NEW JERSEY'S DEPARTMENT OF UNEMPLOYMENT, IT MIGHT AS WELL NOT EXIST........
" Murphy Keeps Promising The Department Of Labor's Unemployment System Has Improved, But In Fact Little Has Changed, While People Are In Jeopardy Of Losing Their Homes And Unable To Feed Their Families, Murphy Keeps Giving Unrealistic Expectations ".
APRIL 12,2021: Commentary By Englebrook Independent News:
Since the start of the Pandemic in March 2020. Thousands and thousands of New Jersey residents have been unable to collect unemployment insurance benefits. Monies that they paid into over years of work. Restrictions put in place not only by the Federal level, many other States also imposed stricter restrictions. The impact of these restriction caused millions to lose their jobs.
In New Jersey, at the height of the pandemic over ~156,000 residents filed first time unemployment claims. Further in December 2020 as we entered into another surge of the pandemic an additional ~17,000 new claims were filed for the week of December 4, 2020. By the end of December there were over 500,000 individuals collecting unemployment benefits in New Jersey.
Throughout 2020 and now as we are entering the second quarter of 2021, there have been tens of thousands of New Jersey residents that still have not received payment of their benefits. A number that does not reflect the thousands that were unable to access the antiquated online portal. Forget the phone filing system, no one answers the phone.
Although, there have been certain programs to prevent evictions and foreclosures. Programs instituted by the Trump Administration and now continued with the Biden Administration. Many New Jersey residents have been unable to meet their basic needs, such as food clothing, and other essential needs. These issues are mainly in part to the failure of The New Jersey Unemployment System.
While Murphy and Unemployment Commissioner Rob Asaro-Angelo keep promising things have improved. The present situation shows little or no improvement.
While unemployed parents are selling plasma to feed their families, others have experienced hunger for the first time ever. Further, for individuals that were actually able to receive benefits, only to have them revoked or their claim suspended. While they appealed the determination from a claims officer, that really has no idea of the financial state of many. The department finds the need to send a payment request to repay the monies that they received. Their actions are reprehensible in demanding payment when the appeal has not even been adjudicated.
While investigating, we went to a local unemployment office only to be denied entrance, even though there were employees in the building. The security person that we were greeted by was more helpful to the crying mothers with children at the door, than the actual employees that worked there. He gave out a paper with phone numbers listed on it to call. He further explained how to best access the system. When we tried calling at different times during the day and at night, all we got was a recording to try calling again. This is how they fixed the system. You now get a recording, instead of the phone just ringing indefinitely !
It is apparent Governor Murphy, Rob Asro-Angelo and other members of the administration, show little regard for the present economic hardships that many families are experiencing in New Jersey. Residents in New Jersey need to remember this during the next election.........
Filed Under Opinion, Commentary Murphy Unemployment.