Washingtonian not able to get unemployment or a response for 8 weeks

For anyone trying to navigate through the unemployment claim system in Washington state, it’s been exceedingly difficult. Tens of thousands of folks still haven’t had anything resolved, and have not yet received unemployment benefits. A recent guest on the Jason Rantz Show explained her own experience.

Hanna was scheduled to start a new job at a salon in March, but of course they were closed down under the stay-at-home order and are not expected to reopen until at least early June. That leaves Hanna in a really tough spot. She says she hasn’t had much help from the Washington Employment Security Department, and what makes her situation unique is that she left a job to take a new one she never got to start.

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“I was supposed to start at a salon on March 23 and because of the stay-at-home order, everything has been closed down. … I have tried to file for unemployment. I submit weekly claims, I call dozens of times a day, and I cannot get through to anyone to figure out what is going on,” she said.

Does she even know the status of her file?

“No. I know that I was given an automatic denial response and then I was told that I have to go through an appeals process and set up a hearing, because the option that I selected from my unemployment was not legitimate, I guess, even though it was one of the many options that they gave you on the website.”

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That option was “I was scheduled to start a job, no longer have a job, or I am unable to reach the job as a direct result of the COVID-19 public health emergency, that’s a direct quote. … I still have not gotten a clarification or an answer and it’s been over eight weeks,” Hanna said.

So how was has she been surviving during this time?

“Luckily enough, my husband is still able to work so we have his income. But definitely, we’ve had to change how we live, because without my second income it’s just definitely different, and it’s been difficult, but I know there are people in a far worse situations than I am,” she said.

She understands that it’s a busy time, but ultimately expects more from the government.

“I know that it’s a crazy time for everyone and that the unemployment office is very busy. But I’m a citizen of this state and I have not gotten any response or anything,” she said. “So I feel like, where are you now? I’m a tax-paying citizen. I have tried to help out and do whatever I can for this state, but I’m not seeing anything in return.”

Listen to the Jason Rantz Show weekday afternoons from 3 – 6 p.m. on KTTH 770 AM (or HD Radio 97.3 FM HD-Channel 3). Subscribe to the podcast here.

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