How To Get In Touch With The Unemployment Office

Why Didn’t I Get My Unemployment Benefits

There are several reasons that your unemployment benefits could have stopped. The simplest explanation is that you have used up all the benefits available to you.

Benefits vary by state, so unemployment compensation depends on your location and your individual claim.

There could also be an issue with your claim. Arasteh notes that when she worked for a nonprofit workforce-development organization, some of her clients said that their checks had unexpectedly stopped. In some cases, she learned that they had answered “No” to the question of whether they were actively searching for a job, causing the unemployment insurance claims to be flagged, and their checks to be stopped.

Arasteh notes that working with a career counselor or career-development agency may have met the job-search requirement, but clients either did not know that or did not know what would happen if they were to answer “No.”

If your benefits have stopped, and you are unsure why, you should check with your state unemployment office for clarification.

State Application Requirements For Your Unemployment Claim

The Unemployment Compensation program is a joint program funded both by the states and by the federal government. However, you apply for unemployment and receive benefits directly from the state and in accordance with its specific eligibility rules.

State unemployment offices procedures can vary based on the following:

• Locations
• Procedures for filing for unemployment claims
• Ways in which you can file, ie. via telephone, online, or in person
• Amount of unemployment benefits to which you are eligible
• Length of time you can collect unemployment benefits
• Unemployment extensions
• Job and workforce requirements and expectations

In other words, the procedures and application process for filing for unemployment in Alabama may differ from those in New York. Precisely why you must contact your state unemployment office directly for specific filing details.

Unemployment Insurance Claimant Advocate Office

Navigating your Unemployment Insurance claim, hearing or appeal may seem frustrating or confusing at times. We can help!

The Claimant Advocate Office operates within the Department of Labor’s Unemployment Insurance Division, separate from the Telephone Claims Center . Advocates provide free, impartial and confidential services that help claimants, particularly those with limited English proficiency or other barriers, understand their rights and responsibilities under Unemployment Insurance Law.

What issues can the Claimant Advocate Office assist with?

• You’ve received a determination or a questionnaire and don’t fully understand it
• You were found ineligible for benefits and need the hearing process explained to you and
• You have an upcoming hearing or appeal and need help preparing for it.

When should I contact the Telephone Claims Center instead of the Claimant Advocate Office?

• You wish to file a new claim.
• You would like an update on the status of your new or existing claim.
• You have a specific question about your claim.
• You were instructed to contact the claims center.

I am not fluent in English. Can an advocate assist me?

Yes! Services are provided in approximately 200 languages. We can explain the Unemployment Insurance process in the language in which you are comfortable speaking.

How do I contact an advocate for help?

If you prefer to speak to an advocate, please call 528-5618. Our hours of operation are Monday – Friday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

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Georgia Unemployment Phone Numbers

Use the GDOL automated telephone system, GDOL IVR, Interactive Voice Response System to access locations of GDOL Career Centers, claim weekly unemployment benefits, set a PIN for unemployment insurance, get information about a job listed on Job TV, or inquire about weekly unemployment payments. The IVR toll-free number is 1-866-598-4164.

Some of the other numbers related to unemployment insurance are as follows:

Be prepared for long wait times as many people attempt to call. Be patient and you will get through someone who can assist you. Try to be polite to the staffers as they are overworked and are doing everything they can do to help all the people who are contacting them.

Georgia Department Of Labor Contact Numbers

Its hard to get a hold of a live agent at the GDOL, and they strongly encourage you to use their online portal, but their UI customer service can be reached via 404-232-3001 or 877-709-8185. They also have a general number at 404-232-3990 per their official service directory. For more on the various comments and hundreds of comments around challenges with filing and get paid see the GA UI Forum page.

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Career Center Regional Operations: 404

Administrative oversight to statewide network of GDOL Career Centers, which provide direct customer services for all programs administered by the GDOL.

• 404-232-3500: Agricultural Job Postings
• 404-232-3260: Child Labor Laws and Regulations
• 404-232-3543: Federal Bonding Assistance
• 404-232-3520: Jobs for Georgia Graduates
• 888-655-9340: Migrant and Seasonal Farmworker Advocate
• 404-232-3530: Rapid Response

Program which provides temporary income to eligible individuals who are unemployed through no fault of their own .

• 404-232-3325: Appeals to the Board of Review
• 404-232-3900: Appeals to Hearing Officers
• 404-232-3265: Electronic Wage Reporting
• 404-232-3050: Partial Claims Filing for Employers
• 404-232-3001: UI Customer Service

Information about occupational, industrial, and economic statistics, as well as wages and future trends in Georgia.

Other Types Of Benefits And Programs For The Unemployed

Educational Help

Federal agencies offer many unemployment education and training programs. They are generally free or low cost to the unemployed.

Self-Employment Help

Self-employment assistance programs help unemployed workers start their own small businesses. Delaware, Mississippi, New Hampshire, New York, and Oregon offer this program.

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What Information Do I Need To Apply

When you apply for unemployment, you’ll need to provide information that identifies you and your last employer. Depending on how long you worked at your last position, you may also need to submit information about your previous employment.

State requirements vary, but typically, unemployment programs will ask for information like:

• Your Social Security number

Here’s how to file a claim for unemployment, and information about what you need to file for unemployment online.

How Do I Contact Uia

MICHIGAN WEB ACCOUNT MANAGER

From your MiWAM account home page:

• “Chat with an agent” during regular business hours of M-F between 8 a.m.- 5 p.m.
• “Send Unemployment a message” during non-business hours.

UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE CUSTOMER SERVICE LINE

CLAIMANTS Call 1-866-500-0017 – Monday – Friday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. EMPLOYERS: Call 1-855-484-2636 – Monday – Friday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

• If you need a Spanish-speaking representative, wait until you hear the option in Spanish. For all other languages, the customer service representative will connect you to a translator for assistance.
• If you are hearing impaired, TTY service is available at 1-866-366-0004

Fax protests or other correspondence to: 517-636-0427 Fax appeals to 616-356-0739. Please include your name, Michigan Identification Number , signature and date on all correspondence.

MAIL

Protests only: Unemployment Insurance Agency, P.O. Box 169, Grand Rapids, MI 49501-0169Appeals only: Unemployment Insurance Agency, P.O. Box 124, Grand Rapids, MI 49501-0124

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Alternative Ways To Contact Your State Unemployment Office For Answers To Your Pua Peuc And $300 Weekly Benefit Claim And Payment Questions

Its no secret that its been a constant challenge to try and get in touch with someone at your state unemployment office for issues with your unemployment claims and/or benefit processing questions. This has been exacerbated with 2021 extensions to the PUA and PEUC program that has left states scrambling to update their antiquated IT systems and created mass confusion for jobless people who are stuck in unemployment benefits limbo .

Whats worse is that even if you do get through to a live agent/representative to get clarity on why certain benefits have stopped or are not being paid, you may end up getting vague or incorrect answers . This has create a lot of anger and left people desolate as they are in desperate need of their UI benefits to make ends meet.

What is also happening is that many of the state unemployment representatives are new and are themselves dealing with the antiquated systems many state unemployment departments have, so if you feel like you are getting the run around ask to speak to a manager or someone who has access to do something with your claim. Dont let them transfer you or give you the run around. A good tip I heard was to get their name and ID number so you can use their name when talking to them or on the other end you can use their name if escalating an issue or want to file a complaint.

If Calling Does Not Work Try These Alternative Contact Options to Get Information on Your Unemployment Claim

Common Unemployment Claims Questions And Answers

Being unemployed is stressful, and sometimes the unemployment benefits process can add to that stress. It can be difficult to get through to the unemployment office to get help with your questions or resolve issues with your claims.

During times of high unemployment, the process of filing can be even more difficult. Wait times are often longer, and online systems become overwhelmed by the volume of applications. Economic crises can strain application systems that were intended for a far simpler process.

If you are having a problem getting through to unemployment, or an issue with your unemployment claim, the following FAQ will help you navigate the unemployment system and get some answers.

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New York Unemployment Number

Here are the best contact numbers and tips to get in touch a live agent at the NY DOL. See the New York Department of Labor resource page for more information and reader comments.

• New Claim: 1-888-209-8124. This is the Telephone Claims Center . Open from Monday Friday 8:00 AM 7:30 PM & Saturday and Sunday 7:30 AM 8:00 PM
• Pending Claims: 1-800-833-3000
• Weekly Certification: 1-888-581-5812 or 1-833-324-0366 .. PLEASE NOTE: PUA recipients need to certify weekly. Regular UI should be certified online or when requested by the DOL
• For NY.gov assistance or other website issues call 800-833-3000.

You must call This number here -491-0632 As I did and only found out through friends that they were receiving their $300 in Lost Wages Assistance benefits and I wasnt. Nor did I ever receive an email from the Dept.of labor. Once you call this automated number and answer the question you will receive your money In a matter of days literally. Please be patient, and LISTEN to all of the Question/options BEFORE answering!! GOOD LUCK

Like all major state UI agencies the NY DOL is currently experiencing high call volumes, so if you can get through to an agent and their website is not useful consider contacting them via their social media sites which seem to have the new updates posted regularly. Or follow me on where I retweet pertinent updates.

California Edd Contact Numbers

You can see the regularly updated CA resource page for more information and reader comments on dealing with the CA EDD, but here are the best contact numbers for help with your UI Claim

Visit Ask EDD unemployment benefits page to request to backdate your claim if you think it has the wrong start date. Then select Claim Questions and then Backdate the Effective Date of my UI Claim Due to COVID-19.

General UI questions and technical help with registration, password resets, EDD Account Numbers, and how to use UI Online: 1-833-978-2511 . Hours: 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. , seven days per week.

Note: EDD representatives answering general questions will not have access to your claim or payment information. To get specific claim support or information call the following numbers between 8 a.m. to 12 noon , Monday through Friday: For English: 1-800-300-5616 For Spanish: 1-800-326-8937

Automated phone line to certify: English: 1-866-333-4606 Spanish: 1-866-333-4606

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Illionis Department Of Employment Security Contact Numbers

Call IDES Customer Service Center at 800-244-5631 for questions around your claim. You can also call this number it you were unable to file your claim because of capacity or system limitations or to discuss backdating your claim with a representative. See others experiences at the IDES forum page.

To certify for Unemployment Insurance benefits, click here or call Tele-Serve at 312-338-4337 Monday Friday 3:00 a.m. 7:30 p.m.

A Step To Help Or Hurt

State lawmakers, tired of hearing complaints from constituents, came up with their own plan to help. This past session, they voted to create a new position on par with the commissioner. The person will be appointed by the Speaker of the House and pull staff from the existing DOL workforce to conduct financial audits and respond to lawmakers questions.

“One of the challenges that my constituents have on a consistent basis and they’re still having it, is lack of responsiveness. They felt like they were going into a black hole,” Representative Todd Jones said during a committee meeting to discuss the bill.

The commissioner fiercely fought the idea, concerned it would drain financial and staffing resources already stretched thin.

Theres not much of a balance of a personal and professional life anymore. Its pretty much working all the time, Jones said.

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You Probably Need More Friendsheres How To Make Them

2. Call the appropriate STATE legislator that represents you. They verify you live in their district, so be sure to reach out to the appropriate congressperson. Emails seem to take longer to get a response, so calling is faster as members of State Legislatures have people answering their phones.

3. Tell them your problem with unemployment and ask for their help. The congressmens office will have a designated person inside their office who handles unemployment issues. That person will tell you that they can connect to unemployment on your behalf and that they have been assigned a real person at the unemployment office to work with. They get you info, and then they work their magic. Youll find that they either fix the problem or get someone who can fix it at unemployment to call you. Give them a number you will answer. If it is your cell, be sure the ringer is on as unemployment will only call you once or twice, and if you miss them, there is no number to call them back. Do not miss the call.

4. The problem should get resolved within a week, and all the money due you will then be paid to you retroactive to the day you first filed for unemployment.

Joe emailed to say this strategy of contacting his state representative worked for him. It worked for my relative too, and the other ten people I have advised to try it. They were in different states, and it has been effective. Once your unemployment money starts, you file each week and get paid. Problem solved.

State Unemployment Phone Numbers And Getting In Touch With A Live Agent For Help With Your Delayed Or Pending Ui Benefits Claim

One thing many readers have been complaining about when it comes to getting help or information on their pending Unemployment Insurance payment or retroactive benefits claim is finding a number to call so that they can get through to someone they can speak to.

Due to ongoing staffing shortages at state UI agencies, COVID work restrictions and ongoing system/IT issues with unemployment filing systems it is very hard to get through a live person that can help you with claim issues or delayed current and back payments.

This has been acutely felt with the recently ended 2021 unemployment extensions and for PUA claimants who have to provide a lot more documentation to justify their claim. With state agencies focusing resources on updating IT systems and processing back payments related to the various UI program extensions, they have little time to take calls and actively help those desperately looking for help with their claims and wondering when they will start getting paid.

Thats why most agencies are directing people to their state website or social media channels to get more information. But a lot of time that information is generic and not helpful for most people with issues specific to their claim. So with that in mind here state UI agency contact numbers and some tips and tricks to get through to a live person.

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Covered in this Article:

• Virginia VEC Contact Numbers

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How Much Money Will I Receive

Just as each state sets its eligibility guidelines, each state determines its maximum monetary benefit. In many states, benefits equal up to half your weekly earnings up to a certain amount.

Typically, these benefits are available for up to 26 weeks. During times of high unemployment, unemployed workers may be eligible for additional weeks of compensation.

Some state unemployment office websites offer benefits calculators. To find more information, use CareerOneStop to find your states program.

Remember that unemployment benefits are usually considered taxable income and must be reported on your state and federal tax returns.