Work Search Form Requirements

Well I finally got through to someone today. I called the same call center that Josh and Melody reside at at spoke to a incredibly nice lady named Cassandra. She informed me that I had 2 flags on my claim. The first flag was because I chose not to claim 1 week because I was out of town and did not perform a work search. She informed me that since I chose no (at the new page outlining the EB requirements) that this disqualified me from EB. I then repeated that this should not disqualify me that it was in the rules, but somehow the system was not agreeing with me.

She checked with her supervisor ( which is Melody )and she agreed that the system is doing something wrong and fixed everything for me. she said if we have any questions her extension is 1493. So now we have another contact at the same call center. It turns out that Josh, Melody, and Cassandra are all on the same team.

GonzoFL wrote:I think all of us applying for AWI director is a great idea Nancy....I can see the name plate on my desk now: Gonzo(aka Paladin) Director of AWI
Have Gun,Will Travel.


BTW Nancy...was the attorney you spoke to Art Rosenberg? I remember him working with NELP during the HR6867 struggle.

Heh-heh, love the Paladin reference.

And yes, that is the same attorney. I just sent him a bunch of links for information.

New member here.... I have tried all 3 of the extentions that have been posted and still can't get to talk to anybody.. Looks like its gonna be a cardboard box in the park for me.. landlord and power company don't want to wait for their money.. and I can't get ahold of anyone..

nachomama wrote:New member here.... I have tried all 3 of the extentions that have been posted and still can't get to talk to anybody.. Looks like its gonna be a cardboard box in the park for me.. landlord and power company don't want to wait for their money.. and I can't get ahold of anyone..

i left a message there this morning @ 9 and got the call back an hour ago. They seem to be on top of messages there despite the message saying they would return your call within 48 hours.

nachomama wrote:New member here.... I have tried all 3 of the extentions that have been posted and still can't get to talk to anybody.. Looks like its gonna be a cardboard box in the park for me.. landlord and power company don't want to wait for their money.. and I can't get ahold of anyone..

You have to call every 15 minutes.

DLS79 wrote:

nachomama wrote:New member here.... I have tried all 3 of the extentions that have been posted and still can't get to talk to anybody.. Looks like its gonna be a cardboard box in the park for me.. landlord and power company don't want to wait for their money.. and I can't get ahold of anyone..

You have to call every 15 minutes.

Thank you !!! I'll keep calling... Do you leave a message at each of the extentions?? I'm always afraid I'll P#ss someone off and they'll make things even worse for me (if that's even possible)

nachomama wrote:

DLS79 wrote:

nachomama wrote:New member here.... I have tried all 3 of the extentions that have been posted and still can't get to talk to anybody.. Looks like its gonna be a cardboard box in the park for me.. landlord and power company don't want to wait for their money.. and I can't get ahold of anyone..

You have to call every 15 minutes.

Thank you !!! I'll keep calling... Do you leave a message at each of the extentions?? I'm always afraid I'll P#ss someone off and they'll make things even worse for me (if that's even possible)

No, just keep calling until someone live answers.

ALRIGHT My account is updated & a check has been processed today finally! YES!!

TO ALL: Have to keep calling until you get a live person to approve your work searches.

GONZO - Can't wait to see what happens with your claim today!

SaraJ wrote:ALRIGHT My account is updated & a check has been processed today finally! YES!!

TO ALL: Have to keep calling until you get a live person to approve your work searches.

GONZO - Can't wait to see what happens with your claim today!

So, you contacted someone this morning and your check was issued already today?

[quote="DLS79

So, you contacted someone this morning and your check was issued already today?[/quote]

Hi DLS79 - No I talked to a guy on Saturday. I claimed last Tues. He told me nothing would update until today since Saturday is not technically a business day. IF you get a hold of someone today, it should be updated by tonight or at least by Tues ~noon. It seems like they update around lunch time & then every evening on business days.

SaraJ wrote:[quote="DLS79

So, you contacted someone this morning and your check was issued already today?

Hi DLS79 - No I talked to a guy on Saturday. I claimed last Tues. He told me nothing would update until today since Saturday is not technically a business day. IF you get a hold of someone today, it should be updated by tonight or at least by Tues ~noon. It seems like they update around lunch time & then every evening on business days.[/quote]

Thank you so much...I guess I will be patient. It's just hard when you depend on the little money they do give you.

riceckr wrote:Well I finally got through to someone today. I called the same call center that Josh and Melody reside at at spoke to a incredibly nice lady named Cassandra. She informed me that I had 2 flags on my claim. The first flag was because I chose not to claim 1 week because I was out of town and did not perform a work search. She informed me that since I chose no (at the new page outlining the EB requirements) that this disqualified me from EB. I then repeated that this should not disqualify me that it was in the rules, but somehow the system was not agreeing with me.

She checked with her supervisor ( which is Melody )and she agreed that the system is doing something wrong and fixed everything for me. she said if we have any questions her extension is 1493. So now we have another contact at the same call center. It turns out that Josh, Melody, and Cassandra are all on the same team.

Those 3 people deserve an award. They got me straightened out, but it's a good thing I had freelance work & a generous x bf.

I just got EB papers in the mail. I can see how the system/an airhead might get confused if you chose not to claim a week. (And you were being honest...) The wording is typically convoluted on the claim cert i just read. Then i opened the Monetary Determination for EB and saw a big old X checked in the "Not Good" box next to "Job Prospects." Why thank you for that vote of confidence!! So I claim tomorrow, but all in all, this process is kickin my butt...

PORs (Prisoners of the Recession) ... You can go to the blog for the full entry, but I think the state is backing off the policy of verifying first and sending checks later. The e-mail I received from AWI is kinda dense to wade through, but it indicates the agency is looking at changing its procedure. I'm working on a follow up now. Here's the blog post: http://blogs.orlandosentinel.com/news_local_blogonomics/

Jim Stratton
Orlando Sentinel

Hi I'm new here but wanted to let you all know that I spoke with a person named Dorene at the (877)846-8770 number and she mentioned that we were going to have to call in EVERY time we claimed weeks to make sure there are no flags on your Work Search Form. That's right folks, we are going to have to do this each and every time, she said to anticipate extra days before you receive your EB checks as well. She also said there are no tips and tricks and that they are all frustrated but there is nothing they can do about it. My check has not been issued yet but I didn't talk to her until 10am she said it could take a few more days. Geez!

Ok, ready set stand by your phones and dial! Oh BTW her extension is 5397 so this is yet another way to get to a live person.

I just received a return call from Melody and it seems that she is the only person lifting the hold on these claims. Most of our papers are in a stack that she can't even get to because she has to return calls. I'm with everyone else on this, I think they need to hire more people.

DLS79 wrote:I just received a return call from Melody and it seems that she is the only person lifting the hold on these claims. Most of our papers are in a stack that she can't even get to because she has to return calls. I'm with everyone else on this, I think they need to hire more people.

But didn't AWI already hire more people and aren't they using temps? AWI received additional funding. Maybe Jim can look at who really is in charge of AWI - the supposedly super effective woman hired in Jan or Feb? -- and how funds are allocated.

And from the email sent from AWI to Jim Stratton:

"I would not want the large number of non-EB customers (about 545,000 people) to become concerned that their payments may be delayed in any way."

non-EB "customers" need to be concerned. Non-EB payments ARE being delayed. Read older posts...
I'm grateful to Jim for not letting up.

Robyn wrote:

DLS79 wrote:I just received a return call from Melody and it seems that she is the only person lifting the hold on these claims. Most of our papers are in a stack that she can't even get to because she has to return calls. I'm with everyone else on this, I think they need to hire more people.

But didn't AWI already hire more people and aren't they using temps? AWI received additional funding. Maybe Jim can look at who really is in charge of AWI - the supposedly super effective woman hired in Jan or Feb? -- and how funds are allocated.

And from the email sent from AWI to Jim Stratton:

"I would not want the large number of non-EB customers (about 545,000 people) to become concerned that their payments may be delayed in any way."

non-EB "customers" need to be concerned. Non-EB payments ARE being delayed. Read older posts...
I'm grateful to Jim for not letting up.

I don't know, at this point, the money still isn't saying sent. So I'm at a loss.

Well, I just read the email Jim Stratton posted that he rec'd from AWI. What a lot of pass the buck cover your ass crap!! I'm just waiting to see how long my check will be delayed next week. Especially since my name was mentioned in the Saturday article. I'll bet they give me all kinds of grief. But I guess if it helps the cause and someone avoids making their greedy bank richer, then it was worth it.

BTW, I find it really wierd that we are called "customers" rather than "clients". What's up with that???

Robbi314 wrote:Well, I just read the email Jim Stratton posted that he rec'd from AWI. What a lot of pass the buck cover your ass crap!! I'm just waiting to see how long my check will be delayed next week. Especially since my name was mentioned in the Saturday article. I'll bet they give me all kinds of grief. But I guess if it helps the cause and someone avoids making their greedy bank richer, then it was worth it.

Yep, I read the email too.. sounds like a bunch of Bureaucratic BS...

"But didn't AWI already hire more people and aren't they using temps? AWI received additional funding. Maybe Jim can look at who really is in charge of AWI - the supposedly super effective woman hired in Jan or Feb? -- and how funds are allocated. "

The EB program is ENTIRELY funded by the federal gov't through the stimulus program. Up to and including the hourly paid temps (hired through Kelley Services)and computer programmers, etc. Once EB is done, they are done. So maybe someone is trying to use this excuse to prolong the inevitable?? We'll never really know.

DLS, did you claim your EB weeks for the first time today? Did anyone just file, and it was their first time claiming EB weeks??

If so.. is there a place to type in work search details?? I hope that when I go to file online tomorrow, there will be an area to include job search info .. that's common sense, but everything has been so screwed up that I don't know anymore.. Thanks!

jim stratton wrote:PORs (Prisoners of the Recession) ... http://blogs.orlandosentinel.com/news_local_blogonomics/

Jim Stratton
Orlando Sentinel

Thanks, Jim, for your continued involvement. I just posted an outraged reply to that AWI email in your blog comments section.

Robyn wrote:DLS, did you claim your EB weeks for the first time today? Did anyone just file, and it was their first time claiming EB weeks??

I think Gonzo did; see his post back earlier today in this same thread (the one with the "Gonzo-artiste" picture).

Greetings all,

I joined so that I could give yet another phone to try and see what the hold up is on your EB checks.

State Rep Denise Grimsly: 1-863-385-5251 tell them what is going with you, report to them that your check is being held until they can verify your work search. They will take your number, name, birthday, and social. They will investigate what the hold up is and call you back. I am personally awaiting a call back..I HOPE this will get my check released. I have also called Josh and left a messege...I am awaiting a call back.

Robbi314 wrote:Well, I just read the email Jim Stratton posted that he rec'd from AWI. What a lot of pass the buck cover your ass crap!! I'm just waiting to see how long my check will be delayed next week. Especially since my name was mentioned in the Saturday article. I'll bet they give me all kinds of grief. But I guess if it helps the cause and someone avoids making their greedy bank richer, then it was worth it.

BTW, I find it really wierd that we are called "customers" rather than "clients". What's up with that???

I laughed at that. An email with proper terminology would not have reached Jim Stratton for another 96 hours, so I guess we overlook the BS. Robbi, thanks for talking to Jim. It's easier to remain silent... Jim's article was good and you are representative of so many of us. No, the state won't single you out!
(just wait til you try to renew your tag registration!)