Laid-off bus driver who struggled to get unemployment ordered to pay back thousands

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NORTH VERSAILLES, Pa. —
Many Americans have struggled to collect unemployment benefits during the coronavirus pandemic. A Pennsylvania man who finally started getting benefits after weeks of delays is now being told he has to pay them back.

John Roman, 76, was laid off from his job as a school bus driver in March.

After the state Labor and Industry Department initially approved his unemployment application, he began receiving $252 in biweekly benefits.

But last month, Labor and Industry told him he was ineligible for benefits and had to pay back $3,084. "It's a shock, believe me," Roman said. He said the state believes he abandoned his job.

But Roman said he was hospitalized for pneumonia and COPD. When his doctor cleared him to return to work in March, the pandemic hit. "I took my papers into my boss, he said that's great but we have no work for you. They shut everything down," Roman said.

After receiving the denial letter, he has tried multiple times to contact state Labor and Industry but received no response.

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