The Perils of Unemployment

Trying to get my unemployment benefits is my new full time job.

As of Friday, May 15th, I have still not received my New York State Unemployment Benefits. I applied in early March and it feels like the difficulty level in getting approved is comparable to trying to enter the Olympics. It has taken a lot of time and discipline, and it has now become my full-time job. Last week I spent every day waking up at 8 am, and calling, and calling, and screaming, and calling some more. One day I kept a running tally of over 200 calls before the day was over, and I was so consumed with calling I forgot to eat. I had to remind myself to drink water but luckily I didn't forget to kill a bottle of wine. After a while I got fed up with hearing the same monotone audio recording telling me to “please hang up and try again” and I searched the internet for some way out.

I found a NY Unemployment Facebook Group which currently has about 40,000+ members. I scrolled through the messages, and one by one I saw multiple disaster stories of people waiting 8+ weeks without any benefits. Someone even posted a story about the police showing up at his door after he sent the Department of Labor a message saying he was at the end of his rope. They wanted to check if he committed suicide, but they didn’t want to release his benefits? That post has since been deleted. The group offers support and a safe space to share our suffering; which is needed because a majority of my friends have already received their benefits, or still have jobs, and I’m happy they’re staying afloat - but it feels like I’m on the Titanic. 

The amazing thing about that Facebook group is - it feels like we've become test dummies for the DOL. The group members post tips, and we try it, and some things work, and some things crash and burn. A woman posted a hack where you input your social through the phone line as 100000000 instead of the actual numbers. It sounds crazy but I tried it, and to my surprise, I got through. Next thing I know, the phone starts playing surprisingly current and satisfying hold music, and a calm voice tells me my wait time: 2 HOURS, the furthest I've ever got. When my time comes up a stern voice answers and says: “THAT IS NOT YOUR SOCIAL I CAN’T HELP YOU!” I pleaded with them: "I’m sorry, I tried everything to get through can I please just talk about my case." They transfer me to a supervisor who picks up and screams: “I CAN’T HELP YOU” and instantly hangs up, like me inquiring about my benefits was trifling to him. I was furious! At this point, I felt defeated but I kept checking the group for help. I found someone (an angel) who gave me a direct line to the DOL, and that’s when I finally found out what was going on with my case:

they think I’m in the Netherlands.

Yes, you heard me correctly. That is what they told me. However, I have not been to the Netherlands, or overseas this year at all, I’ve been to Bed-Stuy and Bushwick and back. Can y’all make it make sense ‘cuz I can’t?

The biggest tip I can give anyone who is still struggling is to email your senator. The only thing that has given me relief is having my senator call me and tell me what I was going through was ridiculous and she would help me. At the end of the day, I just wonder why could I get through with a fake social but I couldn’t with a real one? Are they blocking calls? Why the fuck do they think I’m in the Netherlands? Why couldn’t anyone send me an email confirming where I was, and is the system broken or is suffering just an American norm? I don’t know the answers sway, but one thing this whole process has taught me is, no one can take away the most valuable thing I have, hope.

I just wish hope could pay the rent. 

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If you’re having issues with your Unemployment Insurance reach out to your senator. As I mentioned they’ve been super helpful to me and if you are in NY you can find your senator here

Remember you are more powerful than you know

Kile Atwater