LAS VEGAS (KTNV) — 13 Action News continues to receive questions from viewers about issues they are having with the Nevada Department of Employment, Training and Rehabilitation.
Here are some of the recent questions we submitted on the behalf of viewers and the answers we received from DETR.
QUESTION: There are many people who, week after week of getting payments, are suddenly stopped due to identity verifications. Yet, we are not given the chance to prove/show who we are through the new ID.me program. I would like to know why.
ANSWER: New PUA filings continue to come in. We had 8,497 initial PUA filings for the week ending 10/10. DETR has another 50,000 PUA claims where we are looking to verify identity. This week, we are expecting to send out 10,000 emails each day requesting claimants to go through ID.me to verify their identity.
We would request that people go through ID.me only if they receive an email from DETR requesting that. If a claimant hasn’t gotten that request from DETR, it means that there is a separate issue on their claim.
TIMELINE: Nevada Dept. of Employment and handling of pandemic unemployment claims
QUESTION: Why have payments stopped for some PUA claimants?
ANSWER: Two reasons PUA claimants may have received some payments that were later stopped: they are eligible for regular UI benefits and must apply in UI, or they may have received PUA payments based on the earnings they reported.
If the documents they uploaded show a different level of earnings, they may have received overpayments. They will receive a notice of overpayment, which they can appeal. Or they can work with DETR to set up a payment plan which may allow them to resume benefits at a lower amount.
QUESTION: Why can’t the people in the call centers do anything besides verify information was received or answer basic questions?
ANSWER: In all of our call centers, the reps can take certain actions, but cannot adjudicate cases. A list of cases needing review is collected and forwarded nightly to adjudication for assignment to an adjudicator who will review the claim and call the claimant if necessary.
QUESTION: Why can’t DETR email claimants if there is a problem?
ANSWER: It is frustrating that we don’t have the capacity to email claimants; we can only do mass notifications through our vendor. We are working to add this capacity.
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