Special needs teacher gets backpay with help from 7 On Your Side

Ask any parent of a child with autism, and they can name that one special teacher who became their lifeline.

Their service is worth their weight in gold. When the paychecks stopped coming for a special needs provider in the Bronx, she called 7 On Your Side for some special help of her own.

Angela Moses' 2-year-old daughter, Addyson, has her very own early-intervention angel: therapist, Nicole Pankin.

"Her weakness is she trying to get her words out, she has a speech delay," Moses said. "That's where Miss Nicole comes in, she helps her and she's her special instruction."

Pankin holds a high appreciation for her job and the children she works with.

"She was so wonderful, she was patient," Pankin said about Addyson. "You get such a bond."

But that bond and progress with the children Pankin treats was close to being broken when Pankin's paychecks abruptly stopped coming.

"August 1st was the real check I got, so I haven't gotten paid in two months," she said.

The company which schedules her sessions, New Path Services, wrote an email to instructors last year, saying "Payroll will not be disbursed as scheduled." They said the delay would only last a week, but week after week, Pankin still hadn't gotten paid.

Pankin kept showing up for her clients, like little Addyson.

"I just kept working because it's not fair to them," she said. "They're kids, they don't deserve that."

Pankin worked for 35 hours a week, for months. Those sessions added up to over $17,000 in back pay.

In text messages she shared with 7 On Your Side, Pankin is desperate, saying "...how long can we go without a paycheck" and "...this is so not OK, I'm broke and I have bills to pay."

"I would have been homeless, no food, nothing," she said. "It's really upsetting, it's just wrong."

No longer able to keep working for free, and about to be evicted, Pankin's friend, Tony, took her in, and more importantly, gave her some soothing advice: call 7 On Your Side.

We contacted New Path Services, which blamed the New York State Early Intervention program.

In a statement, New Path Services said, "The duration of the payment adjustment reflects the time required to reconcile claims and payments associated with the New York State Early Intervention program. The delay was due to processing issues and timing delays within the El Hub system, as well as delays in Medicaid reimbursement, which impacted the availability and confirmation of funds needed to finalize payment accurately. Once all necessary information was received and verified, we promptly completed the reconciliation and issued the appropriate payment."

7 On Your Side stayed on top of it for the teacher until she was made whole every cent.

"It was the amount owed to me," Pankin said.

It took multiple deposits, checks, and even some money orders. By the end, the teacher got paid for every hour worked, $17,785.71.

"7 On Your Side is awesome," Pankin said. "If you do need something, get in touch with Nina and her team!"

----------
SHARE YOUR STORY

Do you have an issue with a company that you haven't been able to resolve? If so, 7 On Your Side wants to help you!

Fill out the form below or email your questions, issues, or story ideas by filling out the form below or by emailing 7OnYourSideNina@abc.com. All emails MUST INCLUDE YOUR NAME AND CELLPHONE NUMBER. Without a phone number, 7 On Your Side will not be able to respond.