The changing face of benefits, ID.me, NJ EU hoops.

[Opti]

Benefits and fraud are ever changing. Applying for unemployment has never been so complex and fraught with pitfalls. My own experience with ID.me and talking to some others has enlightened me to current RL. If you are a well-off person like most of YM posters, it may only annoy you, versus possibly cutting you off from needed rent or other things.

I just discovered that right now, I can only claim unemployment benefits on-line in one of three one-hour time slots!
The electronic booklet I printed out from applying, still has the old schedule, which allowed for one scheduled day and allowed anyone to try W-F if they missed their day. Now in 2020-

Three hours, people! 
(Four days down to three specific hours based on your SS#, talk about cuts ...)  


I don't think me ID.me verification from the company side has made it through to the NJ side yet. This is based on what did not show up and being Christmas week going into New Year's ... not good.

[Opti]

NJ isn't even thinking of its underfunded and living on the margins people. Those who need it the most. But if you are a laid off DON or well-paid person with the latest gadgets, you might not even realize there is an issue.

Because of Covid, the in-person NJ DOL offices are closed. This is important and a big deal, because even though it wasn't fast, there were live people who could help you and phones to use to verify benefits. There were even computers, although I think they probably still do not have web cams, which is important now that NJ is using ID.me as verification for benefits. (There is no alternate.) I forget if it was a librarian or DOL employee who told me driving down to Trenton is now your only option of in person Hail Mary. As you might guess, not all people with issues can even afford to get to Trenton let alone camp out all day.

At least in this case and the federal childcare credit, technology and Covid protocols have combined to insure the people the worthiest of benefits are the least likely to even make it through the hoops. The best off, and probably most of the top 50 to 60% income earners without visual or auditory disabilities will just be annoyed. The bottom are probably being evicted, eating badly, and not getting the support they need to survive and contribute to society.

I'd love to know other posters experiences with unemployment, ID.me or any other "social" programs and third-party tech.

[Opti]

One reference librarian told me they assisted a partially blind person with ID.me . They don't know if it did successfully make it through the NJ sign off and benefits unlock, but I was told the person thought it was at least a few days.

Tech-wise, I got a laptop at home and I had been using just the internal mouse and keypad. One wrong click, and your online application will kick your ass out. At least the library computers have mice, but it is good my tech is now new even that mine does have a webcam.

[jerseygirl]

Opt4 sorry you’re unemployed but hoping you get a fantastic job in the new year

[Opti]

Dec 24, 2021 14:52:00 GMT -5 jerseygirl said:

Opt4 sorry you’re unemployed but hoping you get a fantastic job in the new year

Thanks. I have one I need to really craft a letter and resume for. I really want a fantastic job too. 

[stillmovingforward]

Plus this all assumes you are literate enough to wade through the verbiage. Many people with limited access to tech are not literate enough.
Don't anyone accuse me off being classest, my DH is one of those people. He can read but just in simple straight lines. Forms or online stuff, someone has to help him.

[stillmovingforward]

I had to do his unemployment or he would have never gotten any.

[teen persuasion]

This is when you need to contact your local congress critter, or state reps, for help with the system.

My previous congress critter told us over and over how this is what his staff is there for: helping constituents with govt snafus. Of course, this was before Covid that I met him (and before he was sent to prison for insider trading, and later pardoned by Trump, but I digress).

[Opti]

Dec 24, 2021 14:55:24 GMT -5 stillmovingforward said:

Plus this all assumes you are literate enough to wade through the verbiage. Many people with limited access to tech are not literate enough.
Don't anyone accuse me off being classest, my DH is one of those people. He can read but just in simple straight lines. Forms or online stuff, someone has to help him.

Even if you are literate its painful. My UE might have been challenged by employer, which would put in a guaranteed month delay for the appointment. It appears they did not do that.

I actually started on SNAP first, but the application is long and wicked tough without a wireless mouse and good info. It is only now, months after being let go after the investigation (eating lunch at the desk, admin decided it was taking a un-approved break, I didn't even get my legal 15 minute break ever ... unless it was bad and I begged).

SNAP I think I was 9 pages in of very deliberate clicks trying to calc info I did not have. Still don't, but I am closer. Turns out, I was so stressed from April on my elec bills were outrageous because I fell asleep with the lights on and watched way too much late night TV trying to relax or survive not sleeping.

The server axed my SNAP application, you get 30 day calendar days, which seems long ... but if you have to file two years of stuff to do math to even guess at ballpark numbers ... its not enough time at all. ( I will need to document/prove those numbers in an intake appt, which, again will be about a month after the application is submitted electronically.)

[Opti]

Dec 24, 2021 14:58:56 GMT -5 teen persuasion said:

This is when you need to contact your local congress critter, or state reps, for help with the system.

My previous congress critter told us over and over how this is what his staff is there for: helping constituents with govt snafus. Of course, this was before Covid that I met him (and before he was sent to prison for insider trading, and later pardoned by Trump, but I digress).

I am going to email Phil Murphy and various offices and critters. I have done so in the past, but you usually get the form letters first. 

This week I made it through ID.me with a trusted advisor. They told me it could take up to two weeks. There are the holidays, so in practice it could be three weeks although I was really hoping b4 year end, cuz rent dammit. So ballpark mid-January? 

[Opti]

Besides SNAP, I also need to apply for heating assistance real soon, and perhaps consider applying for the phone program. I do need to get on a regular housing search schedule too. Rent went up 8% this year, and I've yet to capture affordable housing in 15 years of trying.

NJ - expert level
NJ - its harder than you think

NJ, there's a reason they call it Jersey Strong.

[jerseygirl]

I applied for all of these except unemployment for my sister who had been disabled since birth. Also for care aide. She couldn’t read or understand any of it but fortunately I could. All of it is very tedious unnecessarily complicated and excessive - then you need to redo for the next year. I was very grateful for the help paying for her food electricity gas and property tax and after 6 years of paying for a 24/7 live in aide finally getting $10/hr for 20 hrs week

Makes my stomach hurt just remembering. Process could be simpler if all the benefits could be coordinated by a single application. I understand the need to have government assure that benefits go to needy. But many of the really needy can’t cope with these . Also folks who are fine mentally but having a difficult time don’t need this very stressful process.
But each benefit seems to have its own organization and employees so they have no incentive to simplify. Made me realize how much of the money from taxes going to help people actually doesn’t

[Deleted]

Wait, my brain is scattered at the moment, but am I understanding correctly Opti, that you are currently unemployed?

[Opti]

Dec 24, 2021 18:33:15 GMT -5 @pinkcshmere said:

Wait, my brain is scattered at the moment, but am I understanding correctly Opti , that you are currently unemployed?

Correct. If you PM me, I might tell you the story. 

[Opti]

So yesterday the UE website was affected by maintenance, so my claim times were different than usual. Of course, no notice last week so I was not warned. My guess is legally they only have to give 3- or 5-days' notice. If the system had not come up properly, I would have had only one of my claiming hours left to use later in the week.









Really messed up my day.

So, still need to wash hair.

Still need to apply for my three required jobs a week.



(I might delete this. Do not quote TY!)

[jerseygirl]

Opt4 when I was applying for NJ UI, I looked every Monday morning for when I could apply based on SS#. Yes the times change so don’t rely on previous week schedule.
Glad to read you’re ok with ID me finally.
Government benefits seem great to help those who are needy- until a person actually needs to apply
Did you read that NJ is now planning on spending $40 million for ‘overlooked’ people - read undocumented
Makes them look good but we know how NJ citizens are in great need because of the &@:& inefficient state government. REALLY? UE offices STILL CLOSED?!?!

Prayers and wishes you get UEI you are entitled to as well as a GREAT NEW JOB!!!

[Opti]

Feb 1, 2022 14:53:01 GMT -5 jerseygirl said:

Opt4 when I was applying for NJ UI, I looked every Monday morning for when I could apply based on SS#. Yes the times change so don’t rely on previous week schedule.
Glad to read you’re ok with ID me finally.
Government benefits seem great to help those who are needy- until a person actually needs to apply
Did you read that NJ is now planning on spending $40 million for ‘overlooked’ people - read undocumented
Makes them look good but we know how NJ citizens are in great need because of the &@:& inefficient state government. REALLY? UE offices STILL CLOSED?!?!

Prayers and wishes you get UEI you are entitled to as well as a GREAT NEW JOB!!!

1) Good plan, I'll start looking early morning Mon or after church Sunday going forward.

2) I was OK with ID me last year. The issue is ongoing because of how NJ's trial is handling the exceptions. ( No evidence either way, but my gut says absolutely no ID.me in person verifications are waved through. None. Zero. Zilch.

3) I am an overlooked people. They damn well better save my marvelous smart ass.


Jerseygirl, I have no idea of your work history. I have two diamonds in my working history. Read large honking companies. Big corporations are not agile and have long lag times. State government is another level harder, because most things are regulated and passed by law, updated by laws.

I reached out to PSGCNJ earlier. Because snowstorm, they were off their usual game and like many non profits, hunting for their next place to host meetings or work out of. At least two of the times I co-chaired the training committee, I spent lots of time scheduling rooms for training classes, and developing procedures to cancel/move said classes because DOL. At the time, a new training curriculm took roughly 3 months to get an OK to use. UE offices are still closed like many corporations have kept WFH people. Many may lose their jobs in a year or three. If we ever meet, I will explain.