Unemployment benefits update

[sonia]

I got a call today from an Employment Department worker! The phone number said it was from Albuquerque, and the only reason I answered it was that I was expecting another call at that time. When the expected person did call I checked in with them and said my apologies and I would call them back in a few minutes!

He told me they're doing the process in steps, assigning everyone the minimum benefits and then a few weeks later (!) sending the cases to the people who adjust the benefits based on income. So my case is finally ready to be sent along. He verified that they have my taxes, they have all my weeks of claims, the way I've been reporting income is okay (even if people paid in advance, I report the income when I do the session), and I will get a back check in a couple of weeks. Yay!

It feels so much better not to be facing a blank wall where I've already done everything I can do and I'm just not getting a response. (I have a lot of trauma around scenarios like that.) So relieved!

Thank you all for your comments and suggestions on my previous post. It was lovely to have camaraderie in the face of uncertainty.

I don't know if contacting an Oregon representative nudged the process, but it certainly didn't hurt. I have been enjoying the daily newsletters I signed up for from a couple of representatives, as sanguinity suggested. They are caring as well as informative.

Comments

[sanguinity]

Yay hooray! \o/

[sonia]

:-) Thanks again for the help!

I'm getting a daily newsletter from Michael Dembrow, but nothing from Tina Kotek as far as I can tell, and the system says I'm signed up for both. Are you getting two separate newsletters?

[sanguinity]

Yup. They usually arrive within a half-hour of each other. I've already received both for this evening.

[sonia]

Thanks for the info! I have now unsubscribed and re-subscribed. Maybe that will help.

[silveradept]

Good. Glad that it is working as needed, even if slower than wanted.

[sonia]

Thanks! Me too!

[jesse_the_k]

Excellent news, I'm glad that's one fewer thing on The List.

[sonia]

Yeah! And someday they might even pay me...

[elainegrey]

Congratulations! I am so happy to hear that, sorry that the communication about process wasn't more clear.

[sonia]

Thanks! Yeah, communication about process has been non-existent, so there's a ton of room for improvement there.

[amethyst73]

Whew! I'm so glad to hear that the process is FINALLY moving along for you!

[sonia]

Thanks! Apparently I got the call because I was one of 450 people who messaged Tina Kotek about it. Which is great, except what about all the people who don't have a friend to suggest that!