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1.4 Million Californians Seek To Restart Their Frozen Unemployment Benefits
A staffer works to process claims at California's unemployment office, March 30, 2020. (California Employment Development Department)
California’s unemployment department suspended payments to 1.4 million people over the holidays, just as jobless Californians were hopeful about receiving new federal benefits from the latest COVID relief bill.
Now, those with suspended accounts are scrambling to comply with the department’s new fraud prevention guidelines in order to get their payments flowing again.
The department has been contacting recipients in batches, instructing them to complete a new online identity verification process through a website called ID.me.
While some have already succeeded at getting benefits flowing again, others describe an opaque process that offers no clear timeline for resuming payments during a time of great financial hardship.
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“I've contacted my representatives, and I was basically told, Well, there are food banks. Hang in there,” said Lindsay Green, an unemployed travel agent in Santa Monica. “It leaves me disappointed and not having any faith in this system.”
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But the game has changed: Congress voted to eliminate funding for public media across the country. Here at LAist that means a loss of $1.7 million in our budget every year. We want to assure you that despite growing threats to free press and free speech, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust. Speaking frankly, the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news in our community.
We’re asking you to stand up for independent reporting that will not be silenced. With more individuals like you supporting this public service, we can continue to provide essential coverage for Southern Californians that you can’t find anywhere else. Become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission.
Thank you for your generous support and belief in the value of independent news.
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