Health

Single mother laid off from work has trouble getting unemployment benefits

BOSTON — While the state has been fighting to go back to work and play, Jamie Hall, a single mom of two, has been fighting to provide for her family without any income. Her construction company laid her off on March 17 because of the pandemic.

“I’m stuck not knowing what I’m going to do," said Hall, a Dorchester resident. “I file every week still, and it’s just kind of like everything is up in the air. I don’t know what else to do. I don’t know who else to contact.”

So she contacted Boston 25 after seeing our reporting on the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance program that provides up to $823 per week for people not eligible for regular unemployment benefits. It’s based on reported income.

"At the time I didn’t realize I needed to input a dollar amount for any wages for last year so I tried for a very long time to get somebody so I can get back into the claim so I can fix it," said Hall.

Hall says after submitting her tax returns she still got the run around with messages like saying "I am unable to assist with your request at this time," or "Please wait for the review agent to reach out," or even this kind response saying "It will all work out once they review and reverse the decision." Still, after all that, she got a letter saying "You did not receive the minimum wage to qualify."

"This was on April 23, the second denial I received on May 14 and since then, I’ve done an appeal like three times," said Hall.

We reached out to the state on her behalf. The Office of Labor and Workforce Development wasn’t able to comment on Hall’s specific case, but moments after our interview she got a phone call.

"A woman named Mavis from unemployment called and said they have pretty much extended my unemployment benefits," said Hall.

Hall says she will retroactively receive her benefits Wednesday.

“I was like, ‘Call Wale, he’s for the people.’ Call him because it was like, ‘How did that happen so fast just like that?’ I’ve been calling for like two months literally since the 18th of March,” Hall said. “Thank You Boston 25!”

Nearly a million Massachusetts residents have filed for unemployment benefits since mid-March.

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