“I just wanted to say Thank you so much for your help. I got my money to buy food now. I very much appreciate your help in resolving my problem.”
One of many people who contacted us with problems applying for and receiving Unemployment Insurance (UI) during the COVID pandemic, this Alaskan called us after trying for two months to apply for UI benefits. UI had received his application, but had not finished reviewing it for eligibility. Ombudsman staff determined that the Department of Labor had not started processing claims for UI benefits from self-employed Alaskans yet. We explained the process, and gave the person direct referrals to UI staff who could help if they did not receive an answer within 30 days of the start of processing self-employed folks’ applications. The complainant reported that they received their benefits four days later.