Patience tested as Missourians wait for unemployment answers

Missourians continue to wait for answers about an overpayment notice from the department of labor.

ALEXIS"I cried, I didn't know what todo"JEROME"I just want answers, I justwant itover with."FRUSTRATION -- STRESS --AND TEARS FOR PEOPLETOLD TO PAY BACKUNEMPLOYMENTBENEFITS.AND ALTHOUGH THEIRCIRCUMSTANCES MAY BEDIFFERENT -- 41 ACTIONNEWS FOUND THE SAMEISSUE ACROSS MANY OFTHESE STORIES.EMMA JAMES EXPLAINS.EMMA JAMES, REPORTING"Several Missourians I spokewith say they haven't gottenany answers about what thiserror is - but they havestarted to receive notices ofdebt.

They say the stress ofwondering whether or notthey'll have to pay this moneyis starting to take its toll."JEROME MARSHALL, RECEIVEDOVERPAYMENT NOTICE"Everyday you go to themailbox, what is it going to be,are they finally going to saysomething?"IT'S BEEN A STRESSFULFEW MONTHS FOR JEROMEMARSHALL.HE'S ONE OF A HANDFULOF MISSOURIANS WHOTELL ME THEY RECEIVEDTHESE LETTERS - SAYINGTHEY'VE BEEN OVERPAIDUNENMPLOYMENTBENEFITS DUE TO ANAGENCY ERROR.JEROME MARSHALL, RECEIVEDOVERPAYMENT NOTICE"it's just really confusing andunfortunately disappointingthat I would even have to gothrough this for something thatwas supposed to help me."JEROME ISN'T ALONE.I'VE INTERVIEWED NEARLY10 PEOPLEALL GOING THROUGH THESAME THING - AND ALLSAYING THEY DON'TBELIEVE THEY WEREOVERPAID.ALEXIS THRAILKILL, RECEIVEDOVERPAYMENT NOTICE"I was so hysterical I said Ican't pay that type of money,that's why I went throughunemployment, I didn't haveany money."ALEXIS THRAILKILL SAYSSHE WAS APPROVED FORUNEMPLOYMENT ANDDOESN'T UNDERSTANDHOW SHE COULD HAVEBEEN OVERPAID.SHE AND JEROME ANDTRYING TO APPEAL BUTCAN'T GET AHOLD OFANYONE.ALEXIS THRAILKILL, RECEIVEDOVERPAYMENT NOTICE"As a mom I do not have thattime to wait on my phone for160 minutes for someone toanswer."TO MAKE MATTERS MORESTRESSFUL - JEROME,ALEXIS AND OTHERS ARENOW RECEIVING NOTICESOF DEBT.AFTER PRESSING THEDEPARTMENT FORANSWERS - I FOUND OUTTHE DIVISION OFEMPLOYMENT SECURITYWON'T ACTIVELY PURSUECOLLECTIONS UNTIL THEAPPEAL DECISION IS FINAL- BUT ALEXIS AND JEROMESAY THAT'S NOT CLEAR ONTHE NOTICE.JEROME MARSHALL, RECEIVEDOVERPAYMENT NOTICE"I just want answers, I justwant it over with."EMMA JAMES, REPORTING"I asked The department oflabor to speak with someoneabout this and was sent thesame statement as before -saying there's a variety ofreasons for overpayments andpeople who believe theyweren't overpaid should callthe number on the letter.Everyone I've talked to saysthey've tried many times.Emma James, 41 ActionNews."AFTER PRESSING THEDEPARTMENT OF LABORABOUT THIS - THRAILKILLTELLS US SHE RECEIVED APERSONAL PHONE CALLFROM A SPOKESPERSONWITH THE DEPARTMENTWHO GAVE MOREEXPLANATION ABOUT THEAPPEALS PROCESS.SHE TELLS US THESPOKESPERSON DIDN'TEXPLAIN WHAT THE'AGENCY ERROR' WAS TOBEGIN WITH.