CROCKETT, Calif. — Kimberly Perette is one of hundreds of thousands of people across California who have been anxiously waiting nearly a month or longer to get paid by California's Employment Development Department (EDD).
"I've been really frustrated with this whole process," Perette said as she waits for any word about her unemployment benefits. "This is our only source of income. It's the only way we can get any money to pay our bills.
Right now, she is using credit cards to get by, but she hasn't been paid since Dec. 13, 2020, and the debt is piling up.
“I can't wait more than another 30 days,” she added.
For some people, the time has already run out. Vanessa Phillips had her car repossessed after EDD suspended her account. Other viewers have texted into our Dollars and Sense team, telling us they are on the verge of homelessness.
For many people who rely on unemployment benefits, it’s been a mad scramble since New Year’s Eve when EDD cut off payments to 1.4 million accounts as part of an anti-fraud effort.
EDD then required all those accounts to re-verify their identities, and the crush of people trying to get it done has only led to more delays and frustration. The problem is so bad that EDD has extended a deadline for people to verify to 30 days.
Perette said she knows EDD is swamped but she doesn't understand why they haven't, so far, gone on camera to give people clear answers about how long the wait will be.
“At least make an announcement and say, you know, we're working on it. We're going to clear up the accounts, the ones that we know are not fraudulent, quickly," Perette said."At least make me feel like I'm a human being. And not just the number.”
EDD has not granted ABC10's recent request for an on-camera interview. They have put out statements and responded to some emails, but what they haven't provided is clear answers.
While we have asked EDD to answer your many questions about a specific timeline for the resumption of benefits, we have instead received vague responses.
On Thursday, we were finally sent a statement from the department’s new director Rita Saenz that said, “Most of the claims suspended for further review need identity verification. When that is done, the EDD re-establishes payment in a matter of days.”
For Perette, it’s been 10 days since she verified her identity and 40 days since she was last paid.
When Assemblywoman Lorena Gonzalez asked a similar question, she tweeted that EDD told her people may have to wait 30 days for their benefits to clear.
All this leaves people wondering what Saenz means when she says a "matter of days?"
“EDD needs to be clear with constituents about timing and about consideration of how long a benefit takes to get in their pocket," Gonzalez said. "And then if that doesn't happen in that stated amount of time, there needs to be some accountability.”
Another frustrated viewer, Dave Park, emailed to say, "They use the word 'soon' inappropriately and then also they like to use the word 'automatic,' like as in 'automatically make those weeks available.' That's why they get a half a million phone calls a week because of the way they use language to obfuscate."
While Perette waits for clearer answers from EDD, there is another person she hopes to hear from: Gov. Gavin Newsom.
"I mean, Gov. Newsom, I haven't heard him say anything about this. I would love it if he would say something to us, and say, 'Hey, we're trying to get this as fast as possible,'" Perette said. "Just say, 'Hey, Kim, and others, we do care about you.'"
ABC10 reached out to Gov. Newsom's office three times this month to ask him about the problems with EDD and all the people who aren't being paid benefits. The first two times the Governor's Office forwarded our emails to EDD. We are waiting to hear back on our third request.
WATCH MORE: "EDD has become an absolute catastrophe" | Rep. Harder demands answers on suspended accounts
