trouble to re-opem existing claim (file, work, state, employment)

[peter912]

Hello Everyone.


I am in New Jersey. I lost my job at the end of last year and started receiving unemployment benefit in January until March 1st. Then I had a three months contract work from 03/02/2020 to 06/05/2020.
Recently I have tried to re-open my claim per instruction to claim the unemployment benefit from 06/06/2020 and forward, but no luck.


This site allows you to file or reopen an existing Unemployment Insurance claim
https://uiclaim.dol.state.nj.us/njsu...AClaimHome.htm. After clicking on "File A Claim" button, I got the following message


You cannot continue to file for Unemployment Insurance at this stage.
•Your application could not be processed because you may already have an existing claim.


I have sent message through the unemployment web site regarding to issue to re-open my claim, but no response. The local office listed on the unemployment web site also closed since Match. I have tried to call the phone numbers listed on the web site multiple days. The voice message always says "Due to the high volume of the calls ..., please call back the next day".


Union City - (201) 601-4100
Freehold - (732) 761-2020
Cumberland - (856) 507-2340
Out-of-State- (888) 795-6672


Anyone have the same situation?


Thanks in advance,


Peter

[scraprsmith]

Originally Posted by peter912

Hello Everyone.


I am in New Jersey. I lost my job at the end of last year and started receiving unemployment benefit in January until March 1st. Then I had a three months contract work from 03/02/2020 to 06/05/2020.
Recently I have tried to re-open my claim per instruction to claim the unemployment benefit from 06/06/2020 and forward, but no luck.


This site allows you to file or reopen an existing Unemployment Insurance claim
https://uiclaim.dol.state.nj.us/njsu...AClaimHome.htm. After clicking on "File A Claim" button, I got the following message


You cannot continue to file for Unemployment Insurance at this stage.
•Your application could not be processed because you may already have an existing claim.


I have sent message through the unemployment web site regarding to issue to re-open my claim, but no response. The local office listed on the unemployment web site also closed since Match. I have tried to call the phone numbers listed on the web site multiple days. The voice message always says "Due to the high volume of the calls ..., please call back the next day".


Union City - (201) 601-4100
Freehold - (732) 761-2020
Cumberland - (856) 507-2340
Out-of-State- (888) 795-6672


Anyone have the same situation?


Thanks in advance,


Peter

You need to call to have them reopen your claim. That's usually what most people do (even w/o COVID in the picture). They want to know why you're not working. Keep trying those #s redial hang up redial as soon as you hear the due to high call volume message over and over until you finally call and hear press 1 for filing a claim, then do nothing (don't hit or press any buttons) and wait and it should put you in queue to speak to someone.

And have them certify all your back weeks once you get them on the phone.

[peter912]

Hi Scraprsmith,


Thanks a lot for your quick response. I will give it a try after the office opens at 8:30AM. I will update and share my experience with the forum users.


Peter

[peter912]

quick update. I worked really hard, made more than 50 calls this morning. Finally I connected with someone. Discussed my re-open claim request. At the end, she told me that she could not re-open my claim, and will escalate this request, I will be in touched within next 10 days.

[scraprsmith]

Originally Posted by peter912

quick update. I worked really hard, made more than 50 calls this morning. Finally I connected with someone. Discussed my re-open claim request. At the end, she told me that she could not re-open my claim, and will escalate this request, I will be in touched within next 10 days.

Glad you got through and WOW as they used to quickly be able to reopen the claim on the phone. Basically it seems like they have receptionists answering the calls and forward to "specialists" who will call people back. Your's told you 10 days. Yesterday the one I finally got through to said 7 days is what it normally is but may be longer because they're backed up. All these new people they've hired are basically worthless because they don't have the ability, knowledge or authority to do anything to help rectify people's problems. It sounds good on paper that they've hire all these new call center people but it's done nothing to alleviate the backlog. Keep us posted if/when you hear back.