The New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development
Reviews and Complaints

Greetings. My complaint is a last resort. I flied my claim 03/07/2021.Payment not received to date. I received the same run-a-round as other complaints I've read about. Being hung up on, told to call back the next business day, receiving conflicting accounts of my claim status while be told to watch email and keep up with claim online. I received notice by mail dated 10/04/2021 approving my claim, still no payment. I have documentation certifying my claim each week of eligibility until deadline 09/04/2021.

I went to work in a cosmetic company. I am 2 different nationalities I am Asian and Spanish. I speak English and Spanish. I have had years' worth of problems when it comes to discrimination. The people at this place complained the whole time I was there. They were making fun of me "She is not really Spanish" I speak Spanish I eat that way. My fiancé is Asian / Native American and Irish. He doesn't want to eat Spanish food every day. After this day Monday 14. I was not invited back. I was working for the Unette Corporation Randolph NJ. I was working for a Med company in Whippany. I cut my finger badly. I couldn't use it for 1 week. I also spent 3 weeks out from covid. Cutting my finger was an accident. I brought hospital paper work to staff management. Their number is [protected] Please talk to Celestec.

From Sharon M Farag

I lost my job on 11/30/2021. I filed for Unemployment shortly after and went through the link sent for ID. ME.

Today is February 2/11/2021 and to date I have not received anything. Since being unemployed we have lost our Place to live and are living daily in a motel.

ID.Me has been the most responsive. They have said and emailed that they have done the identification and they have escalated my case more than once.

On 2/20/2022 I called unemployment to be told that nothing can be done at this time and I have to wait.

I don't understand why I had to go through e-adjudication, which I completed and received a confirmation. I am a mother with children. I can't even begin to restart our life. We have exhausted all savings at this point waiting for unemployment.

It is an absolute nightmare at this point. I did not quit my job as I explained in the forms. I have contacted the Governors office with no end to the nightmare. What does a family do when the system tells you that atleast another 15 business days, it's already been months and no one is dealing with my situation or case.

We are on the brink of living on the streets, we can only pay for another 2 days in this efficiency.

On 10/18/2021 I completed the ID verification process. I was advised that would take 15 business days. After 15 business days, I was advised my case was escalated and would be resolved in 6-8 weeks. We are now in week 17 and I have not received a dime from the NJ DOL & Workforce Development. Please help, I have gone through my savings already.

I filed for unemployment on 6/13/2021. I have not paid for that claim yet. I have called on a consistent basis and have been in October and I was finally told that I needed to go through ID.ME. I was verified by ID.ME on 10/17/2021 and was told it will take 4 weeks to hear from NJ Unemployment. Called NJUI back after 4 weeks and the call center was going to escalate it. On 12/22/2021 I received an e-Adjudication email titled "NJ Unemployment- Unresolved Issue on your Claim". Filled out the claimant form and sent it back with minutes of receiving the email. I called on 1/21/2022 told they still have to review it and give 2 more weeks. Called today 2/4/2022 and was told it still has not been reviewed and they are waiting for my verification from ID.ME. I was told I just have to wait and cannot give me any kind of time frame on when this is going to be resolved. I was also laid off at the end of 2021 for 2 weeks and I cannot be paid for that claim till this one form 8 months ago gets resolved. It is also very frustrating that there is no one else you can talk to about this issue; I get even more frustrated with every call I make because I am told my claim is being "escalated" which means nothing and I am told the same thing with every call.

Hello,
I lost my job on 10-29, file for unemployment (NJ) on 11/1. Since they never sent me notification to do the ID.ME process on 11/4 as they said they did - which I NEVER rec'd...I didn't find that out until 11-18 after calling as on my determination my FRD date was listed as 11/17.

I did the ID.ME on 11/18, it was approved right away and sent to the NJDOL. It took 6 weeks to get this resolved as NJDOL said they never got it and ID.ME said the sent it 3x's - I had to take screen shots of it to send to a NJDOL agent to prove I was approved, she verified that with NJDOL and took the HOLD off my account so I could certify. That was on 12 15. I certified for 6 weeks that night. I have been able to certify until tonight - Jan. 19th, 2022. It's now saying when trying it cannot be processed and to call the NJDOL! No other explanation or reason why it's stopped. Claim says filed and it's open until 10-31-22.

This is ridiculous and want to complain as I know many, many others are having similar and horrific issues with collecting and getting a live person on the phone is impossible and you get told something different for the same question(s) every time you call and are lucky to get thru.

I'm searching for work and pray I find something soon. You don't realize how awful these systems are until you need to use them. You don't want to get to this point trust me and it should not be this difficult.

I have been out of work since August 27th, 2021. I was originally out of work January 31st 2021 and got a job in May of 2021. The company I worked for had hired me to work in NJ on a project for T-Mobile and I would run the project. When they hired me they asked me if I knew anyone that was interested in working and they couldn't find sufficient help to work the project and they canceled their Contract and laid me off on August 27th, 2021 and when I applied for unemployment benefits it would not give me a new claim date and I had to report all my earnings from May to the end of August of 2021 which I did online. They told me it would take 6 weeks to review and get me my benefits back in November of 2021. I am the breadwinner in my household and my wife has been working but we can't live off of her salary. I have been waiting months to get my unemployment benefits and I have no money and past due bills and NJDOL is taking forever to get me unemployment! I'm ready to hire an attorney as I need to get paid and have money so I can start my new job in 2 weeks! Please advice?

Hello I'm writing this complaint about how NJ unemployment keeps giving me the run around since I've filed my claim a week after my last day of work November 7, 2021..I was advised by Dept, of Labor through email to go to the link which is IDme.com and went through steps by steps required by ID.me and was successful, I see no reason why NJ Dept. of Labor Unemployment Insurance keeps bouncing me around. Everytime I call either there's no representative available and/or just put me on hold and the phone just went dead or no response from the Customer Representative, this is just unacceptable unemployed person has to put food on table, pay bills and mortgage and/or monthly rent. Last week January 3, 2022 an agent and/or customer service answered the phone and was told that they will released the funds on January 10. I went to the bank today and the monies was not on the bank account which they have on my file so I called today and the Customer Service Representative told me that they are checking my claim which they already have on file. Something is wrong with the Dept of Labor Unemployment Insurance Office. People who are unemployed like me who needs the money, again to pay monthly bills, buy food, pay monthly mortgage and/or monthly rent, this is ridiculous and unacceptable. Customer representative are either not doing their job and not helping the unemployed individual. I really don't know what to do anymore. Please the supervisor, manager or the CEO should reach out this unemployed individual and do something about it's really very frustating specially this PANDEMIC situation.
Please an specialist should really take care of this situation and resolve my issue so all those filing for a claim weeks after weeks, months of delay in paying can FINNALY BE PAID AFTER MONTHS OF DELAY AND FRUSTATIONS. THANK YOU FOR LISTENING. YOUR PROMPT ATTENTION TO THIS MATTER WILL BE APPRECIATED.

Date of Claim 11-14-21, Clmt ID [protected], ID ME verified 12-6-21, Dept LABOR received ID me verification 12-7-21. WBR $731 approved for 19 weeks, $0 received. cerification weekly #: [protected], [protected], [protected], [protected], [protected], [protected]. I am being told all that needs to happen is for a dept to unlock the hold that was put on due to not receiving the ID ME. ID Me Escalated to DOL and DOL shows it was received 12/7. I told 15 bus days from 12/7, then told 4-8 weeks from 12/20, then told 7-10 days from 12/28. I the phone reps can see reason for hold is not received ID ME, then see ID ME was received, why can't those reps unlock the system to release the payments.

I opened a claim with the NJDOL UI division on 11/1.

On Nov. 2, I was told they sent me an email regarding having to complete the ID.ME process for identity verification - WHICH I NEVER GOT!

The only reason I found out about it was by calling on 11/17 as I was given that date as my FRD date to certify and tried to do that but got errors.

After two hours of trying to upload my NJ license photo on 11-17 on the ID.ME site - it finally went thru. An automated response said for it to process with the NJDOL - could take 15 days once they verify you and send it over to them.

Well - it's been over that and I still CANNOT certify. I'm in week 7 without pay and was told today when calling 30x's to reach a live person at the NJDOL that it can take 8 weeks, so I will be lucky if I see any monies by mid January! This is horrendous. There was 16 days wasted because of not getting the ID.ME piece of information. Each time you call you get a different answer, some tell me to still certify, some say wait for a date to miracuously appear in your registration information, some say you will get an email, etc. which is it?

This entire system is broken, so many have worse issues than I and nothing gets done about it. We all have lost our jobs from no fault of our own, pay into UI are entire working life and this is the result, when it's needed - it's disregarded. Noone knows what they are doing, you can't get help so you are stuck - in limbo waiting and waiting and waiting. Many times I was hung up on. NJDOL should be embarrassed that they have inept employees giving out bad information and being told things that never happened.

So sad.

I applied for unemployment benefits on 03/31/2019 and have received payments only for the first 13 weeks. Then I was informed by the New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development that I am not eligible for the full 26 weeks as per monetary determination. This determination was based on the wrong assumption that I worked only one quarter in 2018. For more than two (2) years I multiple times appealed this wrong determination with the New Jersey Appeal Tribunal and the Board of Review without any result. The final decision of the Board of Review dated 11/25/20 stated that "The finding of Fact and opinion as developed by the Appeal Tribunal have been carefully examined. Since the appellant was given a full and impartial hearing and a complete opportunity to offer any and all evidence, there is no valid ground for further hearing".
On 1/7/2021 I filed an appeal on the Board of Review decision with the Appellate Division of Superior Court of New Jersey. On 7/28/2021 the Board of Review submitted to the Appellate Division of Superior Court of New Jersey a motion for remand. On 8/14/2021 I send to the Court my Motion Answer to Motion for Remand with a request to deny the Department of Labor Motion to Remand.
On 8/27/2021 the Superior Court of New Jersey granted Motion for Remand.

In the New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development, my case Docket number was DKT00190840.

In the Superior Court of New Jersey, my case Docket number was A-1247_20T4.

Please see attached "Motion Answer to Motion for Remand 2"

Regards,

Jeff Donkin
40-06 Morlot Ave
Fair Lawn NJ 07410
[protected]@yahoo.com

I filed for unemployment in April 2021. Still have not received monetary review/ not been able to claim weekly benefits. I have called multiple times. Workers say they are escalating claim but nothing ever comes of it.
Please let me know what else I need to do to get this resolved!
Please help!

On Sept 29, 2021 I left my mother's funeral to certify benefits, I rushed through it and answered a question incorrectly.

On Sept 30, 2021 I received an adjudication letter via email stating the discrepancy. I followed the instructions to correct it. On Oct 1, 2021 they sent me a COMPUTER GENERATED email stating they had received it and was being reviewed, After 4 weeks I started making phone call up to 5 times a day with no results. It always states "we are not taking phone calls, hang up and call ithe next day". Did this for the 25 days and still no one to speak with. I notified my congressman and NJDOL is just ignoring them. I have written letters sent via mail, still no response. To date I have not received any correspondence or phone call. I checked with my employer to see if they checked with her and she said no. The system is so broken and everything is blamed on covid

On 11/1/21 I filed a work disability claim. As of today I did not receive any payments. My return to work was 11/29/21 but I am still unable to do so. I tried extending it online but it is impossible because I need a form ID#. I've been trying to contact them for days at [protected] to no avail. They either hang up or after going thru all the prompts, a message comes up: "Due to high volume calls please call between the hours of 8, 30 to 4, 30". Is this normal? Besides not having received a penny for a whole month with bills to pay, I cannot speak to a rep.? I need help. I am sorry, but this is unacceptable.
And to add, the website on many occasions does not work. This is a State website, should be responsive, are we kidding? It is very shameful and embarrassing. I will be contacting the Governor's office as well, I am very much offended by this behavior. I pay my state income taxes which includes disability insurance and this is what I receive in return? They are a bunch of clowns, it is laughable.
Regretfully,
Josephine Rossi

I filed a new claim back in the week of September 12, 2021 after pandemic unemployment ended. Nothing for me has updated or been acknowledged by unemployment. I do have a confirmation number proving my claim (NJS21019537594).
I call weekly and no one helps me the just say there is a message to have you switched from pandemic unemployment to regular UI. I have had this escalated with no resolution. I have been waiting over 3 months. Everyone you speak to tells you something different and I have been given the wrong information numerous times. I am now in jeopardy of losing my home. I was called a week ago from an unemployment phone # and asked to confirm I still needed my benefits and I responded yes. I was told I was the next claim to be addressed it has been a week and I have heard nothing and nothing has updated on their website. I called again and was told there is no notes in the system regarding any of my escalations or that someone contacted me regarding my escalation. But told not to worry I'll get "back pay" My bills are due now!
Please help.
V.Ott

My name is Christopher VanGlahn, and my telephone number is [protected]. I have a balance that has been filed from December 2020 to April 2021 and remains unpaid. During these months I filed for weekly benefits without receiving any deposits, nor receiving additional PUA. I have made many unsuccessful attempts to reach unemployment call centers for the past 11 months.

During those months Unemployed, I accumulated much debt on credit cards while using cash advances to pay my monthly bills. It is now 9 months later, and I am still having no luck receiving my benefits that were certified, or teaching anybody in the department of labor.. Please provide assistance in how I can speak with someone regarding my claim. My status shows filed with an amount over $7, 000.

Thank you for any help you can offer.

I have multiple letters documenting that I am eligible for unemployment benefits and have spoken to may representatives over the last month because all of my claims are "not payable at this time" and now I can't even claim at all. I verified my identity through ID me and received my approval letter almost a month ago. I cant get any real answers from anyone I speak to. The last person I spoke to said there was an error on my LAST claim and nobody has gone in to resolve this error or even speak to me about it.

I attempt every week to claim my benefits and it says my application has expired. When I call, I'm told ther it's because I didn't prove my identity on ID.com. so I did and was told it would be 15 days to process. It's been more than 15 days. I've been hung up on and disconnected over 5 times and when I call back, the system is busy.

My ID me email address is different than my claim email but I told them this before I completed the ID me verification and was told it wouldn't be an issue a they are letting the right people know so there isn't a delay.

It's been over a month since I filed and still can't claim. I have my mortgage company threatening me, my car payments late, my sons medical bills are out of this world, and I am at my wits end.

My next stem is contacting an unemployment lawyer and suing NJ Unemployment for poor customer service and lack of assistance.

Hello I'm writing this complaint about how NJ unemployment keeps giving me the run around since I've filed my claim since April25th 2021..Did the NJ Id me..I've called everyday just to be told that an out sequence had happened to my claim and they had escalated it Aug9 Saying it takes up to 8weeks for a specialist to fix it.. Just waited 11 weeks and now I'm told they need to re escalate because they didn't fix it and wait another 8 weeks for a phone call from an unblocked number that never calls.. Really don't know what to do anymore. It's a joke and If anybody knows what to do or any help on getting this fixed please reach out to me..email [protected]@yahoo.com

Here I am, writing yet ANOTHER complaint about unemployment.
It has been SIX MONTHS and, despite a determination that I have a valid claim, my identity being verified and having no issues with my former employer, I STILL HAVE NOT BEEN PAID MY BENEFITS. Why? Because of some unknown "ongoing issue" that no one can explain to me. One of two times I was able to get someone on the phone about it, the agent hung up on me without helping me at all.
A few days later I received a call setting up a call with a claims specialist. The day of this call came and went and a specialist never called.
Of course, I have been calling the unemployment offices for days trying to get through to see what happened to my call with the specialist, and if anything at all could be done to settle this unknown "ongoing issue" but, of course, no matter when you call or how many times each day you call, you just can't get a person on the phone.
It has now been SIX MONTHS and I am owed more than $10, 000 in unemployment benefits that I cannot collect because no one can answer my questions, and those who can will not reach out to me.
I have emailed and called my state senator, the DOL secretary, Phil Murphy, and, now, his opponent in the governor's race.
I am sick of dealing with this incompetence. I want my money. NOW