My father filed for unemployment Ins & is being asked for an in person interview to determine eligibility?

I should mention He is a Permanent resident(Green Card) and is allowed to reside and to work permanently in the US without limitations. He has been for at least 2 decades and like everyone else pays his taxes and he does not receive any form of government aide or welfare. With that said, In mid-august)like many others) he was laid off due to lack of work from result of the economy. In September he filed UI claim and he received the first notice that says you're awarded benefits and how much you earned in the base period and what the weekly benefit would be. The second notice stated that they needed to verify his identity and requested 2 form of acceptable documentation (Copy of Permanent Resident (Green Card) and his Tax forms for 2008. This is to make sure that the right person would be receiving benefits. He sent those in. The 3rd form he received was the continued claim form with the work search history you send. He sent that as well. I know you dont get paid for the 1st week, so when he received a new work search form for the next following weeks a check was not included- not even for one week. A day after he received that one he received a letter that says that he has an appointment to evaluate re-employment and the right to receive benefits. If he fails to appear in person he could be denied benefits. I think its part of REA program. His appoin. is until Oct.15 and he still has to send the work search forms as you would, except he wont be getting paid -yet. I am American by birth and last year I was laid off- I filed for unemployment and within days of applying I received the phone interview and within days I received a check. No hassle quite simple. This was the same case for a Friend of mine (also american). I have searched the California EDD website and how to file and what the process is. Nowhere can I find where a interview in person is needed. Only mentions phone interview and if they determine you dont qualify you can write an appeal. I can see if it was a voluntary quit or you were fired but this is not the case he was laid off. So my father asked a neighbor who was laid off a couple months ago and (he is also a Resident alien with legal permanent status.) he also had to appear in person to determine if he is qualified for benefits. They check to see if you're doing enough for their standards to gain work. I have checked threads of others receiving UI and no one mentions having to go through this process all i have found was posts on people asking about the UI extensions. I cant help but feel as this being discrimination. When He has the same rights as any other working american. He applied for legal residency in the US the old fashion way not by marrying an american and paying them off. He paid his fines and fees and has never collected UI benfeits in 25 years of working here legally. Does anyone know why this is the case here?

2 months ago - 3 answers