Oklahomans get help with unemployment claims

Oklahomans get help with unemployment claims

UNEMPLOYMENT CLAIMS SETTLED.THE DEMAND IS SO LARGE HEREIN THE TULSA METRO, THESTATE OF OKLAHOMA DECIDED TOADD TWO MORE IN- PERSONCLAIMS EVENTS NEXT WEEK.2 WORKS FOR YOU REPORTERTONY RUSSELL... IS LIVE ATTHE TULSA STATEFAIRGROUNDS... WHERE BOTHUNEMPLOYMENT CLAIMS EVENTSTHIS WEEK WERE SOLD OUT.MORE THAN 400 PEOPLE CAMETHROUGH THE EXPO DOORS TOGET THROUGH THE CLAIMSPROCESS.

WE TALKED WITHPEOPLE WHO WEREFURLOUGHED OR JUST SIMPLYLOCKED OUT FROM THE ONLINECLAIMSPROCESS.ANTIA O'DANIEL IS ONE OF THEMANY FACES OF CHANGELINGUNEMPLOYMENT CLAIMS DURINGTHE PANDEMIC.

SHE'S ONE OFTHE MANY VICTIMS WHERESOMEONE FRAUDULENTLY FILED ACLAIM IN HER NAME..

- ANITA1RUNS=:10 ANITA O'DANIEL,BROKEN ARROW RESIDENT,"it'sbeen a really long processand it's been really kind ofscary to think somebody usedmy social security and usedall my current informationto apply in my name,"- THANKFULLY SHE CAUGHT ITBECAUSE THE FRAUDSTER USEDHER SAME PO BOX-BUT HAD TOGET IN FRONT OF A CLAIMSAGENT TO GET THIS ISSUEFIXED.

- ANITA2 RUNS=:15ANITA O'DANIEL, BROKEN ARROWRESIDENT,"if they're havinga hard time filing a claim Iwould come to one of theevents in person.

It's a loteasier to get in touch withpeople and sit down-it wasactually a really goodexperience.

People todayhave been nothing but nice,cordial and making sure wewere taken care of," -WORKERS LIKE JAMESHOLLINGSWORTH-who WAS LOCKEDOUT OF THE CLAIMS SYSTEM.

-JAMES2 RUNS=:14 JAMESHOLLINGSWORTH, TULSARESIDENT,"had numerousticket numbers created.

Wasnever getting anywhere.

Wasnot getting called back fromthe Tier 2 levels.

It's beencrazy statewide, nationwide,worldwide," - HE'SFURLOUGHED DURING THEPANDEMIC.

- JAMES1 RUNS=:13JAMES HOLLINGSWORTH, TULSARESIDENT,"when it's yourfurlough week you don't haveanything to do.

You can'twork.

They're not paying youfor that week.

It reallyhits your budget," - SOMESTOOD IN LINES AT 4 O'CLOCKIN THE MORNING TO GET ATICKET IN HOPES OF GETTINGTHEIR CLAIMS HEARD ANDANSWERED.

FOR BOB BATES... -BOB1 RUNS=:00 BOB BATES,TULSA RESIDENT,"the pandemicwas brand new to everybody.My business is person-to-person and that all wentaway," - -HE'S BEENUNEMPLOYED SINCE JANUARYMAKING HUGE CHANGES IN HISLIFE.

- BOB2 RUNS=:21 BOBBATES, TULSA RESIDENT,"wellit's been hectic andchaotic.

My house is listed.I have a contract on it.We're gonna close on Augustthe third.

It's a reluctantthing that I'm doing and youknow.

New place to live.

Saygoodbye to the neighborhood.Find new friends somewhereelse.

It's everything," -NATS BATES "ROBERT BATES."REMEMBER SIGN UP FORTOMORROW'S REMOTE CLAIMSEVENT HERE IN TULSAIS ALREADY FULL.

FOR MOREDETAILS ON NEXT WEEK'SEVENT-WE'LL HAVE THAT INFOCOMING UP IN OUR STORY AT 6.REPORTI