dave zabukovec was laid off from his job as a graphic artist in 2008 and filed a claim after taking a week-long real estate class. he reported that he had not looked for work that one week. the state informed him by mail that he was eligible for the maximum benefit, but no checks ever came. why not? he was told he'd been disqualified, but he never noticed the letter that was sent informing him of the news. so, he asked for a hearing to explain what had happened. the man from the state's response? >> "did you receive the letter?" and that's all he wanted to know. and that's it. i answered his question in the way he wanted me to answer it and then the case was closed. decision made. >> reporter: not a penny for dave zabukovec to help support his stay-at-home wife and two young daughters, though his employer had paid into the insurance system on his behalf for years. unable to find work, he exhausted his savings. >> basically spending all that i had saved up, my life savings, to pay the bills and i took loans against some of my iras. i took a $10,000 loan off one of those that i'm paying