Furloughed/laid off due to the plague? Here's the thread to discuss unemployment insurance.

Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share
1

I’m a legal secretary at a law firm, and we were doing gangbuster business when COVID-19 struck. That didn’t keep a lot of us “non-essentials” from being furloughed until May 9. I’ve had to file a claim for unemployment insurance, and it’s the first time ever I’ve had to do so.

The online form for the Employment Development Department (EDD) wasn’t the best-designed thing I ever saw. It took awhile to figure out the crappily-organized mess, and required the help of Mr. brown at a couple of places. However, I eventually got it done and submitted it. That was March 17.

On March 31, I got an email reply back from the EDD that I had to “certify weeks”, that is, go online and complete the form saying that I had been looking for work.

Surprise! EDD fucked up and opened my account in my maiden name. I looked back over the printout of the form I had filled out, and I had done it all correctly. It’s totally their mistake. I can’t proceed with the “certify weeks” process until they correct my account to my married name, otherwise the debit card they issue will be in the wrong name and useless to me.

I went to EDD online and found the place to submit a request for them to correct this mistake and did so. Their response email said to expect a reply in 5 to 7 days. That was ten days ago now. I just submitted another request in case the first one got buried in the chaos.

Who else is navigating this misery for the first time? Do you need to complain or do you have any helpful hints?

2

Hope your sitch is resolved sooner than later. I’ve no advice, just another tale. Male is what Unemployment’s mistake was, for my female friend. She’s been denied, cannot get through phone lines to start the next step. When simple mistakes occur, it calls into question everything else. Am hoping others can provide navigating this misery, as well.

3

Soooo, my career fucking sucks and I was actually laid off before the virus hit. My last day of work was Dec 31st. I’ve been on UI ever since.

When the virus hit they passed the stimulus, but I don’t think I qualify for the extra $600 or the extra 13 weeks. I’m unemployed during the virus, but I wasn’t laid off ‘due’ to the virus so I don’t think I qualify for anything.

This is kind of scary, the unemployoment rate could hit 20-30%. This is going to set me back years.

I don’t know why my career sucks so much. I am a good employee, I get everything done and I get along with people. I picked the wrong field.