I moved to Nevada in 2018. Once I arrived here, in Las Vegas, I began the daunting  tasks of settling into a new town. I was staying with friends while I looked for a place, and attended to my list of "Post-move" requirements. Of course the DMV was at the top of my list then apartment hunting and then a whole new list. My plans however, were quickly stunted when the  the DMV refused to change my drivers license or register my car, due to an inconsistency in my identifying documents. Specifically, my first name was spelled "Laura" on my Birth certificate and "Laurie" on my social security card. I had been having small problems due to this minor inconsistency since 9/11, so I wasn't surprised and decided it was time to fix the issue once and for all. My next stop was the Social Security Administration. There I was helped by a nice young man, who suggested that I have my name legally changed to match the social security card,  as he could not help me without an order signed by a judge. Determined, I sought out a lawyer and inquired about the process of obtaining a legal name change. The process I found would not be a difficult one so long  as I had $ 750.00 to pay for lawyers, court fees and new documents (I definitely did not ) 

So there I was, all ready to settle in but nowhere to settle in to. Without proper identification I wasn't able to get a sheriff's, TAM or health card, I couldn't work or drive. I was stuck.  I needed to be creative and find a way to support myself  and save enough money for a lawyer. 

Working for myself, offering services such as housekeeping, dog sitting, painting and alterations seemed to be the answer. I found a couple gigs dog sitting and a couple repeat business cleaning gigs and eventually I got a few artist/ creative ones as well. I wasn't making much,  but I was able to save enough for a deposit on an apartment,  get moved in and transfer the utilities into my name.  

My son lives in California, where he has a very successful legal practice, had been helping me sort out some legal issues resulting from  identity theft against me prior to my move to Las Vegas told me that there is often obscure laws and/or processes that might solve my name issue, however  since I wasn't born In California, but rather Arizona I would have to research it myself. My research was fruitful and almost immediately I stumbled across a law that addressed my exact situation.  I wrote a letter outlining the laws regarding birth certificate correction and enclosed with it supporting documents (i.e.  college transcripts, medical documents voter registration cards and utility bills) and on March 10th, 2020 I sent it to The Maricopa county department of vital records. Along with a money order for $30.00 and a self addressed stamped envelope, and waited for a response.  ( see attached document Vital Record Correction  request)

One week after sending off that letter, The country was shut down due to the Covid-19 virus. My clients cancelled my services, and requested their deposits be returned.  The pandemic outlook was not a good one and my only source of income was apparently and undeniably  nonexistant for the duration.  I had barely been getting by and just when things began to look up, the pandemic just froze everything. Like everyone else I was broke and the future was very uncertain. So my relief was immense when the Cares Act was passed and there were provisions included  to help the self employed until things returned to normal. I filed for PUA assistance and submitted all the requested documents. When my case was denied I was shocked angry, and dumbfounded. I registered with IDMe then read and re-read the requirements for inclusion of DETR'S  PUA program. I met all the requirements as I was not eligible for any other UE program and had been living and working in Nevada as a self employed individual prior to the pandemic. I was unable to book any new gigs and the few I had already booked had canceled promising to reschedule after the pandemic crisis was over. 

I have filed weekly PUA claims for over 75 weeks. But have not been paid since June of 2020. The appeals I filed in response to DETRS determination of ineligibility have yet to be resolved or even reviewed. My many phone calls to get resolution and having my case accelerated several times HAVE NOT HELPED.

I recently received an email  response from one of my cancellations regarding post pandemic rescheduling, however if I do not receive my PUA payments, I will not  have the means to fund the project. I have nothing left to sell and while everyone I know says not to take it personally, it is very VERY personal.  I have had to part with personal objects that were dear to me , gave me joy and cannot be replaced to afford the most basic essential items (i.e. toliet paper, food, soap) all of which I could have purchased with the PUA I applied for and was determined eligible for.  The president of the United States and the American Congress put the Cares Act to law and made provisions for those in my exact situation so that we would not have to struggle during these uncertain and unprecedented times, and yet DETR has kept those desperately  needed funds and made the struggle, the fear and day to day life more difficult than it should have been. for myself and many many others. They have made no attempt at explainingbor even giving a date when the issues might be solved. At one point my phone was shut off after being on hold with unemployment for 6 hours used all my minutes. We deserve to know when these funds will be distributed and DETR needs to be more communicative to their clients. I understand that there was a lot of fraudulent claims, and that should be sorted out, but not at our expense and not for this long. We should not have to choose between buying toliet paper or tuna fish, no one should have been left for so long without any means at all. I have waited 8 months for DETR to review my case and am now at a point where their lack of resolution feels intentional rather than residual. These cases need to be paid immediately, so that those of us still struggling can crawl out of the hole this pandemic has left us in and start over. So that we might get just a bit a head of the depression that is pulling us farther down every moment we are denied the help we were promised, and so very desperately need.

Please sign our petition and let DETR know that the handling of the pandemic funds for PUA was absolutely unacceptable, and must be corrected without further delay.