ATLANTA – State Representative Sandra Scott (D-Rex), along with other members of the Georgia House Democratic Caucus Subcommittee on COVID-19, recently submitted a letter to U.S. Congresswoman Lucy McBath calling for the U.S. Congress to investigate the Georgia Department of Labor’s (GDOL) Unemployment Insurance (UI) payment processes.
“As of today, I am still receiving calls from constituents stating that they have not received their unemployment benefits since March,” said Rep. Scott. “This is ridiculous. Georgia Department of Labor Commissioner Mark Butler was on a UI call this week with the Utah Labor Commission. The commissioner from Utah spoke of their new virtual call center that assists their citizens and highlighted its success. We need Commissioner Butler to have some compassion for our people and open the doors to his agency or create a virtual call center so Georgians can get the assistance and help that they need to get their claims processed. People are losing their cars and homes because they are still waiting on someone from the GDOL to answer the phone and say, ‘May I help you?’”
These legislators are calling on Congress to examine valid processed Unemployment Insurance (UI) claims in Georgia that have not been paid, including claim benefits provided by the federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. They also request that Congress analyze various possible discrepancies of data reported in recent GDOL press releases, as well as an overall audit of the state and federal UI funding.
Their letter claims that the GDOL has failed to comply with a federal statute that requires promptness in the payment of unemployment benefits to eligible claimants. To address this, the legislators request that the U.S. Department of Labor initiate an informal discussion with GDOL officials, conduct an evaluation of the state’s benefits payment processes and analyze the reasons for failing to pay eligible claims. Additionally, these legislators are calling for the federal government to consult with Governor Brian Kemp regarding consequences for noncompliance and propose the use of federal staff to assist the GDOL with its payment operations.
The GHDC COVID-19 subcommittee members include GHDC Chairman James Beverly (D-Macon), as well as State Representatives Debra Bazemore (D-South Fulton), Roger Bruce (D-Atlanta), Viola Davis (D-Stone Mountain), Shelly Hutchinson (D-Snellville), Donna McLeod (D-Lawrenceville), Mary Robichaux (D-Roswell), Kim Schofield (D-Atlanta) and Erica Thomas (D-Austell).
Representative Sandra Scott represents the citizens of District 76, which includes portions of Clayton and Henry counties. She was first elected to the House Representatives in 2010 and currently serves on the Defense & Veterans Affairs, Human Relations & Aging, Legislative & Congressional Reapportionment, Science and Technology and Special Rules committees.
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