UPDATE: State fixing case of pregnant, single mother getting $0 jobless checks

May 13, 2020

Al Greenfield,

Informed of the story of Bailey Lowry, the pregnant mother who was getting unemployment checks for $0 and was unable to get it corrected, the state has stepped in to fix the problem.

After Lowry’s story aired on WTVQ ABC36 News at 6, the unemployment office called her and said she will get both her checks Monday, Lowry told the station.

In addition, the state said it continues to work to remove obstacles blocking claims or causing mistakes.

“While we cannot speak to the specifics of any one particular claim, we are working to clear stops that are preventing payment. We also realize and understand the frustrations many have encountered trying to connect to our call center. Currently, we are receiving over 200,000 calls a day and are able to speak with approximately 150,000 individuals on any given day. Because of the high number of calls, there are calls, unfortunately, that are dropped during peak call volumes. UI customers should know that even if they are not able to reach our staff we are processing thousands of clams each week. As claims are reviewed, UI staff will reach out to individuals to resolve issues and concerns,” said JT Henderson, executive director of communications for Education & Workforce Development Cabinet.

ORIGINAL STORY BELOW

LEXINGTON, Ky. (WTVQ) — Every week during this pandemic we receive unemployment complaints from Kentuckians desperate for help.

Some begging to see the money the state has promised, confused about what’s going wrong, and unable to get in touch with anyone who can help.

Like pregnant, single mother Bailey Lowry.

Imagine being pregnant and losing your job because you don’t have access to childcare for your four year old son. So you’ve filed for unemployment, been approved, but haven’t seen any money? And now, it’s been five weeks.

“I don’t know what to do at this point. I can’t keep going without any money,” says Bailey Lowry.

Lowry has been getting statements of checks processed for zero dollars.

“I tried to call somebody the first day I applied just to make sure everything went through. It said it put me in line to get a callback and I’ve called literally every single day since then,” says Lowry.

She says she’s so desperate, even at 25 weeks pregnant she’s been searching aimlessly for any job that’s part-time since that’s all she would be able to manage with her four-year-old.

“It’s just really stressful because I am so far along now to where it’s just, it’s been a lot,” says Lowry.

She laughs to mask the stress and anxiety she feels.

In finding a new job, Lowry says she wants to keep herself safe and unexposed to protect her unborn child and her little boy so that limits her options.

“I mean, it keeps me up at night, stressing about how I’m going to pay this or that. I know I have to go find a part time job, I have to work because I cannot get a hold of anyone. I can’t talk to anybody. I don’t know what’s wrong. I don’t know what I’m doing wrong it’s just, you know, they say that they’ll help you and no one’s getting help,” says Lowry.

In Governor Andy Beshear’s daily briefings he’s mentioned some people still waiting for money are having identity verification issues or their employers dispute their claims they were laid off.

He’s called it “unacceptable” people have been waiting so long.