Corrado Calls for In-Person Help for Out-of-Work Residents Still Waiting for Unemployment Benefits

The backlog of frustrated New Jersey residents waiting for unemployment benefits continues with no end in sight, and Senator Kristin Corrado today said the Murphy Administration is not doing enough to help.

“There are good people who have been out of work for almost four months and they still can’t get help from unemployment,” said Corrado (R-40). “It’s almost impossible to get a real person on the phone and most of the time you can’t even leave a message. The financial worry is taking a toll on residents as they slip deeper in debt.”

Corrado said these healthy victims of the pandemic need to be able to speak to a person and is calling on Governor Murphy to allow the Department of Labor to provide in-person assistance.

Republican Senators Michael Testa and Michael Doherty called for the labor department to provide face-to-face assistance more than two months ago. Senator Loretta Weinberg and Democrat legislators today echoed the cry in letters to Murphy and the commissioner of labor.

“The system has failed too many families,” said Corrado. “These have been trying months for all of us, but the burden on those without money coming in is unimaginable. People have lost jobs and they are losing hope.”

Legislative offices across the state remain inundated with calls and emails from residents and legislators are feeling the same frustrations with the Department of Labor, Corrado said.

“People can go to the grocery store, shop at big box home stores, and visit their doctors. There’s no reason unemployment offices can’t safely and responsibly provide desperately need assistance face-to-face,” Corrado added. “Allowing unemployment workers to speak directly to applicants in the protective environment of an unemployment office will help them to get their claims filed and the help they need.”