Outbreak Wisconsin participants reflect on a life-changing year and what the future holds.
Tag: Jessica Barrera
Pizza lunches and iPads: A single mom speaks to her son about returning to school
Jessica Barrera said her son Niko did well learning at home after coronavirus shuttered schools nationwide this spring. She has decided to continue with remote learning for him this year as well.
Wisconsinites with disabilities see long wait for jobless aid, even after gaining eligibility
Many remain in limbo after Wisconsin said laid-off workers on federal disability may qualify for pandemic relief. One woman finally succeeded — after 32 emails.
Following denials, laid-off Wisconsin workers with disabilities now eligible for federal pandemic aid
Federal government gives Wisconsin its blessing to reverse a policy that had blocked assistance to jobless workers receiving disability aid.
Lives on hold: Pandemic exposes failures of Wisconsin unemployment insurance system
Wisconsin has failed to deliver unemployment aid to thousands at a time when they most need it. The crisis was years in the making.
Reversing course: Wisconsin seeks federal OK to aid the unemployed with disabilities
Wisconsin has denied federal pandemic aid to workers on federal disability who lost their jobs. The state’s top employment official now seeks a reversal.
Introducing Jessica Barrera: A single mom reflects on returning to work during the pandemic
The 40-year-old single mother shares a $900 per-month apartment with her 10-year-old son Niko. She lost her job due to the pandemic, and was denied an unemployment insurance claim because she also receives federal disability benefits.
‘I cried for days’: Wisconsin blocks pandemic payments for federal disability aid recipients
A 2013 Wisconsin law prevents laid-off workers on federal disability from getting state unemployment. Now the state is denying them federal pandemic aid too.