Georgia Department Of Labor
Reviews and Complaints

I have been trying to resolve and receive UE and PUA since March of 2020.
I have filed all paperwork and beyond and have records of all of my filings and attempts. I believe the GA Department of Labor is falsely claiming a low UE rate and is in fact behaving fraudulently toward Georgia's and it is likely time for legal action in the form of a CLASS ACTION Law suit.

I was approved in March and May. Someone stole my identity and try to reapply. It messed everything up and NO ONE WILL HELP OR RETURN CALLS. I am a single mom of 5 and lost my job due to Covid. I am about to loose my home and Ga Dept of Labor still won't help.
My kids are about to be on the streets. I have paid my fair share of taxes plus I'm sure much more! It's ridiculous someone can steal your identity then no one helps to make sure you are protected and not punished!
Jamie Gray
[protected]

I've spoken to 7 customer service reps about my retroactive PUA unemployment payments & no one has been able to give me concise information or a resolution. All of them except one have given me the same excuse about escalating my claim to a claim adjuster or Supervisor. One Manager (Richard Hall) gave me his direct number in August 2021 promising me he would make sure I received payment within about a month. However, he NEVER answers the phone or return my calls. I've spoken to Lisa (8/13/21), Randy, Cassandra Jackson (8/19/21), Juanita (10/12/21) Richard emailed me on (10/21/21) stating he's working on it (see attachment below), Mike (10/25/21) & Robin Rogers (11/8/21). I've been certifying weekly since December of 2020. I did receive payments for May & June of 2021. I'm due back pay for the last week in May, the whole month of December 2020-April 2021. I don't understand why we don't speak with a claim adjuster instead a customer service rep bc they have absolutely no information to relay. I'm so frustrated but I'm trying to remain optimistic. I'm going to keep making weekly appointments & leaving messages until my claim has been resolved.

I was approved in May. Someone stole my identity and try to reapply. It kicked me off. I told the Georgia Dept of Labor. Here it is November and no one and I mean NO ONE will help. I have been calling, leaving messages and emailing and nothing. I lost my job as a direct effect of COVID. I have five kids and I am losing my home next week and will be on the streets with my baby who has a heart problem. I was approved and someone stole my identity. I reported it right away. Instead of helping no one has done a thing.

Hello,

I am trying to get three unemployment payments owed to me since December, 2020. I submitted all information and was told it was an error. I recently lost my current job and I am now facing eviction. I am submitting the following information.

Clarinda Boyce

GA DOL

11/2/20 - Mailed all forms required confirming earned working wages.
12/3/2021 - Received a letter stating I did not return required working wages form. Emailed and resent all forms.
I spoke with Ms. Bowen and Ms.Johnson throughout the month of December, 2020. I was told it was a glitch in the system and Ms. Johnson states she will call me back tomorrow to inform me when I would have a release of payment date for my missed payments in December. She never called me back, so when I was able to reach her she asked me to refresh her memory on why I was calling her back. I did and she proceeded to tell me they were working on fixing the glitch. After several more calls she referred me to a Ms. Watson, Supervisor. I always received a voicemail and I have left so many messages, without one return call. I have left numerous emails to the DOL, have been on hold for 3 hours or more only to automatically disconnect and have reached out to all contact us information, as well as trying to reach the commissioner.

I was paid for the week of 12/26/20 but not the three weeks prior 12/5, 12/12 and 12/19, 2021.
I did fax and mail all forms requested by the DOL.
I experienced another glitch during the Easter week, but those payments were restored the next day after my missed payment.

I really need the missed payments due to the ripple effect of ongoing bills and the financial distress caused by late fees, eviction filed and more.

Clarinda Boyce
[protected]

My claim was filed on 7/13/21. Claimant confirmation number 7514263. No determination could be accessed via the UI portal. No benefits claims could be filed via the UI portal. No emails, phone calls have been answered or replied/responded to and no information is available to me since the initial claim. I attempted to inquire about my determination and benefits on 7/20, 7/27, 8/2, 8/9, 8/16, 8/23 and 8/24 with no response. I would like to know the result of my application and the benefit amount I am eligible for. In addition I would like to be compensated for the weeks to date I haven't been paid benefits for which I am eligible. Thank you.

I submitted Application for unemployment February 20, 2021 was denied and never received determination letter nor interview no interview i was informed by snap food stamp caseworker of the decision reapplied March 2021 was denied October 5th 2021 apply for pandemic unemployment October 06, 2021 and was denied October 22nd 2021 without ever been Contacted by the Georgia examiner office neither via email via phone no correspondence, I am now Unable to submit appeal on portal on because there's no there's no denial e
Reason Just the date of the denial I made several times to reach out to Georgia Department of Labor personnel never was contacted back I am not homeless in debt With bad health He's still unable to get the assistance that I deserve and need so desperately Please hel

As you can see below I was approved in July, this is completely ridiculous. I am raising 2 granddaughters on my own, I have lost my job of 17 years for no reason, and it has been months. someone has to be accountable. Who holds them accountable or do they do whatever they feel doing. I understand it must be hard working from home and no one makes sure you are actually working. They don't take phone appointment why? I pretty sure you cant get Covid over the phone. They don't answer the phone why? are they to busy home schooling or watching TV?
I completely understand that everything is behind, but I call everyday at 8am leave a message, Then I call back in the evenings and leave the same message. I have done this for 8 days straight.
So here is a hard Question, If the GDOL is that far behind why do I never see jobs posted? Tell them please I am currently looking for a job, so all the people that don't have a job...hire them. hell I'm looking for job, I can start in the morning. Be glad to help them get caught up.

I applied for Georgia UI on September 6, 2021. I was a teacher at a public school in Georgia, and resigned due to unsafe work conditions after being assaulted by a student. I was assaulted in March of 2021, and continued to work for Dooly County Schools until August 13, 2021. After the student punched me, causing permanent damage to my left ear and eye, I began sending emails to administration stating that the student needed to be removed from the classroom. Subsequently, on August 12, 2021, this particular student stabbed another student with scissors which prompted my resignation, as all of my requests for help had been ignored.
I included all of this information in my original email to UI when I applied for unemployment. My claim was denied based on "the employee did not allow the employer the chance to rectify the situation before resigning." This is absolutely false, and they never even read the information that I sent with the claim.

I filed for regular unemployment in February. As expected I was denied since I am a contract/freelance worker. No surprises, as that was protocol to be able to file for the federal PUA program.) in March I received an email stating that the GA DOL had received my PUA request and had processed it. However, they required my 2019 and 2020 tax returns. I provided the 2019 and 2020 tax returns that were requested.  
A redetermination letter dated 05/14/21 confirmed that I qualify to receive benefits. (Please see the attached letter.)  
I assumed that a week or two after I would see some sort of relief. (because that's what GADOL website and pamphlet says to expect.) 
When that didn't happen I scheduled a phone interview on June 14. The interview took place on June 24. It was a short conversation with agent from GADOL. She assured me I had been approved for PUA benefits but was unable to confirm an amount or when benefits would be issued? Reason? The amount was still waiting to be determined? (As far as I'm concerned it's simple arithmetic. X- weeks multiplied by X- dollars that the letter stated I was entitled to.)
At some point, shortly after phone interview a notice was posted to my DOL PUA profile reaffirming what the representative told me on the phone. I don't know exactly when it was uploaded to my profile because there is no exact date. It states that after receiving this letter that I had 15 days to contest. I certainly didn't contest anything. If they contested some thing, then I have no knowledge of it. Please see additional attachments. Still another month of July went by with no word.
So in August I was directed by consumer affairs to contact Atlanta legal aid to help me collect my benefits. They've been wonderful but they haven't had much more luck than I've had getting any responses from people at the GADOL. My attorney has contacted their attorney. The first response from their attorney was that I was denied in February. Yes of course I was denied for regular unemployment. That's the way it works to get PUA process rolling. She also stated that she wanted proof that I had a phone interview on the 24th. Again which I was able to provide an email confirming my appointment. I'm now in the process of trying to get the phone records for that day and that number to prove that I actually had a conversation that they say I didn't. So she's not been honest about the phone interview and she's not been honest about being denied for PUA in feb (Since I didn't receive a letter of processing my PUA until March.)
Nor has she acknowledged the dated, mailed letter approval, notice posted to my portal or phone interview. So now my attorney is spinning her wheels trying to contact somebody else at the DOL who can be more helpful. Who do I need to contact to get answers results? Or better yet who does my attorney contact?

These people are the definition of rude and ignorant. I am so sick of the GDOL. It took me 8 months to see a dime. I emailed over the 8 month period and finally found a person in another town at the GDOL that resolved my issue within 8 hours. I finally had deposits going in my account. The very next day my icompetent folks over at my local GDOL finally calls me and tells me I need to pay the money back and that they overpaid me. I was only owed back pay from april 11 - June 2nd. Somehow they had dates where I had already started my new job listed as when I claimed (Which I didnt). Just received a call this morning and the lady tried to say it was on me for not claiming on the weeks I was suppose to (WHICH I DID) my portal was screwed up with an action message saying I needed to refile my claim the entirety of this process (remember the GDOL taking 7 months to contact you about your issues on their end is ON YOU apparently). I have already received my deposits (which is actually 3 payments short) and theyve requested me to pay it back. However, im not paying them a dam dime back. Ignore me for 8 months, screw up my entire claim then blame me for it. How dare you [censored]s. How dare you. Send that letter of overpayment so my lawyer can send you one back telling you how ignorant you guys really are. YOU MESSED THIS ENTIRE PROCESS UP FOR THE ENTIRE STATE OF GA. ITS NOT ON US. ITS ON YOU! YOU WONT GET A DIME BACK FROM ME!

I did work for Handyman Depot in Cartersville, Ga.
The owner, Johnnie Chapman, has given me several excuses on my pay check. Said he deposited in my bank for a couple weeks. When he finally did, the check bounced. I contacted him and he called me a lying, crook that was on drugs. I have text to back this up. My bank was going to run the check back through in 10 days. He canceled the check on the 9th day. He now is saying that my check was mailed last week but I haven't received anything nor am I looking for it. He has done several people this way which I can prove also

Hello, I would like to file a complaint against my local Georgia department of labor in Columbus Ga. I received my benefits letter on 9/13/2020, my BYE benefits year end was on 9/11/2021 and I received no payments or communication in reference to my claim. They are closed to the public, I have been calling, emailing, and faxing this department for a year and they are not reachable. If you view their rating on Google you will see that I am just 1 of many dissatisfied citizens. This is unacceptable, I have been more than patient but I am getting told different things from the Atlanta department. I even contacted the commissioner and still no resolution. I need help, I am a veteran, citizen, and college grad with 3 degrees yet no job because of the economy in my area. I am not looking for "handouts", I earned this benefit.

I filed for unemployment benefits on April 23rd. My claim was finally reviewed and approved on August 11th, 17 weeks after filing. Now, 6 weeks after receiving approval, I still have not received any payments.

I have attempted to call, literally thousands of times, yet no one answers. I have left hundreds of voicemails, sent dozens of emails, and have not received a single response to any of them. Social media personnel will reply but they claim to not have access to individual accounts and cannot provide any information. I have apparently been on the list of individuals to contact for nearly 6 weeks now.

Three weeks ago, I was contacted by a Regional Coordinator regarding my issue, but she also says she does not have access to my account and has, so far, been unable to assist.

I returned to work two months ago, but am owed back pay for 13 total weeks, 10 of which should also include the $300 federal benefit, totaling nearly $7, 800.

Within the last 2.5 years, I assisted in over 70 surgeries as a Certified Surgical Assistant. I was under prepayment review. This means that Anthem required operative notes for all of the claims that I submitted. These were all clean claims. The claims were denied over and over again asking for medical records or operative notes. I mailed and faxed these in with the claims multiple times only to get them denied again. I reported this to the insurance commissioner's office and was told that there was nothing that they could do. I spoke to a Kristine Polasky at Anthem who told me that I needed to to go into the dictation system and digitally sign operative notes. I cannot do this because it is illegal. I enlisted the help of an attorney who was able to get the prepayment process removed. He and I both believed through Ms. Polasky that all of the claims would be reprocessed and paid. She advised us to send them all back through. We did that. There were 6 that were paid. The rest denied again. Some citing that the claims were never received within the billing time frame. Others saying that my NPI number are wrong. As of late, Anthem is saying that they have updated their system and all of my claims are lost and there is nothing that they can do. I've spoke with Supervisors and CSRs alike and still have not been paid for the work that I have done. At this time, Anthem owes me over 400, 000.00 for work that was done. This has caused me severe anguish. I've had a couple of patients that told me that customer service representatives said that I wasn't in the operating room. That my claim was a fraud. One even called me back after she received a check for 13, 900.00 for a claim that I submitted in 2018 for her spine surgery and apologized to me for what they had told her. Due to their violating the Prompt Pay Laws, my credit score went down by 200 points. My house had a lien on it because I could not pay my taxes. I lost surgeons thus employment and the ability to work due to the complaints from patients from what they were being told by Anthem. My spine surgeon in particular stopped working with me.

I have never received any type of letter or communication from the state of GA letting me know anything on the determination of my UI claim. I happened to file it online that I had not been approved. Then I completed the appeal online over a month ago and have yet to hear from anyone. I have call the states office everyday and sat on hold for hours and get hung up on. I have emailed my local office and I need help to get this taken care of. I have been unemployed 6 months due to no reason of my own. The statement that was written on my correction letter was a complete lie, and the conversation that was stated that happened between my manger and myself never took place. I NEED SOMEONE TO CONTACT ME ASAP! I feel like I have no other choice but to contact a lawyer. Thank you in advance for your help in this matter. James VanWinkle 9/15/2021

I filed my initial unemployment on 1/08/21. Then on 3/24/21, during a telephone appointment, I was told my claim was erased. They refiled it right then over the telephone. I got approved for $365 a week, and at the time the $300 federal unemployment boost. I was out of work from 1/8/21 til 3/8/21. I only received six payments. It should've been eight total payments. They told me in June 2021, they were investigating my account for fraud. Here it is 9/14/21 and I had a telephone appointment scheduled but no one called. I am owed these funds. They are not calling me when I schedule a telephone appointment. I scheduled a telephone appointment on June 2021 and today 9/13/21, no one called me. I have email confirmations for both appointments. I also have my emails from when I initially filed my unemployment claim. I also have the email on 3/24/21, when they refilled my unemployment claim over the telephone. Please help me. Thanks for your time.

Hi, my name is Alia Asbai, from 2016 to 2020 I was working as a French instructor at Atlanta Institute of languages located at Lenox center. And during the pandemic December 2019 all the way June 2020 the owner of the school didn't pay me and he held roughly $7000 of my payment, its been almost 2 years I didn't get paid. from February 2020 to June 20

Hello, i was let go from my job march of 2020 . Applied for benefits received for 4 months however due to appeal they stopped, however due to the situation my case was reviewed and while being reviewed ms.Rosaly booker informed me to continue requesting weekly payments until either denied or approved. I did that i was notified to send proof of my employment, i did that they spoke with the lady i worked for melanie sahara with country financial and finally i was approved to start claiming weekly benefits on 12/20/2020. However i did not receive this determination letter until 1/7/2021. Understandable due to the holidays. After all of january passed and into february i received an email from fred ogola this was i assume because a few days prior i had emailed the gdol. He informed me that the reason i had not received anything was because they could not verify my employment. The info he had in front of him was not at all affiliated with me at all but my name, anyway i sent over documents showing again my proof of employment and many more only for him to tell me that they would be in touch once they reviewed my case, the case i had already been approved for back in december of 2020. Then nothing i emailed and no response only about 2 or 3 weeks later after emailing multiple times did someone by the name of arianne lovett contact me just really informing me my case was once again being reviewed, and that i would hear something within the next couple weeks only to not hear anything. Since then i have called as much as possible never has anyone attempted to return my call as well as emailing multiple documents showing all documentation of every determination letter emails between myself and your staff, weekly search forms backpay request forms all weeks since last year that i have requested each week, as well as to even emailing the gdol commissioner and the senator, sadly but kinda excited also it was the senator raphael warnock whom emailed me back not once but twice. Lastly i even mailed all the same documents to the office located at 148 andrew young international blvd ne atlanta, georgia [protected] not once or even twice but i mailed documents 4 different times from the post office in hapeville/ forestpark as well as the post office on main street in jonesboro georgia from march until now. I thank heavens did start working but no more then 15 hours a week and i started the 1st week in may and was honest while claiming weekly pay, however was out due to covid 19 for 3 weeks. I just dont understand after being in contact with 3 of the gdol employees all the emails and calls not to of received anything from you. I am heading toward almost 42 weeks of not receiving anything and yes i may be employed but i did not receive nothing for months and months putting me almost on the streets. If i dont receive what i was approved to receive long ago however i will be out on the streets. I have contacted more than enough, i along with everyone else does not deserve to have to worry if they will feed there families, due to no approved assistance, or having a roof over there heads, any and all life essentials that my family did go without before the reopening of the us fully and before i found work. I know the feel of hunger and it is not anything i wish for anybody. I would appreciate it if you could help me with my case and get it resolved soon.
Rhonda m rathel
[protected]@yahoo.Com
employer in which i worked until 3/2020 having to let me go due to corona and the office space she rented out of the office building on virginia ave the property/office manager shut down all three of the buildings noone even if willing to work was not allowed in or out until futher notice. Her name is melanie sahara
country financial

i really hope someone contacts me soon thanks

I have been self employed since 2013, and during the COVID-19 pandemic my income decreased. I began receiving PUA, around or about September of 2020. On June 26, 2021, my PUA claim was discontinued. However, prior to my claim being discontinued I received a notice from GDOL requesting additional information with a deadline of March 13, 202. I submitted all request documents in a timely manner. On 08/28/2020, I received a Unemployment Insurance Benefit Determination letter which stated inaccurate wages. I attempted to contact GDOL by phone with no answer. I also attempted to file online and my log-on information was blocked by the computer system. I received an Employer's Information About Claimant's Leave Of Absence form, that dose not apply in this case. Please be advised that all my wages were claimed during the certification weekly process during the dates in question.