Weekly Unemployment Certifications Move to Staggered Schedule

April 20, 2020
By: Dwayne Page

The Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development has moved to a staggered schedule for unemployment claimants completing their weekly certifications. This change will spread out the number of people certifying over three days, creating a more responsive experience for claimants using Jobs4TN.gov.

More than 324,000 Tennesseans have applied for unemployment benefits over the last four weeks, creating an unprecedented demand on the unemployment computer system. While claimants can certify any day of the week, most choose Sunday, putting a workload 21 times the normal rate of usage onto the system.

Starting Sunday, April 19, claimants will have access to complete their weekly certifications according to the last digit of their social security number.

• Sunday 0, 1, 2, 3
• Monday 4, 5, 6
• Tuesday 7, 8, 9
• Wed. – Sat. All numbers

When a claimant tries to certify and clicks the tab, if they are accessing the system on the correct day, it will allow them to proceed. If it is not the claimant’s scheduled day, the system will not let them certify.

If a claimant misses their scheduled day, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday are open certification days for any social security number.

Once a claimant completes the weekly certification process, their financial institution typically posts the benefit payment to their account or debit card within 48 to 72 hours.

For claimants who normally certify on Sunday, switching to a Monday or Tuesday certification will change the day of their weekly deposit.

Claimants must certify each week to ensure eligibility for benefit payments and to avoid the potential for overpayment. If someone does not certify for a particular week, they have five weeks to go back and do so, but the state is unable to process the payment for that week until they complete the missed certification.

April 20, 2020
By: Dwayne Page

Justin Potter Library hosted a Facebook Live Story Time on Friday.

Library Director Kathy Hendrixson said it was a way to get the library to children since they can’t come to the library during this COVID-19 pandemic.

April 19, 2020
By: Bill Conger

For the D.C.H.S. Class of 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic has created a disappointing end to the school year. Conventions, trips, banquets, the prom, and other special events either have been cancelled or postponed, dampening the spirits of those who looked forward to the last high school memories with their friends.

Folks in DeKalb County are supporting those students through a Facebook group called “DCHS Adopt A Senior” that Whitney Lester created after seeing the same idea for Rutherford County.

“I have seen several 2020 seniors sharing things on social media recently about how the stay at home orders and other COVID-19 recommendations have had a negative impact on their senior year,” says Lester. “This year’s graduating class is having to miss out on so many of the things that make senior year memorable, like yearbook signing, senior skip day, and other end of the year festivities, including the postponement of graduation. I had been pondering for several days on how I could assist in making the last couple of weeks of their high school career memorable for them, and when I came across this idea in Rutherford County, I saw a great opportunity to spread just a tiny bit of kindness, love, and recognition with the DCHS graduating class, while still maintaining the recommendations of social distancing.”

Parents and guardians of graduating seniors are asked to make an “Up For Adoption” post on the group’s Facebook page and include pictures of the student along with information about the person’s likes, activities, plans for the future, etc. Others in the community will “adopt” that senior.

“They receive contact information for that person to send them cards, words of encouragement, prayers, small gifts or things they may need for college, or even do something fun for them, such as going to decorate their yard,” explains Lester. “I am working hard to ensure that each senior is included in the program, and is assigned, at minimum, two adopters.”

“When I read the details, it just warmed my heart that someone had started something so special for the seniors,” says Amy Evans, mother of Salutatorian Holly Evans. “As it progressed and parents were posting descriptions and pictures of their seniors followed by multiple people from the community wanting to “adopt” them, it definitely lifted some of the darkness and sadness that everyone has been feeling.”

Evans says her daughter has been devastated.

“Like all the seniors, she has worked hard for her achievements. The thought of not getting to celebrate them is devastating to her. She’s missing out on some of the perks of being Salutatorian, some of her awards ceremonies, her last cheerleading banquet, etc. She had a few club trips planned that were cancelled including a trip to NYC. She is graduating from Motlow with her Associate’s Degree, but they have cancelled that graduation already. But even with all of that, she said that not getting to be with her friends prior to going off to college is the worst thing. As for me, it has made me sad not being able to see her go through some of her senior milestones. Most people know that I live to take pictures of my kids. Missing out on that plus seeing her being upset has broken my heart. We know there is a greater plan, even though we are sad right now.”

“I am overwhelmed with gratitude for what this young lady has created for our seniors,” says Molly Bratten, the mother of Braeden Jett. “This is a way to show these amazing kids that they are special and they haven’t been forgotten or that their accomplishments haven’t been overlooked. I am just so grateful for both Whitney and the people in our community who are taking on our seniors to make this unfortunate circumstance a little less stressful.”

Bratten’s son, Braeden, plans to attend Tennessee Tech in the fall and wants to be a History professor. A member of the FBLA club, he placed first in the Political Science division and would have been competing at the state level this month in Chattanooga.That event like so many others was called off.

“Braedon has faced a lot of disappointment in the last few weeks,” says Bratten. “I have been very proud of how he has handled the situations. He had plans to travel to Europe over Spring Break that had to be cancelled. Not to mention Prom and the FBLA convention that he was looking forward to. He is well aware of what he is missing, but he tries his best to keep his chin up and realize that this is how it has to be for now. He is actually handling it way better than I am. I wanted to see him make all of these memories, and at times it is so hard not to feel bitter or cheated. He has to help me keep my chin up at times also. I know that we will get through this together as a family with lots of understanding, love, and prayers”

“It’s good to let them know everyone still cares and that they are not forgotten, says Margaret Bockoven, whose son Aaron graduates this year.

“He was looking forward to his last days of school and auto mechanics [class], going to prom with his friends and graduation. It breaks my heart for them because I remember the excitement of the celebrations of being a senior with my friends. It’s just sad that they have to miss out on all of it and won’t get to have those memories to look back and reminisce on. This is a year they have worked for for 13 years”

“The Adopt A Senior group is so special and beyond touching,” says mom Amy Rhody. “Following a missed 18th birthday and other milestones, I assured my daughter, Rachel, that we would celebrate everything once it was safe. She’s so practical and matter-of-fact, telling me that no one would care by then. I told her that I cared, but I’m her mama and that’s not the same lol. But then, Whitney Lester introduced this beautiful idea. I don’t know why. I guess because she’s also a beautiful soul. My daughter was adopted and received warm chocolate chip cookies on our porch the next day. It wasn’t expensive, but it was heartfelt. She was soooooo happy to know someone (besides her mama) cared. She felt loved. As a parent, that’s all I need. It was simple. But it was so special.”

As of Saturday afternoon, the public group had 740 members. If you’d like to join and show your support, check out DCHS “Adopt A Senior” on Facebook.

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