and unnecessary time. Also, DO NOT, I REPEAT, DO NOT TRY FAXING AS AN ALTERNATIVE. I have already done this with no results to speak of. It wasn’t until I found the drop box at my local office that things started moving for me. Remember, EMAILS DO NOT WORK, FAXING DOESNT WORK, BUT CORRESPONDENCE BY DROPBOX DOES!! Remember also, to try and schedule calls with a SPECIALIST, not the well meaning but clueless rep who answers the phone.

      Reply
      • Hi Abby. My names Dave. I am going on 9 weeks pay held in Ohio. Gave um all the info & still waiting, calln’ 3 times a week. Same old bullshit. I’m gonna try it ur way. Be safe & God Bless

        Reply
        • Hello Dave , it’s been 10 weeks for me! I’m going to try and do the drop box here in Columbus Ohio. It’s been very frustrating and stressful! I can’t believe it’s such as mess!

    • I relate to so may things you’ve all have said. I feel the same way as you Frankie. I worked hard, was making good money, and now I’m losing it all…Is there no recourse we can take? I’ve tried everything, written, called and emailed everyone, including legislators. I email and call multiple times a day. Now it’s even harder to get a job because of my credit sinking..and the fact that I’m rarely able to stop crying. I’m a 61 year old divorced RN and PT Asst. 36 years and being a Wound Specialist is my forte. My position was terminated after healing most of the wounds in the building. They decided to hire a less expensive, untrained LPN for 20-30K less a year…..I feel used by the company, betrayed by the government and humiliated by society. By the way, My RN degree is an Associates, hospitals only hire you if you have a BSN, now (“Magnet Status”). My experience, excellent outcomes, and compassionate, insightful patient care seems to be of no value..

      Reply
  30. I’ve been waiting 42 weeks now because I misnamed a question they got it cleared a month ago and I woke up to a fraud issue now. I can’t win with this now I’m still waiting and all they say is I turned in all needed verification and I’m just waiting for adjudication team to sign off. Now I call a couple times a week and get no where with this matter I can’t feed myself or my children I’m losing everthing I busted my tail off for. This is so unfair and no one cares. When will I be paid I need my money. I can’t find a job no one wants to hire like I need this badly fixed.

    Reply

Leave a Comment