Nevada Unemployment Benefits Delayed, Casino Workers Told They Will Eventually Be Paid
Posted on: April 6, 2020, 02:27h.
Last updated on: April 6, 2020, 01:42h.
The Nevada unemployment benefits system is overloaded by the COVID-19 pandemic layoffs that have brought the state economy to a standstill. And patience is wearing thin for many of the 170,596 claimants who have filed over the past three weeks.
Processing the unemployment claims is resulting in lengthy time periods before qualified applicants are receiving payments. The Nevada Department of Employment, Training and Rehabilitation (DETR) says it is unable to advise those seeking unemployment pay as to when money might be received.
The unemployment website and phone system is a joke,” tweeted Lisa Roe. “The unemployed of Nevada need help now. There is no more time to waste.”
Numerous social media users are also voicing their frustrations in trying to file. Nevada Gov. Steve Sisolak (D) ordered the closure of all 219 casinos in the state on March 17. The directive is impacting some 206,000 gaming industry workers.
For the first time in my life I’m collecting unemployment. I am furloughed from my casino and should have my job back. In the meantime, it would be nice to be able to log on to the Nevada unemployment website, but of course Sisolak can’t even get that working,” Vegas4life tweeted.
After Sisolak said Monday that he “had a productive two-hour phone call” with Vice President Mike Pence, more critics fired back.
I’ve had a non-productive 3+ hours and counting phone call with unemployment insurance,” said one Las Vegas resident. Another chimed in, “How about fixing the unemployment problem? Casino workers have been trying to get our unemployment for two weeks and it’s busy all day.”
Nevada has 1,953 coronavirus positive cases, and 46 residents have died from the disease.
Time Running Out
Many casinos offered their employees one or two weeks of pay following Sisolak’s order to suspend operations. Those two weeks have come and gone, forcing tens of thousands of workers to sit at home with no incoming money.
While workers at Las Vegas Sands and Wynn Resorts are being paid through at least May 15, billionaire Sands owner Sheldon Adelson explaining it is his company’s obligation to “maximize the number of employees and their families that we can help,” casino workers at other companies are not so fortunate.
The $2 trillion CARES Act stimulus package signed by President Donald Trump last month increases state unemployment benefits by $600 a week through July 31, 2020. But DETR says it hasn’t received those funds yet, the website listing the component’s status as “awaiting federal guidance.”
Sisolak’s executive order suspended all evictions and foreclosures in the state for as long as Nevada remains in a “state of emergency.” MGM Resorts, the largest employer in Nevada, says 60,000 of its employees have been furloughed.
Backpay Guaranteed
Speaking with the Las Vegas Review-Journal, DETR spokesperson Rosa Mendez says qualified unemployment applicants will receive pay from when they first became eligible.
“Claims will be paid without waiting seven days for administrative review to ensure the most prompt payment of claims possible,” Mendez explained.
Nevada casinos will remain closed through the end of the month, per Sisolak’s order. One thing is for certain, and that is the coronavirus economic impact on Nevada, a state that relies on tourism more than any other, will be felt for many months – and possibly years – to come.
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Last Comments ( 121 )
I filed on March 18th got a debit card 6 days later and stills says pending resolution, I know people who I work with that filed after me and have gotten paid. So frustrated week 3 and nothing
As Of April 6th - WASHINGTON D.C. — Self-employed workers have guidance for unemployment benefits from the U.S. Department of Labor's (DOL) publication of Unemployment Insurance Program Letter (UIPL) 16-20. The letter provides guidance to states for using the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) program. The PUA program gives benefits to those who do not qualify for regular unemployment compensation and are unable to continue working as a result of COVID-19, such as self-employed workers, independent contractors, and gig workers. This provision is contained in Section 2102 of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES) Act enacted on March 27, 2020, according to the U.S. Department of Labor. The U.S. DOL states the program provides up to 39 weeks of benefits to qualifying individuals who are otherwise able to work and available for work within the meaning of applicable state law, except that they are unemployed, partially unemployed, or unable or unavailable to work due to COVID-19 related reasons, as defined in the CARES Act. Benefit payments under PUA can be claimed for weeks of unemployment, partial employment, or inability to work due to COVID-19 reasons starting on or after January 27, 2020. The CARES Act specifies that PUA benefits cannot be paid for weeks of unemployment ending after December 31, 2020. The DOL also states that eligible individuals for PUA includes those not eligible for regular unemployment compensation or extended benefits under state or federal law or pandemic emergency unemployment compensation (PEUC), including those who have exhausted all rights to such benefits. Covered individuals also include self-employed individuals, those seeking part-time employment and individuals lacking sufficient work history. Depending on state law, covered individuals may also include clergy and those working for religious organizations who are not covered by regular unemployment compensation. The UIPL leter also includes guidance to states about protecting unemployment insurance program integrity. The department is actively working with states to provide benefits only to those who qualify for such benefits. For more information on UIPLs or previous guidance, please visit: https://wdr.doleta.gov/directives/. For department resources on COVID-19, please visit: https://www.dol.gov/coronavirus. For more information about COVID-19, please visit: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html.
These employees have been trained too long to find any reason to deny unemployment benefits for those who apply. Now is difficult for them to switch their mindset. That's the main reason there are so many cases that have been delayed!
The state of Nevada traded one form of mafia for a mob organized by legalize and politics. At least with the old type everyone involved got some type of kick back, even the little guy dealing the cards.
Let Sisolak and DETR be without income and wait for their unemployment checks. Stop giving excuses and hand out the money that the Treasury already has given to the people in need when we need them. We have the big-mouthed idiots in certain positions that are so incompetent in crisis like right now. Save the drowning person now, not tomorrow. Why should we elect them or thrust them in the future when everything that comes out of their mouths is a lie and an inexcusable excuse.
My benefits ran out 2 weeks ago,and have been told by friends i should be getting an extension. Is this true!! I have not heard the media mention extension for those of us whose benefits have exhausted. Are these extra weeks part of the stimulas package that have not arrived ?? Help!!!!
Is it even possible for another state's unemployment system to be this awful. The absolute worse, que is always full. You can't even leave a callback number even if you've tried 200x. Maybe the state can plug in an old answering machine from the 80's that would at least match the states system incompetence. Nevada is truly in the Benefit Prevention business.
This must be a joke. What is the hold up? I have bills that are due and the delay is only making things harder for us Nevadans! We're stuck at home with pretty much nothing to do and cant make money to keep our lifestyle a float. I've spoken with a few people already and things is looking pretty bad for them. im starting to see riots or possibly robberies happening in the near future if things do not kick into place very soon. But then again that might give them the reason to enforce martial law. Hmmmmm...
Yes our great Governor didn't put the structures into play before shutting the city down So now we are all frustrated Are great government never thinks ahead But what the hell they're getting their paychecks they're still getting paid
WOW!!! "We've waived the seven day wait period and instituted the eternal wait period". Don't worry we'll go retro active on those payments you're never getting.The only thing Governor Sisolak is concerned with how many Big Macs does a billion dollars buy.
Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation: Awaiting federal guidance. Last updated 03/31/20 ~ DETR "Awaiting federal guidance?" lol, Someone is gonna be hard-pressed to convince me surreptitious activity isn't potentially going on at our state level throughout this ordeal. What part of The CARES Act "signed into law" on March 27th 2020 is unclear or ambiguous to DETR and our Governor?
It’s totally impossible to get through to unemployment and we all have bills to pay. I have applied three weeks ago. I lost my job along with millions of other workers. I can’t get through the office. Try every day. All day. If you do get through it constantly tells you the cue is full. When are they going to FIX THIS ISSUE. I HAVE NO MONEY FOR MY BILLS OR FOOD OR RENT. LETS GO NEVADA OFFICIALS. GET YOUR ACT TOGETHER AND GET US OUR MONEY!!!
Why hasn't the DETR received the stimulus money? What is Governor Sisolak doing to get the money to DETR? This is so frustrating.
Isn't funny how the Governor of nevada can promise the ppl BS dreams about stimlus money for Nevadans it crossed my mind that the money for the unemployed (600 $) will be held up by his administration and spent on they on lifestyles and election scams we must remember this when election time come between this governor and the president both the same Wake up everyone they promised you 600 that should be on your benifit card ask yourself why eveytime when it should be on your card theres another excuse from the governor r his staff stop being bullshited let the ppl voice be heard WHERE'S THE MONEY
This reminds me of a man named Jimmy, who misplaced the union money back in his hay day. Well we all know what happened to that money. What happen to the unemployment money and what happened to all that green money “up in smoke “ for a rainy day. Hay governor, do you think it’s raining in Las Vegas vet?