I am getting $655 a week in unemployment benefits!

[Eighty8Keys]

Anyone who's bitter about people "getting paid to do nothing" should start by taking it up with trust fund babies and rich people who have never worked an honest day in their life.

If you're on unemployment YOU have paid into the system and it is YOUR money that you're getting back. I pay my fair share of taxes and am 100% OK with them going to give people a little bit more (or even a LOT more) so that they can feed their families and keep a roof over their heads, or even *gasp* take a vacation to relax from all this crazy stress. I'm one of the only people still working on my team, under an extreme amount of stress to deliver the work of 6 other people, and I wouldn't trade that for the gut-wrenching uncertainty of if/when I'm still going to have a job in the next 2 months.

The idea that this will incentivize people to stay unemployed is patently ridiculous - unemployment benefits are a short-term solution, no one voluntarily wants a multi-year gap in their resume and then to be fighting with all the people who were permanently laid off for positions from the very few companies who are even hiring after this. If you have a stable job that you can go back to after furlough, you're going to. If you want to use this time to be selective about the next move you make for your career so that you can be making a better salary or working in a healthier environment or get better benefits, there's nothing wrong with that. But to say that most people who are getting a slight boost in their income right now are just going to suddenly get lazy and never go back to work is silly.

I agree with what you’re saying, but just to clear up a common misconception, most employers pay federal and state unemployment taxes. The employee doesn’t pay into it.

 

[SL6827]

If you don’t return to work when asked to return them you lose your unemployment.

Yes, that is why I said the schools should be opened by the fall, thus me being able to return.

 

[SL6827]

I agree with what you’re saying, but just to clear up a common misconception, most employers pay federal and state unemployment taxes. The employee doesn’t pay into it.

True, but still. The amount of taxes in general we have paid in during the past 25 years. Nice to finally get something in return.

 

[Elle23]

If they send it to me, I sure will. With my husband making a six figure salary, the amount of taxes we pay is horrific. Finally a point and time we redeemed some of that after 25 years.

Your husband earns a six figure salary and you are taking $655 a week for a job where you normally only work 1-2 days a week? Really?

 

[a1tinkfans]

Ugh!
I had my response ready. Then I re-read it, Decided to edit it, read it again. I deleted it. I just don’t want to dig out flame retardant body armor.
I will say...
Stay Healthy All and Save Some money ..to protect your families and make their well being, Your personal responsibility for emergency situations. ( not pandemic obviously)
If it’s the Only thing people learn... I truly pray that they learn it’s best to be prepared for the Unexpected. Nuf said

 

[tvguy]

People did not learn in the 2009 recession that they HAVE to find a way to save money.
I am not hopeful that the coronavirus will change that mindset.
You don't have to watch too many Financial Expert shows to see how whacked some of the things people THINK are necessities and that they DO have the money to save.
And that stimulus money, $600 unemployment supplements, we're going to have to pay it back some day. There is no free lunch.

 

[here757]

I read in the local news paper.. in my state (Virginia) if you collect benefits and are offered the opportunity to comeback, but refuse. The benefits will be terminated

 

[Happyinwonerland]

I don't begrudge the extra money. Anyone living on less than $600/week before the pandemic likely didn't have any sort of cash safety net. If they get a little temporary boost in ife, so be it. Maybe this allows them to stay home longer and slow the spread of the virus.

Would I love an extra $600/week? Sure, who wouldn't? But I do not begrudge those who are getting it.
The retired former VP of a hopsital I use to work for gets a $900,000/year "consultant" salary while nursing assistants make $10/hr and patients' families are no longer alllowed food or drinks from the patient fridge. I bedgrudge things like that, not a low income worker getting a small boost.

 

[HeatherC]

There is no way they would have the time and means to look at paychecks for millions of people. This relief money was meant to help people who couldn’t work the means to get through for a short time. I can’t believe so many people are so concerned about what other people are getting. This was meant to be a fast and temporary fix to keep our economy from grinding to halt.

‘Unfortunately, people are so concerned about what others are getting because they are probably jealous because it’s not “fair”. But life isn’t fair and is too short for me to be concerned if someone is getting extra money right now for a few months.

 

[Elle23]

I don't begrudge the extra money. Anyone living on less than $600/week before the pandemic likely didn't have any sort of cash safety net. If they get a little temporary boost in ife, so be it. Maybe this allows them to stay home longer and slow the spread of the virus.

I don’t begrudge anyone getting benefits that needs them. But for the OP to start this thread bragging about how she is pulling in $655 a week in benefits for her minimal part time job while her household income is six figures (as she put it) is appalling and not what the relief package was intended for.

 

[mi*vida*loca]

There is no way they would have the time and means to look at paychecks for millions of people. This relief money was meant to help people who couldn’t work the means to get through for a short time. I can’t believe so many people are so concerned about what other people are getting. This was meant to be a fast and temporary fix to keep our economy from grinding to halt.

I am perfectly fine with people getting an extra $600 a month. I’m actually for it. I’ve agreed with plenty of posters regarding the topic. I have no issues with people barely making a living wage now getting a little extra in their pocket. I’ve been there. I have lived off of minimum wage or barely above it. It’s not fun and I have zero envy towards those that live like that and for a few months will get an extra $600 a week.

I still think a better way would’ve been to just pay everyone their real wage since I know many people who are making way less than their regular pay even with the extra $600 a month. (I mentioned all this in a pp) But I understand why the government couldn’t do that....way too much work.

 

[mi*vida*loca]

Your husband earns a six figure salary and you are taking $655 a week for a job where you normally only work 1-2 days a week? Really?

so should she call unemployment and say “please take back that $600 a week.” Isn’t it automatic?

She’s laid off. She applied for something she’s paid into. The government has decided to give an extra $600 a week. How do you return that ?

she’s doing nothing illegal or wrong.

 

[Elle23]

so should she call unemployment and say “please take back that $600 a week.” Isn’t it automatic?

Don’t you have to apply for that? How is it automatic?

I guess I don’t understand applying for benefits for a minimal part time job when you already have six figures coming in. And on top of that, she stated she is going to keep receiving benefits for the months she wouldn’t have even been working in the first place. Sorry, that seems like gaming the system to me. You don’t have to agree and that’s fine.

 

[mi*vida*loca]

Don’t you have to apply for that? How is it automatic?

I guess I don’t understand applying for benefits for a minimal part time job when you already have six figures coming in. And on top of that, she stated she is going to keep receiving benefits for the months she wouldn’t have even been working in the first place. Sorry, that seems like gaming the system to me. You don’t have to agree and that’s fine.

I don’t think you apply for the extra $600. I think you just apply for unemployment. The extra $600 automatically comes in.

She qualifies for the benefits. I see no issue with it. She’s doing nothing wrong. She’s not gaming the system IMO. Gaming the system would be lying about your pay or employment to fraudulently get unemployment in the first place.

even if my husband made six figures I would still apply because I’m my own person with my own income.

 

[butterscotchcollins]

I don’t begrudge anyone getting benefits that needs them. But for the OP to start this thread bragging about how she is pulling in $655 a week in benefits for her minimal part time job while her household income is six figures (as she put it) is appalling and not what the relief package was intended for.

I get where you're coming from but she did say several times she wasn't bragging, she was surprised. Also, six figures could mean $100k or $999k - there's a huge difference.

Again, we all pay taxes, this is OUR money, there is nothing wrong with getting it back in some form. If you're offended that her HHI seems to be too high to "deserve" another stimulus, vote for state and local officials who will work to shift the balance back towards people who need it more.

 

[TwoMisfits]

I am perfectly fine with people getting an extra $600 a month. I’m actually for it. I’ve agreed with plenty of posters regarding the topic. I have no issues with people barely making a living wage now getting a little extra in their pocket. I’ve been there. I have lived off of minimum wage or barely above it. It’s not fun and I have zero envy towards those that live like that and for a few months will get an extra $600 a week.

I still think a better way would’ve been to just pay everyone their real wage since I know many people who are making way less than their regular pay even with the extra $600 a month. (I mentioned all this in a pp) But I understand why the government couldn’t do that....way too much work.

It's actually $600/week or $2400/month.

But, at the time this was passed, it was 100% necessary to get folks to stay home so we could get prepared for and data on this disease. Did it have too long a tail - maybe. But, it was intended to make sure that we wouldn't need to pass bill after bill and that people would have their expectations set.

We have 60 days of US data on the disease now, and it's unlikely we will want working age (64 and below) to have encouragement to stay home by Aug 1. Thus, why I expect we may extend regular unemployment, b/c the economy will need some time to start turning over again, but not this program, b/c we want folks out there at that point making the wheels turn.

 

[FreeTime]

But she is gaming the system for collecting the benefits during the period she wouldn’t normally be working.

Something else to think about for her and perhaps the college students that are filing, in some states there is a limit to the number of months you are eligible for over a period of years. I would advise my college student to not apply as they could be hurting themselves when they get their entry level career job in the next year if that job were to go away. In that case, they would need “real” unemployment as they would be out on their own.

 

[mi*vida*loca]

It's actually $600/week or $2400/month.

But, at the time this was passed, it was 100% necessary to get folks to stay home so we could get prepared for and data on this disease. Did it have too long a tail - maybe. But, it was intended to make sure that we wouldn't need to pass bill after bill and that people would have their expectations set.

We have 60 days of US data on the disease now, and it's unlikely we will want working age (64 and below) to have encouragement to stay home by Aug 1. Thus, why I expect we may extend regular unemployment, b/c the economy will need some time to start turning over again, but not this program, b/c we want folks out there at that point making the wheels turn.

Omg. I knew it was weekly. Lol. I said “weekly” in other posts. I’m not fully awake yet!

 

[siren0119]

Yes I am shocked about it moreso than bragging. Like I said I never got more than $330 a week during the times I worked for GE. And this may make others decide they are worth a living wage and start fighting for it.

Fixed it for you.

Don’t you have to apply for that? How is it automatic?

You don't apply for the extra $600. If you applied for and was approved for unemployment, it was completely automatic and you do not have an option to decline it.

But she is gaming the system for collecting the benefits during the period she wouldn’t normally be working.

She's not gaming the system at all - if she applied for UI, and her state approved her, then she is receiving something she is eligible for. It isn't some sneaky loophole being exploited. We don't get a choice whether or not to accept the extra $600 - it is automatic and included in the UI payments. Whether anyone on here thinks she DESERVES it is completely irrelevant (because after reading the more recent comments it appears to be an issue of perception whether it is deserved/needed, not whether it's within the rules).

 

[TDSAXX]

I don't begrudge the extra money. Anyone living on less than $600/week before the pandemic likely didn't have any sort of cash safety net.

Unless their spouse makes 6 figures like OP.