Knoxville lady experiences points with unemployment advantages after contracting COVID-19 and taking medical go away

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WATE) – A Knoxville woman is still waiting for her unemployment benefit after filing twice.

Rose Mosley applied once when she was diagnosed with COVID-19 and a second time after she was on vacation. However, to date, she has received nothing from the Tennessee Department of Labor, despite the state’s websites indicating that her application for assistance is in progress.

For Mosley, there are two questions that need to be answered: Are you eligible for unemployment benefit if you are on vacation and unable to work? Are you eligible if you cannot work because you have COVID-19?

Mosley is grateful to her sister Baberly Hardy. Mosley relies on many drugs. It has been a long road to recovery for her over the past nine months.

Last August, Mosley had to take a medical vacation from her full-time job as a claims handler. She went online to the State Department of Labor website and applied for unemployment.

Mosley says because she used all of her sick days, she was not paid during her medical vacation. Her doctor then forwarded a letter to the labor office explaining why she couldn’t work.

“They told me that everything would be adjusted and sent upstairs and it would be two or three weeks before I heard from them. They wanted to work on me, but nothing happened. “

Rose Mosley

At the time, Mosley said she had never heard from the department. After returning to work for three months, she was soon back in the hospital after testing positive for COVID-19.

“They diagnosed me with COVID-19 in the hospital in February. Then after doing some tests they said I needed to be approved for COVID. “

Rose Mosley

Believing that she would receive reimbursement because of her medical leave and lack of work after contracting the virus, she asked for our help. We have contacted the labor department.

The state’s note says: Mosley would not be entitled to unemployment benefit if she was unemployed due to illness. A person must be able and available to work in order to meet the eligibility requirements for unemployment.

However, on a second note, the state says: Mosely’s case is currently being investigated and a result should be known soon.

Yes, under the CARES federal law, you are entitled to unemployment benefits if you contract the virus and cannot work.

No, in general you are not entitled to unemployment benefit if you take leave and cannot work under the Family and Sick Leave Act.

On the other hand, if your employer forces you to take medical leave despite your ability and willingness to work, you may be eligible for unemployment benefit.

But that wasn’t the case with Mosley, if they get an update we will let you know.