The New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development
Reviews and Complaints

On January 2021, I filed out an application to receive unemployment benefits. Months later, I received a letter informing me, that my benefits had been approved. It's been over a year and a half , and I haven't received my benefits. I have called the labor office in Vineland NJ many times, and only get excuses and they tell me to keep waiting. I need the money and I can't keep waiting.

The dates started approximately June 2022 and are currently ongoing. Tropicana has thousands of employees who are not receiving their weekly paychecks, partial paychecks, incorrect benefit hours, incorrect garnishments that do not even apply to the individual, blank checks in the mail and including myself who is listed at a completely different property, one that I have never worked for, with a start date for 12/31/2019. My correct anniversary with Tropicana is 7/20/1998. This has affected my vacation check and benefit hours for the year (which would be three weeks paid vacation} all because there is apparently no one is this whole corporation that could go into my file and make a date correction. My department, which is beverage has emailed our HR dept several times, I have emailed the director of HR myself with know reply back. I called in the past few months several times a day without being able to talk to anyone and have left messages I was given the new id like all the other employees in the building only a week and a have ago, when they received theirs back in June. I didnt recieve mine then because they have me employed at a different property as I stated above. I could nt tell you why the date of my anniversary wasnt fixed at the time that I finally received my new id.

I filed my unemployment on 6/19/22. I received an email for the questionnaire on 7/1/22. Completed it the very same day! I received multiple Monetary Benefits letters and Appointment letters (with NO appointments) but haven't heard a single thing since! I did the ID.Me on 7/2/22. And I've called from 830-5 everyday! Never can get through to anyone due to high call volume!

I have sent an online form atleast 7 times. As well as did an in person where I got told it was something I would have to speak to someone at the call center for.

I have had no choice but to reach out to NJ Legal Services/Attorney assistance.

I'm now 2+ months behind on bills. My son goes back to school and I can't even take care of school supplies!

Dear Representative,

I have been out of work since May 22, 2022. I applied for unemployment and received a confirmation email on May 27. I did the IDme process successfully. Then within a week my account disappeared.

August 15th I was finally able to log into my account again,

NJDOL scheduled a phone meeting for a monetary inquiry to process my account. They did verify my NJ income, but hey cannot verify my 2021 DE income. They said they would call me at 11:00 am 8/17/2022. They never called. The appointment is on UI claim status page.

Today I scheduled a call back from them; I picked up the call, the line rang, and then hung up.

I really need help as I have had no income for 3 months as of August 22, 2022.

Vincent Fanari

The NJ DOL has spent 2 years since June 1st 2020 denying my unemployment claims without a proper trial in front of a judge or adjudicator. I was given no chance to provide any type of paperwork in my defense. They do not answer official inquiry emails, they do not send written letters, they do not answer their phones, there is no physical location to go to to provide paperwork or speak to a human being. The organization is mismanaged and corrupt from top too bottom and needs to be investigated by the federal government.

I applied for unemployment on 6/22/22. I was told that I was eligible for unemployment, how much I would get and when it would start. Today is 8/1/22. I have not received a dime. I call those stupid phone numbers and get disconnected every time. The recording says call back the next business day but ends in the same result. I can not get a live help. I sent numerous emails to no avail. Every week I continue to certify and every week I’m told my claim is not payable at this time. This is so disappointing. I went to the unemployment office and was immediately aggressively confronted by armed security who told me I was not able to enter. The state needs to be ashamed of how they are treating their unemployed.

I filed in May 2022 and got confirmation of my eligibility and payout amount. It has been two months and I haven't received a dime. The call centers are a joke. The system drops your calls and it looks like my number is put on a block list because when I call using other phones I get through until I put my social in. With my phone it immediately says that they cannot take my call. I was able to apply for weekly benefits only to get the message that my claim is not payable. I got through to someone once who told me that the following week I would get paid. That was three weeks ago and not only have I not received any payouts, I can no longer certify for weekly benefits. And of course the call centers drop calls. The offices open at 8:00AM and by 8:03 AM the phone line says it cannot take my call. This really is not right. I call Monday through Friday and I don't get any answers. I would like this resolved.

I applied for unemployment 1/2/2022. Ended up only being off work 1 week so I did not claim benefits.

I continued to work the rest of the year. On June 17th I was laid off for the summer from Nutra Serve Food services that serve the local school districts.

I tried to claim benefits on June 25, 2022. My message was that I did not qualify for benefits at that time. I was supposed to re-apply for benefits. My claims information said Status was filled: Date of Claim 1/2/2022. Benefit remaining $6302. Weekly Benefit Rate $274. 0 paid this benefit year.

When I tried to claim benefits it said I needed to file a new claim. Whenever I tried to file a new claim it said I already had a claim. So after circles of that I file was finally able to file a new claim. Finally on July 3, 2022 at 3:11 pm I received Confirmation No. NJS22020739211 that I have successfully filed NJ Unemployment Insurance Claim. I will receive notification of when and how to claim my benefits. I verified with ID.ME as directed by the email I received.

I received a notice in the mail: Date of Mailing 07/14/2022 Claimant Id No [protected] with date of claim 1/2/2022. It directed me to the website to claim benefits.

Every week 6/25;Confirmation No [protected]; 7/2, Confirmation No [protected];7/9, Confirmation No.. [protected];7/16,Confirmation no, [protected] P/E 7/23 the system let me claim benefits with the note that none was payable at this time.

I even go a note saying the 1/2/2022 needed to be reapplied. For.

So again I file a claim July 27, 2022 8:14am. Saying I will receive notification of when and how to claim benefits. That confirmation no is NJS22020823710 Date of additional 07-24-2022

I try to get through to the [protected] with the message that “no one can answer and I should call back again next business day.”

Called again and again and again. “We cannot take your call due to high volume.” Please go to the website to file. (Fat chance of that)

So, this is where I stand. Is there anyone in Trenton that knows what to do?

Mark Tentarelli

[protected]

3 Navajo Road

Hi Nella, NJ 08083

xxx-xx-7942

Filed the claim originally 3/15/2020. Went through with no issues. Shortly after the first snag occurred. This left me without anything for months and was resolved in July 2020, something to do with my student status and the system flagging it after the term ended since. Since I go to school year round I kept answering yes to that question, and because I wasn’t working due to COVID, I was under the impression it wouldn’t be a problem. It worked out, it sucked but it was resolved so okay.

Fast forward to Oct 2020. Claim is messed up again. I’m not sure why, maybe I answered a question wrong. Can’t get through to anyone to inquire. Completely left in the dark for months and months.

July 2021 - claim is kind of resolved. Get paid 2000 or so. This brought the next week or last week paid up to 12/26. Called and was told the extension will apply automatically. Called two weeks later and was told no that’s incorrect we need to put a request in.

And then nothing. Calling is for pretty much nothing. May 2022 - Finally someone calls and sets me up an appointment in Cherry Hill. That woman was rude and perhaps a bit on the slower side. But hey I can deal with that as long as the issues are resolved. Supposedly they are.

June 2022 - finally can start claiming again. Immediately throws an error and I panic. When I call I actually get a super sweet woman who is helpful. Explains I just need direct deposit information in the system because it doesn’t know where to pay me. I thank her and open an account since my isn’t being accepted, and update it.

Few days later I’m able to claim additional weeks. I believe it ended up being 36 in all. Get the email money is being deposited and I’ll see it in the two business days. Well that day never came. Called the bank. Called unemployment. One woman gave me a list of check numbers supposedly sent to my account. I’m told to wait a few more days.

Get through the weekend and I claim the last week for 9/4. It says payment is reduced to 0 for a debt. Now I’m seeing an overpayment of 3xxx. Even now I’m not crazy panicking. I had noticed the weekly benefit rate had gone down 50 bucks. [censored] happens.. 3k really is whatever compared to what was expected.

The automated line tells me 24xxx has been paid out this year. Well that’s funny because nothing has been paid out at all. Multiple calls to multiple people and I’m being told the checks that were being deposited went to the debt. So now I’m being told after 2 years not only did I owe something around 27xxx dollars? So not only was the 24k (not actually) paid to me taken for this overpayment but I owed an additional 3k..

Can’t get an itemized listing of payments, deductions. When the overpayment started. They can’t do that from their office I need to call another number. We’ll surprise because that number hangs up on me. I’m finally told someone who can actually explain something to me will call me back. That was Friday and still nothing.

I can appeal.. but they won’t sent that paper out until next week.

So you’re telling me after 2 years.. you’ve decided I was ineligible. After manual extensions were added, in person visits, checks being supposedly deposited to my account.. now all of a sudden you figured this out?

Something doesn’t add up here. Not to mention.. you’re taking funds I’m supposedly not entitled to pay back a debt of unemployment funds? Do we see the issue with this? I don’t think you quite understand the definition of paying money back. Typically you wouldn’t use money someone shouldn’t be getting (supposedly) to pay back money that they shouldn’t have gotten.

And the last payment that was taken for a debt.. I never got an email saying money was deposited. Because obviously the money wasn’t deposited. So why would I get emails stating money was deposited.. multiple times over? Again, something clearly isn’t adding up here but I intend to see it through.

I filed for unemployment on April 4,2022. It is now June 24,2022. The agents dont know what they are talking about any time you call and they are also rude. They are there to seve me and not have an attitude. They do not do what they say they will do. I nee some income i have been out of work for over 2 monts and there is NO sense of urgency. 6/22/22 at approx 2pm. Finally got an agent on the phone after 2 days of trying. I told the person that i still cannot certify for my benefits even though i received a letter saying i am eligible for benefits. She told me there was a problem with ID me and she would get it taken care of and call me back. I am still waiting for the return phone call. Now i have to start all ove ragain trying to get thru on the telephone. My time is valuable as is yours and i need help getting this resolved..Ernest J. Bono

The Division of Temporary Disability and Family Leave Insurance has a phone number that has voice prompts in a very low volume, very unresponsive and after jumping through the hoops, you are told that they are busy and that you should call during business hours. This is when you call anytime during the business hours. My wife has a claim that needed more info. The claim was filed in December 2021 and as of June 1 2022, is still unresolved. I am unable to reach a person nor have I heard anything from them. This is very frustrating and its like they do not care to provide any service.

May 24 at about 9:20 Woodland behavioral and nursing center. My name is Rob I work as a Recreation Aide and I am to work in lounge 2 on the 3rd floor and do programs in the morning. ( Said lounge has been an issue do to safety concerns mold, bad flooring, broken windows, air condition too small leaks water becomes electrical hazard...I reported to osha months ago, still dont know results of inspection. I have expressed concern with my supervisor Irina. Shes to pass information to the director Lisa. We never know what Lisa does on a daily basis let alone what information is passed directly to Lisa. Its a tell mom she passes it to dad way of managing. ) Supervisors of 3rd floor recreation were both off today, so Lisa the director who is not used to giving direction was giving directions. I'm to work in the hazardous lounge, Lisa was in the lounge and I asked her about the mold. she says they know the whole building knows. I said and the windows etc she says yeah yeah i sent a lot of e mails Irina told me about the lounge.I said thats good to know. I don't know because Irina does not say anything. I said well the room is hazardous why are we allowing the residents in here? ( We are not properly informed of anything) she did not like that question. I then asked her for proof. If all the necessary documentation was done e mails as she says and the room is considered safe or unsafe, as an employee I should know everyone should know on the floor. She accused me of being disrespectful . Told me nobody likes to work with me and that I have an attitude. I said i have questions and concerns about the working environment and your the director, what are you so mad about? she told me to go to first floor north1. I dont know for how many days im to be there. Its like she got mad and didnt want to see me. Residents on North 1 most dont know me. Residents on third floor are like family. Working on North 1, 2years ago meant a raise in pay. I definitely want to be paid correctly. People are paid incorrectly all the time at work. Its not fair to me to be displaced from one place to the other because my concern is safety. Nothing is ever presented professionally, documented and we are always teased that we are getting more money and dont get much. Lisa, some how took me wanting proof of whats going on with my said working environment lounge as personal. Why I dont know. She showed poor managerial skills and weak communication towards me. I feel due to the circumstances i was as respectful as I could be. Oh and of course she did not show any proof if the lounge is a work in progress, hazardous or anything. Last time I checked to fix broken windows you dont screw them shut but thats what was done in the lounge.

First they gave the excuse that I put my social security number wrong TWICE on their system (meanwhile their system approved me putting it wrong twice) and made me reapply for my benefit. After applying second time, they told me that they don’t have the necessary monetary information to calculate my benefits. I put this information to their system twice already and got a confirmation email twice and a confirmation mail with a claimant number. They said they are investigating it and will contact me but nothing happened again. I am not sure what else to do other then calling them and asking for help which basically goes nowhere. There is nowhere to complaint in their organization. I complaint to one of the NJ Senators’ office as well and no help.

Was receiving them, still seem to be entitled to them but they have not paid me in over a month. I file each week like normal and when I call, no one has a answer .Except wait and you should be getting them continue to file. It's a an endless loop.

I can't understand,I ask them do they need something from me? They say no they have my information.

So how do we resolve whatever this issue is? I can't seem to get an answer or my benefits. I am going into debt now, having to pay stuff with a credit card and I'm all out of options.

What is happening?

I can't understand why it has taken over 2 months to correct a mistake that was done in your system, that can be resolved in the matter of one phone call? Is there anyone still around that actually wants to do their jobs and get back to us hard working civilians with our due payouts? Bills are left unpaid and overdue, but no one seems to care over here because I guess you are getting paid and that's all that matters to you. I have been waiting for a specialist to reach out to me after my claim was Escalated on February 4, 2022. I have not received a payout since January and it is now April. Totally unprofessional, totally unaccusable. I should not have to wait this long and now be driven to write this email. I will also be sending letters in the mail-as I will continue to every week, or even day until I receive a phone call that has been overdue for months now. Its is also unprofessional not to have the option to speak to a manager or supervisor right away instead of dealing with regular reps who can't seem to be approved to make even the slightest changes on accounts for us. You really need to review your system and workers for effectiveness, as I have never seem such screwedness. Hire more people. Do something to fix your problem. If we are turned to storming into your office for answers, please do not be surprised. Once again for now, I will be reaching out every week until a call back is provided.

I filed for unemployment in January 2022 after being fired while on disability. I waited for my disability benefits to run out and filed for unemployment. It was not approved right away and was under review, they eventually paid out for the first 5 weeks but I have an additional 6 weeks they have yet to pay out. I’ve called and complained multiple times and they tell me it’s a sequence error on their end and it will take 8 weeks to be resolved , it’s been more than 8 weeks and I’ve yet been to be paid out . I’ve called every week and complained with no response !

Atlantic county Unemployment office

The original date of the claim is 03/15/2020 but first payment was issued for week ending: 05/16/2020. So, between 03/15/2020 through 05/16/2020 no Unemployment Benefits nor Stimulus benefits were issued for two months. Absolutely cannot get a resolution for this through the phone due to constant run around and the local office is closed - redirecting individuals to either use the online or telephone option. Honestly any discrepancies on the civilian's behalf and we are punished and persecuted. Yet we work hard to pay into this system with no clear-cut way for justification when we are wronged.

Why isn't he still giving me the unemployment benefits I deserve? I have been working since 2015 and I pay my taxes with my wife without delay. No delay in collecting my taxes but should I make an effort to get the money I deserve? This is not fair. Now tell me what the problem is? but no. I can never be reached by phone. You asked me to verify my identity and I did (id.me). You said 15 working days, it's been almost a month and a half. This is not fair. America's system sucks. When they come to take our money, they collect our money quickly, but when it comes to pay, we are like an African country.

My name is Julio Cordero and the last 4 digits of my SSN are 2990. I completed ID Verification back on 10/18/2021 and have confirmation of this.

I was initially told it takes 15 business days for ID Verification to be completed. After 15 business days went by with no updates, I was then advised my claim was escalated. I was told this could take anywhere from 6-8 weeks.

We are now in week 20 and I have not received one update nor a resolution. To make things worse and further frustrating there is an automatic recording on the DOL phone number which tells you to call the next business day, then guess what happens the next business day, you're told the same thing over and over. I have called for 4 days straight to the tune of this recording.

I am simply trying to receive my unemployment benefits and am getting no help, please help me!

This is an absolute travesty. Unable to get anyone of the phone, emails unanswered, website give little to no information about claims. All we hear is "high volume, high volume..." there's never going to be a time when it's not high volume. They don't even put one on hold anymore, they just say "call back". Do any our our high taxes pay for this?