December 15, 2022 – Got a joke for you… KENTUCKY UNEMPLOYMENT!
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Not kidding. Folks. Let me tell you…if there was ever a thing to laugh at it would be the Unemployment system for Kentucky. Sit back and let me explain this…
May 27, 2022 was, as most of you know, my first official day of unemployment after 9 years, 4 months and 24 days of service to Bumblebee Team Sports i.e. ASB, i.e. Game One. Like the others in my shoes, we walked out of those doors in a state of shock and utter disbelief. Tears were shed. Sure, they offered a ‘severance’ of sorts and we didn’t know if we would get it because we had to wait. So, filing for unemployment was a must. It wasn’t like we just up and walked off the job…so, why not file for it?
May 31, 2022 of course, filing for unemployment wasn’t an easy process, but who would we be kidding if we thought it would be? I mean, we cannot forget the horror stories we all experienced or heard about when the “world shut down”. Anyway, not to digress. I attempted to file online only to be forced to call and go through the process. I had time on my hands so why not, right? The process seemed to be easy and normal. I updated my resume and posted it on various job sites, including indeed.com. Of course, I began getting all the spam messages from indeed so I know my part was working. I searched for jobs similar to what I had done for the last 9 years, 4 months and 24 days of my life and of course, there weren’t any out there. So I applied to jobs recommended to me through indeed.com. Eventually I would also look into other resources but for the most part, that was my ‘go to’ site.
I received 1 weeks pay of unemployment in June.
July 7, 2022 I had learned that others I worked with were not receiving unemployment checks either. They too had filed, some before me, and were going through the motions but the status on the system indicated it was still under “fact finding”. So, I called the KY Unemployment office. Folks, that is a job in and of itself! I should be compensated for the hours, literally, I spent on hold! YES. Unbeknownst to me, calling the Kentucky Unemployment Office was an all day affair. When I finally got someone, after agonizing through an hour of waiting, I endured the “identity verification” questions and was eventually awarded the opportunity to ask my burning question, “why does my status read fact finding?”. There was a moment of silence then a scripted answer essentially saying that the company has X number of days to appeal and that window is still open. To which I responded, then why did I get one check? Ahhh…more silence. Then I was put on hold. Then they returned to say that I should contact the company I worked for to verify. I was already in the process of sending an email before hanging up the phone.
July 11, 2022 I received two letters in the mail from the KY Unemployment Office. To summarize, they were in reference to 2 weeks, June 5-11 and June 19-25. Both letters stated, the denial is based on my “not making a reasonable effort to obtain work as might be expected of a prudent person under like circumstances” and “Duplicate work search to same employer from previous week is considered inadequate work search“.
Of course, I called immediately! Again, enduring 35 minutes on hold, I mean why not hold, I have nothing else to do since I am not making a resonable effort anyway. Finally…I was told after looking through the account, there was a ‘manual override’ done on my account for that one check but subsequent checks were frozen because I entered the same job twice which flagged their system to indicate I had not been “making a resonable effort to obtain work“. I asked for clarification because I had been entering the jobs online. Further investigation revealed that because I put “indeed.com” in the very small field for the 2 jobs I was required to enter, 1 for each week, it was flagged as a duplicate, indicating to their system that I was not making an effort. YEAH!!!!! I was blown away! I mean, come on…seriously!?!
So, at 12:42pm on July 11, 2022 I followed the instructions on the letters and sent an email notification of my appeal. I followed up with a detailed letter and list of jobs I had applied for since May 27, 2022. I didn’t hear anything back. I continuted to apply for jobs and report them, as required, online via the unemployment website. I attempted to call them in one time, as I was not at my computer, and was instructed that all job search information MUST be submitted online. I even called in almost weekly, often times on hold for hours, to get an update in my case. One such call, July 25, 2022, I spent a total of 3 hours, which included dialing and re-dialing and holding for 35 minutes! When I did get to talk to someone, the individual said I had dialed the wrong number! Of course, I argued that I called the number on the letter. He went on to say that perhaps they were busy and the overflow calls were being routed to them. Then I was transferred to a lady who ended up being of no help because “she was working remotely”.
SERIOUSLY!!!!! I gotta stop a minute. This is all a huge joke! I am waiting on someone to come out of the shadows and yell, “you have been punked”. I mean this is a joke right?
LET ME DIGRESS A MINUTE….. Don’t get me wrong. I understand that I may be one of the fortunate souls out there to have a roof overhead and food in the pantry. But, there are people that rely on this system. I wonder how we have anyone on any type of government assistance if they cannot even dispense unemployment money! It takes dedication and tenacity to navigate the system and that alone is not qualities of the lazy. Sure, someone out there has probably found a way to circumvent the system and if you have patience you might be willing to wait hours on the phone and jump hurdles. I have no patience and I don’t look for handouts/shortcuts. I have higher expectations of people…especially in positions of power like our government. I would love to hear how these individuals would react if they were in my shoes?
OK…back to the regularly scheduled topic.
Finally, during one of my calls I was advised that I would be getting a letter with my hearing date scheduled on it. Of course, when I asked if they would have access to that, they did not. I did get the letters within a week of that call. My hearing was scheduled for OCTOBER 2022!!! Folks….we hadn’t even gotten through July yet! I would have to wait 3 more months for a hearing!
You know it. I called. I was very irate. I won’t lie. I know the individual that received my wrath wasn’t able to do anything but by God, I was on record stating just how fucked up this system was and how unfair. IT IS NOT THEIR MONEY! Companies pay the money into the system because it is a law. The money is there for the people! Of course, from what I have heard, if the pool of funds from each company goes unclaimed it is eventually rolled into the State, so they have a vested interest in keeping us from getting any sort of assistance. By rolling that money into the State, employees get raises and that is far more important than providing an umemployed individual with income. During my research, I also found this document, “How Kentucky Missed Out on a $90million Unemployment Upgrade”. I find that extremely interesting considering I am only asking for the 26 weeks of pay due to me. When you think about it, 26 weeks is not much, it balances out to about 6 months. So technically, if the system hadn’t farted itself, November would have been the last of my unemployment benefits.
So, October 2022 comes around. I had continued to do what is required of me…often more. About a week before my scheduled hearing, I get a call. My hearing was being moved to December and I would receive a letter with the specifics. I took a moment to gather my thoughts and asked, “WHY in the hell is this happening?”. She replied, “because the individual conducting the hearings will be unavailable”. YEAH…that is the excuse I was given. Of course, I asked, though I wasn’t expecting an answer, “why is there only one person doing that job?” I went on to tell the individual, “I know this is a recorded line and I want it on record, that I consider this unprofessional and unacceptable, perhaps they should hire more people instead of making people suffer through this bullshit”. I know all too well what it is like to be the sole individual doing your job. Makes it hard to take any time off, if you are like me, and really like and care about your job. Mind you, I have never held a job which people relied on me for their livelyhood. Even then, I would make sure someone was my backup and clients/customers did not get left in the cold.
Remember, 26 weeks is all that unemployment pays. October would be nearing the end of my 26 weeks…and now it is moved to December. I have not received but 1 week of pay since May, so Kentucky still owes me 25 weeks of umemployment. I cannot just roll over now and quit on the system that is failing me. Oh, but I do feel like quitting. Each week, I continued to sift through the job sites and submit my resume. I found scams and I got rejections, but I kept on. I attempted to find ways to kickstart my new life chapter.
December 15, 2022 today, the day I finally have my hearing. I had to call in at 8:30am ET sharp! By 8:32am ET the voice on the other end started the proceedings, very cold and very scripted (I understand it has to be). Within about a minute, we had a stranger on the line. I remained quiet. The stranger answered questions. I felt uncomfortable when he was asked for his social security number and he willingly gave it, not knowing I was on the line. I feel like there was a much more professional way to handle this situation. I wasn’t sure if I should have spoken up to the only individual that left in charge of deterimining if I would get my 25 weeks of unemployment pay. She eventually informed him he was to call back on his hearing date later this month. He hung up and she continued with me. Frankly, I have zero faith in this whole process based on the way she handled that situation. I answered the questions, stuck to the script. When asked if I had anything to add, I did speak on how I felt the entire process was a joke and it was unfair. I spoke of knowledge I had of coworkers in exact same sitaution that may have not made the ‘mistake’ I made but were not getting their benefits either. I spoke on the fact that I left a job, unwillingly, and should not be made to beg for the money due to me. I spoke about how that job was a niche market and finding work like that would be nearly impossible. Being a woman of my age, even with a college degree, I am finding it difficult to endure the weekly rejections. At almost 9am on the dot she thanked me and ended the call with her scripted “Thank you for calling in. Be on look out for a letter with my decision in the mail in the new few weeks, I have no idea how long it will take, as I have to submit it to a third party and it will proceed from there”. FOLKS!!!! YOU HAVE GOT TO BE KIDDING ME!!! FEW WEEKS!! By my calculation…it will be January before I hear anything!!! December 23rd and 26th, they are closed. We know they won’t bust ass to make sure cases are closed before then. When they return on Tuesday, December 27th, they will be slow to do anything after recovering from the holiday weekend. We all know, December 30th will be another day off. They won’t bust their asses the last week of 2022 either! So that takes us into January 2023!
It is going to be even more difficult come 2023 when those of us seeking unemployment funds are required to report 5 jobs PER WEEK to their already antiquated and fucked up process (it had to be said). Yeah, come January 1, 2023, the unemployed individuals of Kentucky will be required to apply and report 5 jobs PER WEEK and there’s MORE!!
Here is an email I got December 12, 2022:
The Kentucky General Assembly enacted changes to the state’s unemployment insurance program during the 2022 regular session. As an active UI claimant, your work search reporting requirements will change on Jan. 1, 2023. Beginning on that date, you will be responsible for reporting five unique, verifiable work search activities per week to the Kentucky Office of Unemployment Insurance (OUI) at the time you submit a claim for benefits to remain eligible for the program. Failure to meet reporting requirements can result in a loss of benefits for the week you are claiming. Please be advised that you must certify and attest each week that you are providing accurate and honest information for your work search activities. All verifications must be kept for up to one full year after your claim has expired for auditing purposes. All weekly work search activity information is subject to random audits by OUI. It is critical that you have the documentation that was certified when you received your benefits. Work search activities are documented actions taken by a claimant from any of the following categories below. At least three of those work search activities must be from the first two categories of formal job application and job interview.  If you have questions about the new work search reporting requirements, please contact the Kentucky Office of Unemployment Insurance Call Center at (502) 564-2900. Thank you, Kentucky Office of Unemployment Insurance |
Now, I am a pretty smart person. I have read that atleast a dozen times. I am confused. So I called the number for clarification. The number gives you 2 options, press 1 for assistance with claim and press 2 to file a claim. There is NO other option. Either option, after 2 calls, gets me a recording that all agents are busy call again later, goodbye and the system hangs up. I have no way of obtaining clarification as was directed in the email!
So, I am going to look at this again and try to break it down the way I understand it.
3 of the 5 weekly work searches are to come from:
*FORMAL JOB APPLICATIONS
*JOB INTERVIEWS
2 of the 5 weekly work searches are to come from:
*JOB SHADOWING,
*JOB FAIR,
*NETWORKING EVENT,
*JOB SEARCH SKILLS WORKSHOP,
*SEMINAR,
*EMPLOYMENT SEARCH PROGRAM THROUGH KENTUCKY CAREER CENTER or PARTNER
Now…let’s break this down. For 26 weeks, an individual seeking Kentucky Unemployment Benefits will be required to jump through the following hurdles to receive said benefits.
So, let’s just take the first week – January 1 thru 7 – we as job seekers must do the following (we have the burden of proof), 3 jobs must include:
FORMAL JOB APPLICATION and JOB INTERVIEW (refer to above)
Website and email, I get….easy and typical this day and age. Fax? Who seriously has access to a fax? For that matter, who uses fax anymore? What employer will sign a paper application? Wait, are there paper applications out there still?? Screen shot of text message? Yeah, sure, I am going to text with an employer…someone yell SCAM! As for the job interviews and a form letter, how can we be held to that!??! Just because I applied does not automatically mean I get an interview!!!! So I not only have to apply within these parameters I also HAVE TO provide documentation of a job interview OR letter signed by employer? REALLY?? What is that letter to say? I got the appliation and I am not interviewing you at this time? Talk about fucked up!!!
For the same week, Janaury 1 thru 7 – we as job seekers must do the following (we have burden of proof), 2 jobs must include:
JOB SHADOWING, JOB FAIR, NETWORKING EVENT, JOB SEARCH SKILLS WORKSHOP, SEMINAR, EMPLOYMENT SEARCH PROGRAM THROUGH KCC or PARTNER
If I am job shadowing when will I have time to seek employment, obtain signatures or letters or fax paper applications? Last time I had anyone job shadow under me, they spent time during working hours, often for days at a time? Job shadowing isn’t for every profession anyway. I mean, I’m pretty sure if I am a unemployed legal aide I won’t be allowed to job shadow. This seems more for those college kids or trade school kids, trying to figure out life. Job fair? Uhh… last I heard these things were a thing of the past being as we are all about the remote lifestyle, cutting down on unnecessary crowds etc. Job search skills workshop? Who has this? Why would you attend more than one??? I mean if it worked why keep repeating it? Seminar? Seminars are NOT free and they are not plentiful. If I spend all my time at seminars, workshops and fairs, how can I shadow? If I shadow, how can I do fairs, networking, workshops, seminars? Where is the money coming from to attend these events? Need money for gas, lunch, clothing and parking at events. Oh, but wait, there’s the wonderful employment search program through Kentucky Career Center (or partner). THERE is the punch line folks!! Have you EVER utlilized this? I did. They had NOTHING for IT professionals, which is my educated field of study. If there is a department that is due for budget cuts and elimination, that would be the one. This “Service” is a waste of tax payers dollars, among the many. As for the PARTNER, I can only assume they are referring to temp agencies, which again, are found on same search sites we all have access to.
I’m not even going to go through January 8 – 14 cos it’s the same as above. A JOKE!!!
Basically, I am one of many. My story is only unique in that I am sharing it here with you. I said it before, I am fortunate to have a roof over my head and food in my pantry, the very things others in this situation don’t have because of a broken system. I’m all for making sure people are doing for themselves. No hand outs. However, it isn’t too much to ask for people to be given the 26 weeks of funds without so many hurdles, while they figure out how to navigate this new chapter. Many of us did not choose to be in this situation. Some of us are genuinely just trying to figure it out and navigate life while accepting being put out to pasture after years of dedication and commitment. It is so hard to put your heart and soul into being employed knowing that at any moment, like me, you will be sitting at home trying to process the emotions while being forced to jump through hurdles and rules set by people who have never walked a day in your shoes.
Thanks for taking time to read this. If you have any input, I would love to hear from you! Remember, check out the podcast.
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