A Wausau non-profit providing free legal services to people in 33 counties and 11 tribes says they're ready to help people caught in the current unemployment insurance problem.
Wisconsin Judicare provides a number of services, but has attorneys willing to help the unemployed who have received an unfavorable determination with their unemployment claim as attorney Jennifer Bizzotto explains...
"The advice we're telling clients is you just have to wait for, and that's frustrating for people to hear, but you just have to wait to get a determination from the department. If you do get a denial of any sort, then you can apply for our services and we'll address that denial..."
Hundreds of thousands of COVID-related layoffs led to a claims processing logjam at the Department of Workforce Development. Many of the unemployed have not received a check since layoffs that began in March. Bizzotto says one catch has been a requirement that all claimants register with the Job Service , though many were layoffs, not terminations, and would eventually return to their jobs . She says people are struggling with this requirement...
"A lot of people are struggling to understand this requirement. In addition to applying for unemployment you have to go separately and register with the Job Service so it's kind of a second step that people sometimes get tripped up by. So that's a huge thing we're seeing. That will suspend your benefit claim..."
Bizzotto says if that happens, they can help file an appeals claim.
More information on Wisconsin Judicare is at judicare.org or (800) 472-1638 - or email info@judicare.org
