New Filing Method to Speed Filing of Lack-of-Work Claims
Tuesday, January 27, 2009 | 06:30am
Group Filing Sessions begin Thursday in 22 Locations
NASHVILLE – Beginning Thursday, Jan. 29, Tennessee workers will have another means for filing initial claims for unemployment insurance. This new service is a temporary measure to help relieve the state’s overloaded telephone network for processing claims.
“In addition to using telephone, Internet, or paper claims forms, claimants will now be able to go to one of 22 Career Centers across the state to take part in a small group session to file their claim,” said Labor & Workforce Development Commissioner James Neeley. “Our phone lines have been overwhelmed by the volume of claims we are processing. Offering another means for filing initial claims will help us serve those who have lost their jobs more efficiently.”
During the meetings claimants will complete their required forms and learn how to certify their eligibility on a weekly basis, either online or by phone. Weekly eligibility certification is required as long as they are receiving unemployment benefits. At the end of the session, staff will review and process the claims onsite.
Commissioner Neeley emphasized the new option is limited to those who are filing simple lack-of-work claims. Other types of claims, such as voluntary quit or discharge, will not be processed in these sessions.
In order to file during a group meeting, the claimant must have been laid off from his job due to lack of work and must have a separation notice or letter from the employer stating that the separation was because of lack of work or reduction in force (sometimes written as furloughed).
Tennessee employers are urged to provide each of their employees a separation notice stating separation due to lack of work. The separation notice form can be found at www.state.tn.us/labor-wfd/Employers/forms/LB-0489.pdf.
Times of Sessions
Mass claims sessions will be held at 8:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. local time on Mondays and Thursdays and at 8:30 a.m. on Fridays. It is not necessary to make an appointment. Meeting rooms will accommodate a limited number of claimants. Weekly mass claims sessions will continue as long as necessary.
What You Will Need
You will need to have the following requirements to participate in a mass claims session:
- Must have been separated for lack of work or reduction in force
- Worked only in Tennessee for the last 18 months
- Has a separation notice or letter from employer stating lack of work as reason for layoff
- Two forms of ID – driver’s license or state photo ID card and a second form of identification, such as a birth certificate or utility bill in your name
- Social Security Number
- Address and telephone number
- Separating employer's name, address and telephone number
- Last day worked and places of employment for the last 18 months
Locations
The following Career Centers are offering mass claims sessions:
Athens 410 Congress Parkway
Bristol 1712 West State Street
Chattanooga 5600 Brainerd Road, Suite A-5
Clarksville Veterans Plaza, 350 Pageant Lane, Suite 406
Columbia 119 Nashville Highway, Suite 106, Northway Shopping Center
Cookeville 3300 Williams Enterprise Drive
Crossville 60 Ridley Street
Dyersburg 439 McGaughey Street
Gallatin 175 College Street
Humboldt 1481 Mullins Street
Jacksboro 1016 Main Street
Jackson 362 Carriage House Drive
Johnson City 2515 Wesley Street
Knoxville 1610 University Avenue
Lawrenceburg 702 Mahr Avenue
McMinnville 107 Lyon Street
Murfreesboro 1313 Old Fort Parkway
Nashville 2200 Rosa L. Parks Blvd. (previously Metro Center Blvd.)
Paris 1023 Mineral Wells Avenue, Suite F
Rogersville 1112 East Main Street
Talbott/Morristown 6057 W. Andrew Johnson Highway, Alpha Square, Suite A
Tullahoma 111 East Lincoln Street
A video explaining the unemployment insurance process and what will be covered in the mass meetings will be available at http://www.tennessee.gov/labor-wfd/claimhelp.htm.
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