The New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development review: Unable to file due to phone hang ups, etc 124

I certainly do agree with all of these very unhappy people . I can't believe what the dept. of labor is doing here.There should be some stiff consequences for the parties involved in doing and standing by letting this be done to us. t here has to be justice somewhere.I s there no one out there that has the nohow and or the ability to get something going against these people?They need to go down and i mean hard. Prison maybe.Pay us for all the time WE HAVE LOST TRYING TO GET THEM TO DO THERE JOB, Anger and torment they have caused. TERMINATE THE WHOLE BUNCH! TOP TO BOTTOM.EVER HATE ANYONE?

This is nation wide deliberate misuse of position t as far as i can see to feather someones pockets ?How i do not know, but you can bet someone is gaining from the injustice that is being so blatantly thrown in our face. Fire the leader, thats the important thing.How ?I do not know.do you?

Unemployment told me I could not claim this week, that i had to call to speak to an agent. after calling all day and being hung up on for too high a call volume over the course of several days, it is now time to claim the next week. Spent 55 minutes on hold after being prompted the wait time was 25 minutes. After getting through to a person she claimed she could not understand me and to call back later. I was calling from a brand new phone that i know works perfectly well. I pleaded "No please don't hang up I have been on hold for an hour." She stated, "well then you need to do something to your phone because i cant hear you."

I said, " Can you hear me now?" She answered "no sir i cannot hear you." Then hung up on me. she heard me well enough to understand what i was saying and answer me all while insisting she couldn't hear me?! And who can you complain to? Is this why I have been paying taxes? O yes please let these same people take over health insurance, because that's what i need more of. Atleast when i call my insurance company, they answer the phone.

NJ dept of Labor is a joke. They must have the most useless people working there. The whole system needs a reform. I can never get anything done with them. UUUGGHGHHHHHHHHH!

Cathy Mycoff, Coordinator
Constituent Relations
Department of Labor
P.O. Box 110
Suite 13A
Trenton, N.J. 08625

Ph [protected]
Fax [protected]

After emailing the gov's office about the ridiculous treatment i was forwarded to this woman. Cathy was understanding but did shrug off her employees actions citing being overworked(welcome to the club.) None the less she called me first thing in the am and helped me. Now why couldn't any of the employees answering the phone, talk to me the way she did? And Don't expect to find any info elsewhere giving her name. Now i just email the Gov everytime I have a problem. If you can't get it right, I'm going to bother you.

It's not just jersey but Jersey seems worse then NY's UI.

I was filing in NY my BYE came up I called them to see what happens next. The guy oint the phone said I couldn't reopen the claim or file a new one BUT somehow the way I was paid I had enough to open a claim in NJ. I would later find out he was wrong and he was supposed to reopen the claim not try and make a new one. Inmy own tinfoil hat wearing way I kinda think this happened to a lot of people so NY can claim lower Unemployment rates...I find ti funny how there's 3-4% difference in UE rates on opposite sides of the hudson.

Anyway

Ive been on NJ since, I'm ended T4 and am awaiting confirmation of HEB.

The "good" differences:

NY:
- MUCH MUCH MUCH MUCH more information on their UI website and unlike NJ it's not still the same archaic website from the late 90's. You can see YOUR pay structure how much you have left and even ALL the extensions you're eligible for. It's also much faster. The last UI edate extension NY had it up within the hour NJ 3 days later. The phone still has info from Nov 2009 extension. FUN FACT for NJ: NEVER EVER EVER EVER EVER EVER close the browser with out hitting the exit button when claiming UI. You will be locked out of the system on boththe PHONE and internet then have to talk to someone on the phone or the one stop career center to unlock your account.
- You can claim benefits 24/7 not just working hours
- They actually will put you on hold instead of telling you to call back.
- SO MUCH easier to get in contact with someone either on the phone, on their website or even the NYS DOL facebook page. I actually follow NYS DOL page on FB just so I can ask questions or read whats going on with this whole job fiasco.
- Hold times are A LOT more accurate. I swear NJDOL is going at 1/5th speed when you're on hold EVERY SINGLE TIME the first 20 mins "wait time is 25 mins" then it starts moving in real time. Seriously EVERY FREAKING TIME I call 25 mins wait time. 25 mins pass...ON THE DOT. "your wait time is 20 mins"
- Even with the "atm" card they still send you weekly statements and claim dates. In NJ ever since 2 weeks before I got my card, which was 6 months after I was told next claim week they'll be switching, I haven't gotten ANYTHING in the mail from NJDOL. I figured I should claim weekly instead of bi-weekly on the same day...I assumed cuase I didn't get ANYTHING to tell me otherwise.

NJ
- IF..IF you can get through on the phone the people are much nicer and much more helpful then NY
- The orientation wasn't a waste of time. I work in the art field after 3 hours of waiting NY told me "oh too bad we really can't help you" and didn't take ANY questions. NJ the guy took everyone's questions, gave tips to people looking for jobs. I told him what NY career centers told me he laughed and said "figures" then talked to me about good places I may not know to look for a job.
- NJ career centers aren't useless, they actually TRY to help. NY...not so much more like get you out the door and out of the system.

If anyone still reads this, is it normal to skip a week of UI going between T4 and HEB? HEB was field for me and approved but getting that info out of the lady on the phone was like pulling teeth she told me my next file date is in 2 weeks.

I am on my second round of unemployment and extended benefits. I suddenly stopped getting benefits because THEY discovered THEY made a mistake and had overpaid me on the extension. OK. Fine. So be it. That was six weeks ago. I have had the same issues as everyone else with hundreds of attempts to get through on the phone, getting disconnected, listening to the obnoxious music for 45 mins to an hour, and then being told that my claim is with the "adjuster" and my money will be held until they figure it all out. I would estimate that 50% of the time I get someone helpful, and even compassionate, and 50% of the time I get very rude or incompetent agents. NO ONE is able to tell me anything. So, due to THEIR error, I have had no benefits for six weeks. I have written to them (via fax) and to my Senator. I will probably also write to Gov. Christie. But I feel it's useless and I feel hopeless. I can sympathize with the fact that they are overwhelmed, but that's not going to pay my bills. I have to pay my property taxes on time; I had taxes and u/e deductions taken out every week out of my paycheck; I have to pay taxes on taxable items I purchase...how do they have the right to withhold MY money until they "get around to" reviewing my claim? If an employer withheld money for that reason, they'd be in serious legal trouble. But as we all know...govermnent and banksters are all immune. Face it, we can't win and never will.

We as americans need to file a class action law suit against the department for their in my opinion illegal practices . Oh and i may also mention that governor Christie endorses . Here is my story . I was wronfully terminated from my job In may of 2010 . Had a claimes examiner interview . It was proved i was wrongfully terminated . got my unemployment benefits .Took a job in september at a warehouse . Over a period of time my back went out on me to the point i could no longer work there . I had to resign on December 20 th 2010 . went on temp disability . it ended march 20th 2011 . Went to the Unemployment office . I asked what i needed to do . i was told to go to the phones they had there and talk to someone when they picked up . I was told some one would call me they did and opened the old claim back up . My benefits were given to me . In july that claim ended and had to open up a whole new claim .Then I had to have another claims examiner interview in august 2011 . The Guy was the nastiest rudest person i have ever talked to treated me like a criminal . meanwhile he apologizes for the delay in the interview that was supposed to take place in march . Why didnt the person on the phone i spoke to in march do their job . They ruled against me . Now they want almost 4 thousand dollars back . Is it me ? wtf? This wrong for me you and every one that has gone through this . And the governor of NJ says these practices are ok . They are not . These practices are totally wrong and unreasonable . if anyone wants to sound off on this please do . d d nnj

Nj Dept of Labor - Unemployment is a disgrace. My husband filed a claim on August 8, 2011. STILL waiting to hear a response 6 weeks later. Cannot get thru on the telephone. No response to emails. August phone bill was substantially higher than July. Thankfully I checked closely before yelling at my teenage daughter. Increase was COMPLETELY due to unsuccessful calls to Unemployment! So not only are they delaying benefits that my husband has paid into for 30+ years...they are actually COSTING us money. This state office should be ashamed of itself.

My situation pertains to an unemployment claim that I was forced to file due to my last employer terminating me, which I have come to realize was by no fault of my own. Apparently, I was subject to what is considered as "Corporate Conspiracy" orchestrated by my last employer. I worked for my last employer for about one year. Back in April 2011, I became eligible for their company benefits. I attempted to pursue those benefits, but somehow I was denied due to a time miscalculation. I was told one thing by my immediate supervisor as far as my eligibility for my enrollment, but I was advised otherwise when the time came around for me to enroll.

I battled with Human Resources, as I brought my concern to the surface. Of course, the Human Resources person worked with the company's interest completely in mind. The Human Resources person still denied me my eligibility to enroll into the company's benefits. His reasoning was that I missed a cut-off time by about two days per my original hiring agreement with the company. Months went by since I was hired by the company, so of course, I forgot about such a technicality. Overall, my complaint to Human Resources triggered my becoming targeted by various management staff and some of my co-workers throughout the company. I spent months being harassed under various circumstances.

My employment with the company completely became a nightmare and I endure much direct and indirect mistreatment. I soon realized that management, as well as a lot of my co-workers sustained personal relationships with one another. Since I always kept to myself and I refused to get involved with office politics, I soon became the prime target for quite a few people to target me and try to break me as a person. I endured the harassment for months, but I continued to work hard for the company and made the company substantial profits in my role within the company. I oftentimes felt like a complete fool for remaining with the company, but there was not much I could do in a weak economy and job market. The management staff understood my dilemma oh to well and they certainly capitalized on it against me.

I found that on a consistent basis, I was subject to management staff blatantly trying to make my job harder and always questioning my character and integrity within the company, even though all I did was work hard and keep to myself. Eventually, the harassment aggregated against me and I was put into a situation where the employer finally find a reason for them to terminate me (even though it was wrong). I tried to follow the normal chain of command within the company, but that did not work. They all favored each other and worked diligently against me, since I believe they considered me the "outsider" for not partaking in the nonsense that constantly went on in that office. I even wrote to the owner of the company, who was constantly in-and-out of the office, but that proved futile, as he proved to be the one pulling the strings behind it all.

Consequently, I was finally terminated from that company and I suffered a great financial loss. I was forced to file for unemployment insurance. I started to receive unemployment insurance benefits, but they soon stopped. Apparently, my former employer was said to have filed an appeal against my claim. The Division of Unemployment Insurance claim that my former employer won the appeal, yet they provided no such proof or documentation to substantiate how my former employer won the appeal.

I battled with the NJ Division of Unemployment Insurance since September of 2011. I have kept records of all of my communications. I even contacted the Commissioner and Assistant Commission to address my ongoing concerns of how the Division of Unemployment Insurance unfairly and unjustifiably denied my unemployment insurance claim. I provided plenty of supporting facts regarding the matter. However, the higher authorities within the Division of Unemployment Insurance refused to correspond with me directly. Instead, the Commissioner and Assistant Commissioner passed me off to their non-caring subordinates, who continued to advocate for my former employer in the matter. To date, I have claimed five weeks worth of Unemployment Insurance benefits that have not been paid to me and the Division of Unemployment Insurance has been forcing unnecessary delays regarding my claim and the official appeal that I was forced to submit.

The NJ Division of Unemployment Insurance seems to only have intentions to satisfy their own financial agenda in paying claimants their rightful benefits. If someone paid into the unemployment insurance system and has a valid claim, then they should be undeniably compensated their due benefits. The NJ Division of Unemployment Insurance will try to place unknown and/or unfair stipulations against claimants. Be wary of such practices and never allow them to disuade you from receiving your benefits. Also, keep in mind that oftentimes, it is the employer(s) who trifle with a claimant's benefits claim, which causes unfair delays in a claiming getting paid their benefits. But, it is also not uncommon for the Division of Unemployment Insurance to manipulate claims and try to keep from paying claimants. This behavior would seem to be a guise to make money for the State of New Jersey, so again, be wary.

If you find relevance of my situation, I would suggest you to contact your local legislatoion office (Senator) and file an official complaint via email or mail. Make certain to keep records of everything that you do involving your claim and your communications, since it may be needed in the future. One of the best solutions to resolve these types of issues, is to vote the corrupted individuals, who do not advocate for the working residents of NJ, directly out of office. For those who have the ability to vote and who are aware of the corrupted parties or individuals who allow and spread the corruption, I suggest you do something now. The corrupted individuals have upset our constitution and have therefore lost their right to be a part of the governing bodies that shape this state. People need to end the tons of corruption in NJ. I hope that it starts here.

In addition, here is a list of individuals within the NJ Division of Unemployment Insurance that you should contact regarding your denied or manipulated claim that has caused you much unfair suffering:

Harold Wirths (Commissioner)
Ronald Marino (Assistant Commissioner)

I would suggest that you write to these individuals directly, since they are one of the highest authorities within the Division of Unemployment Insurance. They may pretend like they cannot do anything, but their position certainly entails otherwise. I would also suggest that you copy your communications to Governor Christie's office since he has the direct authority to make changes... after all... he was voted for by residents of New Jersey to work for and assist its residents.

Unemployment told me i had to supply info. When i called them back with said info. The rude lady on the phone said she never asked for it and hung up on me. The most unprofessional person I ever had the displeasure of talking with. Her name is Eles Lamply [protected]. Ive already called everyone i could find to make a complaint. People like this should not be employed. Well maybe at walmart. So sad. being this ignorant should be a crime

Wow this unemployment numbers [protected] and [protected] are a joke. It's funny when gov't needs money (ex: income tax) they make the process very easy and friendly. However, when they need to give money (ex: unemployment for people who truly deserve it), they make the process extremely hard. What a joke. Been waiting for 3 hours and nobody is picking up the phone. I feel bad for people who do not have access to the Internet to claim their unemployment benefits. I bet the workers at the unemployment office are getting paid while not doing work (ex: picking up my phone call which is still on hold for 3 hours). It's high time you stop hiring minorities for gov't positions. Atleast hire people who will do the job right. I wonder who even monitors these workers if they are or are not doing their job? I am so frustrated with this service.

OMG I have been on hold FOREVER... tried to call every single number in the One-Stop Career centers to get help with my unemployment claim, got busy signals for about 30 min before I finally got through to an AUTOMATED system which repeatedly still hangs up on you... then FINALLY like another 30 min later I am on hold for an agent.

The online form doesn't allow you to enter more than one part-time employer for filing partial unemployment and also the system did not give me a confirmation after I clicked 'submit' so I am not even sure if my claim went through or if I should do it again. And also when I opened my new claim I elected for direct deposit but yesterday I received a debit card in the mail from them... there are just so many mistakes on so many levels with the NJ DOL. This is so much time wasted that I could be looking for a job!

im sick of getting hung up on im at this moment gonna email every news agent and bombard them with emails on this matter til something sticks and they help us the more we stck together the greater the impact

Unemployment is for people who don't want to work. Obviously. I have worked all my life and not collected. My work has a shut down week every year. I was denied because I was 1 day late and could not get thru on the phone after numberous times. I don't have a pin# for unemployment therefore sending you in circles and making it impossible to collect. I know people who are collecting and NOT even looking for a job because unemployment keeps paying them. This is the most crooked state! I appealed twice only to keep getting denied. They are not trying to help the ones that actually work. They help the worthless!

I am disgusted by the DOL of NJ. I was laid off for a week and filed for Benefits. I went online to claim my benefits on the day I was supposed to and was not able to because there was a problem with their site. It kept saying try back at a later time. After trying many times I decided to try the next day. Everything went through, got a confirmation email but still have not received a check after two weeks. I called today and after holding on for a wait time of 1 hour 20 mins my call was answered by an elderly woman who clearly didn't know what was going on. When I asked to speak with a supervisor the woman hung up on me. When I called back the wait time was over 3 hours. What a joke. I was treated like a complete piece of crap and I'm completely disgusted that the DOL can get away with this. Something needs to be done about the way this system works. I have since been back to work. Is the DOL going to reimburse my employer 3 hours of pay to hold on the line for their incompetent responses? I don't think so. Or maybe I'll get fired for being on the phone waiting for the DOL and I'll have to collect full time unemployment benefits. DISGUSTING!

I was just laid off and I filed a UI claim. Then I received a letter telling me what date to claim my UI. So I went to www.njuifile.net on the date written on the letter to "continue my claim". I think I screwed up the web form because it confirmed that I would receive nothing (the letter gave me a positive $$ amount). Anyway I then tried to call the numbers and got "due to the heavy call volume, we cannot take your call at this time, please call later".

So I dug around a little more and I found a non-profit called NJ211. It's a hotline for family services. You just dial 211. They have live people with answers!

Anyway the woman at 211 told me that the One-Stop Careers Centers are actually Unemployment Offices, which can answer questions about claims. There are actual people in these offices! So there is an office I can visit in Perth Amboy, or in New Brunswick.

It doesn't say this anything about the One-Stop Centers being able to help with UI claims on the Dept. of Labor site - a dead-end maze.

I wish I knew who appointed James H. Fink, Director of Dept of Labor in NJ. Once my life gets more stable I would love to volunteer for whoever is running against him. I feel like we pay taxes to these people and then they have no accountability when we taxpayers need help. Does anyone know why the NJ Dept. of Labor is so dysfunctional? Any interesting news stories?

thanks,
Heather M. Propes

If this happens- you must GO to the unemployment office- I am currently awaiting a decision to my appeal by NJUI fro erroneously revoking my benefits- I was told that I was "not committed to the work force, and only utilizing efforts that will only lead to self employment" which would not have been the summary for any human being with a brain who listened to my testimony at my initial phone hearing for missing an appointment at NJUI office and filing for a month as having worked as a freelancer for a test for employment for a job. I am now without income for almost 2 months, am facing eviction, have 300 dollars in the bank, and could very well be homeless soon. Since the assault on my well being by the NJUI, I have had a similar problem with website errors telling me it could not process my claim directing me to a phone system that hangs up on me or puts me in a queue for 4 hours THEN hangs up. So now every 2 weeks I GO the NJUI office in East Orange, get a number, wait for an hour with a book and file my claim in PERSON- if the appeal board re-instates my claim benefits, I will be paid back for every 2 week visit. PROTIP: Go on Fridays- the last number given out is at 2:30, I tend to go around 1:30 and have had luck.

I applied for unemployment, the examiner set it up for 1 day .opened on the 22nd closed on the 23rd of june. I got correspondence telling me to call on the 26th of June of course this was rec'd on the 28th. I was then instructed to call on on the 10th of July which I did and was advised my claim was closed. I called and two hours later was told I had to physically go to unemployment. Went and at 12:00 same day I got on phone, after being told they couldn't help me. At 3:30 I went home and I am still trying to collect my benefits to no avail. I don't know whats more aggravating a person sitting at the information desk that has no idea of whats going on, or examiners that we pay with our tax dollars that act like there doing us a favor.

Unemployment is a disgrace in New Jersey! I have been trying to get through on the phone for weeks, I even sent an email and no response. I am concerned my benefits will be ending and have questions to see if I am in the tiers, however, I cannot get through. The one time I got through months ago was to an uneducated woman who had me on hold after she took my name. To me it is not hard to enter a name in the system and pull up the information and speak with the caller on their issues. I was besides myself as to why these people have jobs and I do not. Not to mention, when you go down to the one stop career centers how uneducated the workers are there as well. Hard working people are looking for jobs and the DOL and filling up slots with people who actually don't deserve these jobs because they obviously do not take pride in what they do. The BBB needs to come in and whips the place out and maybe the thousands of unemployed workers will get the help that the DOL's websites are promising. I myself, will have to keep calling and send harassing emails until my questions are answered, but peoples voices need to be heard so I urge everyone who has had these horrible experiences with the DOl to write in and maybe something will be done!

I work hard for my money, that includes what they take from my check for unemployment funds. I recently got laid off and started receiving checks via direct deposit. Somehow they need me to come into the office to 'verify my identity' but when I did, they said my address doesn't match. Last time I checked, my identity concerns what I look like and if it matches my ID. I even have an account pin for unemployment but was sent home due to the address difference. They could've just said it was an address verification, not identity. Now I am home due to this Hurricane SANDY and I am still missing checks for 4 weeks because of this problem. Without money to buy supplies and food, let alone pay any bills, and these people at unemployment couldn't just transfer funds before this weather disaster. Someone needs to do something about how unemployment works and whoever runs it. This is OUR money in there, we should be talking down to Them, not the other way around. If these problems exist, then I'd rather none of my check funds go to unemployment and instead it can be transferred to a savings account where one can have absolute access to their own funds.

Same issue that everyone else is having with phone hang ups lines busy etc. My issue is I have worked the last 3 yrs 2 jobs. Last month my full time laid me off n since there is no work in Cumberlan county I move to another state where the cost of living is cheaper n more job opps. So I had to quit my pt job inorder to move. The dept says I was denied bcus I quit my job...HELLO I wasn't claiming to get money from my part time I know u r not eligible if u quit but I haven't recvd anything from the job I was laid off. Then after days trying to get through to speak to someone the says SHE DOSENT KNOW WHY OR HOW THEY PUT THE TWO JOBS TOGETHER BUT I HAVE TO APPEAL. HOW CAN PEOPLE WORK ANYWHERE N NOT KNOW ANYTHING. IF SHE DOESN'T KNOW WHO DOES? This is my money not the dept of unemploment!

I've been expecting a phone interview, but I received two direct voicemail messages claiming that I wasn't available and that I have to once again wait to reschedule a interview. Note that I seemed to miss a mandatory meeting on Oct 2 and have not been able to collect since. It's pretty convenient that they would pull this tactic on the day they claim to be having technical difficulties and I'm rendered unable to call in. The call was scheduled at 1 pm and I get two messages and no missed calls at 4 pm? Something is very suspicious about this and what am I supposed to do about money?

I tried calling for my weekly benefits today, and I got a message that said please enter your authorization code. I never got that message and never got an authorization code. What can I do? I desperately need my money with Chrismas coming up

I tried calling for my weekly benefits today and I got a message that said please enter your authorization code. I never got that message before. I never got any kind of authorization code. What do I do? They give me know other choices but to put in my code

I was no working due to hurricane sandy in october 2012. because of the floods and mess in hoboken, nj i was not able to go back to work for about two months. by the time i was able to go back I was replaced. so i was on unemployment since october. but because i am a full time student they stopped my unemployment in january and decided to do an "investigation". i am assuming to make sure i am a full time student. it is finally March 27 and i get my call. I get the most rude and incompetent lady ever to handle my case. I swear i have never met anyone so rude before. the way she asked questions, the way she DID NOT let me finish my answers because im "answering them too slow", like seriously? I then asked her, "why are you being so rude"; she went past my question of her attitude and continued to do her "job" and ask me the questions she needed. But honestly, at this point i dont want the money THAT I WORKED FOR AND SHOULD GET. To sit here and get talked to the way this lady thinks she can talk to me. please. i dont know what is worse, the people who work for the state, or the people who work for the city i work in. it is all a big mess and it is seriously ridiculous. they make it so difficult to collect the money that you earned.

I am on hold with unemployment for about 3 hours. I finally get transferred and there is total silence. Someone has put me on mute and is waiting for me to hang up so they won't have to do their job. This is ALL THE TIME! It is ridiculous to wait 3 hours on the phone just to speak to someone for 10 minutes and sometimes they don't even give you the option to receive a call back.

As a construction worker I have to deal with unemployment regularly. I've found ways around the busy hold times after months of 2 hour waits and hang ups...somehow even when I get thru right away 3 times in a row I'm hung up on. This is the most frustrating to have to deal with. Money that you deserve, but is being held just outside your reach. You have to fight, drive all over creation and wait in ridiculous lines because nothing else works. I don't live in the state I work in! I would love to use the online website...if it would let me!

Every time I call to file or just to claim my unemployment I get hung up on.. Today is the day I'm told to claim.. Can't claim because the system keeps hanging me up.. This really needs to be fixed.. Its been like this for years.. There's times I never get my money because of it.. I'm a working person and there is times I need to collect.. Its funny how lazy people get there welfare with no problems..

It's been 2.5 months since I've lost my job, and 2.5 months since I've filed for unemployment. And 2.5 months later I still didn't receive any single dollar from them. And now for the 3rd day I'm trying calling they numbers and all of the #s are giving me busy signal. No way they call center is down for 3 days. I don't know whats going on but I'm running low on my savings and still no support - NJ, I have paid my tax!

Frustrated

I agree with everyone here, I am also a victim of the NJ Departmemt of labors senseless B.S., shame on all of those disgustingly worthless individuals whom are getting paid to sit on their flat rear ends on a day long paid lunch break . In sure the slaves turn their ringers off and spend most of the day browsing the web and babbling on their cell phones and updating their stupid Facebook statuses while laughing at the unfortunate and unemployed citizens . What a shame . That's Our tax dollars at work :( something needs to be done about this before people start suing the state for every single penny in its pocket !

I got fired from my job unexpectedly and without cause in June. I've been dealing with Dept of Labor ever since, trying to get my benefits. With zero luck. It took them over two months to finally deny my benefits. TWO MONTHS WITHOUT ANY INCOME! I filed a appeal and I am now waiting for a hearing. (I'm told it can take up to FIVE MONTHS for a hearing) Since I am one day short of eight weeks, Unemployment will not pay me benefits. They also said because I quit one job to take the job that eventually fired me I do not qualify. What a scam! I've worked for almost twenty years in NJ and the first time I lose a job and need Unemployment benefits I am left to die on the vine. I am living off my savings while I look for work but I will soon exhaust that. By Nov or Dec I really don't know what I will be doing. I face losing my truck and home and have few prospects. It just is not fair. You work hard and everything goes work and you face losing everything.

When I was laid off in New York City 7 years ago, I never had any problems collecting my unemployment benefits. But, now here I am having to deal with New Jersey's Dept. of Labor and, this is the worst run government agency I've ever seen. I had a re-assessment meeting with a DOL agent on the phone. She told me I would receive a check or, a letter denying my benefits (which I could appeal) within 7 days. It's now 3 and a half weeks later and I've received nothing. I go to the local DOL office and even they don't seem to know what's happening (in Trenton). They tell me that I'm supposed to get the money but all they can do is put it in their system that my case is a "Hardship" to try to speed up the process. I've been without any income for almost two months now. How can they do this to people who paid their taxes. Even the agent at the local office hinted that this is an injustice and that it was never this bad before... that is... not until Christi became governor. Based on this experience alone... I would not elect that man "Dog catcher". I've worked for over 30 years and for the first time in my life I may have to apply for welfare because of all of this.

called on 01/02/14 after leaving a message for a return call, two hours later they call back and hang up on me. So i call back am told the wait is 3 hours so i stay on hold only to be hung up on again. I call back and wait again to be hung up on so i call back and they took the phone off the hook. Why the hell do they have a job when they cant even do it.

I have been temping around since the birth of my son. Finally I believed I found a job that I actually could get use to until unfortunately I was laid off due to "the company not picking up" as she thought it would. October 18 was my last day with the company as I worked all the hours offered to me. As any normal person would until they found another job I filed for my unemployment benefits. I received a letter in the mail stating that I would start claiming November 11. I figured since I was going to be receiving my last check I would be able to hold over until that date. Once the date came around I claim my benefits and was told that I would need to speak with an agent. I called, waited on hold for 3 hours ! The lady was pleasant and advised me that my previous job had said I quit ! I was very upset being that I actually enjoyed the job and didn't want to leave and then to be told that you quit.! So November 18 I went to my old job in request of a recommendation letter. With no problem the owner put together a letter, which also included my reason for separation. For weeks I called and called unemployment to see if my interview date could be sooner (they issued me a dec 17 date). I finally got success and was told on Tuesday they would call on Wednesday the day before thanksgiving. Make a long story short apparently I was somewhere with no service because I never received a call. When I called back to reschedule I dealt with a extremely rude lady who said we called and you'll have to wait until Jan 7 ! Thank god Dec 1 I returned back to work however with 2 months backed up bills ! I was so upset with the fact my child's first Christmas and first birthday were coming up . I went to my local office showed the lady my letter and was told I would have to wait for my money and would be receiving it no later then next week. Never got anything ! So I went up there for a second time and basically they said they forgot or didn't put it in the system ! That now I would have to wait for the following week to get my money. I waited and it is now Jan 5 and I have not received a dime ! Almost 4 months and not a penny ! My child's birthday came and left, my phone has been off for 1 month and a half ! I don't know what to do I'm extremely frustrated !

This people TREAT you like crap when you go to the office, and its even worst when you call...Theirs never agents available to help and when you finally get through they either hang up or tell you something different than what you are told in the office. It is very frustrating and annoying to feel like you have to beg this people for these benefits. smh.

If you call the number, you are directed to the website. Go to the website and your are told to call the number. The amount of energy and time put into navigating this bureaucracy is mind boggling. I am lining up interviews, polishing my resume, trying to get back into the workforce; but have to be concerned about running out of savings because I can't get in touch with an agent?

Unfortunately, no one will be held accountable for the horrible state of the system. Some one new will be appointed and it will be business as usual.

"Due to the high volume of calls, you will tearing apart your sofa looking for loose change".

Feb 20, 2014 I have been trying to file for unemployment benefits for three weeks now. The line is always either too busy or when I get through all the automated BS and waiting to get an agent on the phone the systems hangs up on me. Today I went to the office in Phillipsburg. Told them that I could not get through on the phone at all and that on-line it says that there is an account with my social security number and that I have to call to reset my password. Well that is BS because I have never filed for unemployment. tHE WOMAN TOLD ME THERE IS NO ACCOUNT FOR ME TO RESET OR PASSWAORD TO RESET. She was VERY RUDE and had a very care free not my problem attitude. This is extremely frustrating. Where can I get help?