Norfolk woman says she’s waited for unemployment for 3 years

NORFOLK, Va. (WAVY) — Norfolk resident Mary Roland was a traveling nanny for seven years before being let go from her job on Jan. 28, 2021.

Roland said she filed for unemployment on Feb. 6 with the Virginia Employment Commission in Norfolk that same year. It’s now been three years and Roland said she’s owed $12,000 in total from the VEC.

Roland also said she called the Norfolk office for months after filing and mailed in letters to no avail.

“They told me that I was approved and it might take a couple of weeks,” Roland said, adding that “they were telling me that it’s still pending. … Nothing [was] done about the situation. I also went down to the unemployment office here in Norfolk and they said they didn’t take care of this unemployment here. If I need more information, I need to call Richmond, Virginia, the headquarters there.”

During the interview, Roland also shared that the Norfolk Employment Commission initially suggested she apply for Pandemic Unemployment Assistance. Under the CARES Act, it was made available to non-traditional workers like independent contractors.

“So I said, ‘OK, I did that,'” she said. “And that’s when they said, ‘OK, Miss Roland you’ve been approved for the (PUA) pandemic unemployment.’ So they said, ‘Well, keep calling it in every week.”

Roland also claims that when she called the office in Richmond, representatives said her status was pending as well, leading her back to Norfolk, desperately seeking assistance. With bills piling up at the time, Roland took on a job as daycare teacher five months past her termination and has remained employed.

“I shouldn’t have to keep calling them when you’re right here,” she said. “I still haven’t got no answers.”

Roland stated she last made contact to Richmond in June.

10 On Your Side reached out to state and local officials for comment. We will provide updates as we receive new information.

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