The economic fallout from COVID-19 has left many Californians out of a job. Sadly, there are many who have filed for unemployment but still have not received any financial relief.
Barry Healan of Landers is one such person. Healan said he was already receiving unemployment insurance, but it expired in June. He told Z107.7 News that the Employment Development Department told him he was eligible for an additional 13 weeks of unemployment payments. But it took 55 days before he received a single penny from the Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation extended federal benefits, when he received three checks at once (although the third check was missing the last week of the extra $600 from the federal government).
If you are eligible for unemployment, but haven’t received your payments, State Senator Shannon Grove wants you to contact her. Reporter Heather Clisby has the details…
In mid-March, the realities of COVID-19 prompted Governor Gavin Newsom to order the shutdown of many businesses which resulted in over 6.6 million California residents filing for unemployment benefits. Word of long wait times and unreliable response rates have prompted Senator Shannon Grove (R-Bakersfield) to call for a comprehensive audit of the state’s Employment Development Department.
Senator Grove is asking state residents who have applied for benefits since March to contact her office so they may share relevant testimony with the Joint Legislative Audit Committee.
Interested participants may take an online survey or contact the senator’s office directly at 661-323-0443. https://lcmspubcontact.lc.ca.gov/PublicLCMS/SurveysDirect.php?district=SD16&survey=6587&
