Really? This needs to be a law?

[tlbwriter]

Last I knew, unemployment maxed out at around $550/week. So, for 2 years, that is $57,200.

I pay in $1.41 per 2 week period. If I've worked for 30 years, that is a total of almost $1100.

I highly doubt you are paying in what benefits you would get fully after 30 years of employment.

No, it's like any other insurance - most people will never take out everything they've paid in. But that doesn't have anything to do with how they choose to spend that money if they do take it out. I pay for insurance to replace my car if it's totaled. If my car is totaled, I get $20K, and I decide to spend $5K on a new car and the rest on gambling, that's nobody's business but mine. Nobody here would say "how dare you." How is this different? These people paid insurance, had a claim, and are spending the money they received.

 

[kaytieeldr]

Last I knew, unemployment maxed out at around $550/week. So, for 2 years, that is $57,200.

I pay in $1.41 per 2 week period. If I've worked for 30 years, that is a total of almost $1100.

I highly doubt you are paying in what benefits you would get fully after 30 years of employment.

Just for the record, we as employees don't pay any unemployment tax. That's entirely the responsibility of the employers.

Sincerely,
Current Student
Payroll Class

 

[FireDancer]

In order to have a truly free society people have to be able to make poor choices. While I think not wasting unemployment in a casino should be common sense you can't legislate common sense.

Now, if someone blows all their unemployment at a casino (or dog track, liquor store, etc) they should be out of luck if they don't have enough left for necessities. If they come back asking for more the only response should be too bad. You weren't concerned about where you would get food or shelter when you were gambling/drinking/smoking away the little you had.

 

[Colleen27]

Last I knew, unemployment maxed out at around $550/week. So, for 2 years, that is $57,200.

I pay in $1.41 per 2 week period. If I've worked for 30 years, that is a total of almost $1100.

I highly doubt you are paying in what benefits you would get fully after 30 years of employment.

Where it maxes out varies by state. The max benefit is about $350/week here, and the employer rate varies from .1% to 3% of wages paid depending upon industry and claims history. But the bottom line is that it is insurance; some get back far more than they paid in, while others pay in for little or no benefit.

 

[tvguy]

Actually, fraud is minimal with the EBT-based food stamp program, but regardless...

It often gets overlooked that food stamps are a subsidy program not only for low-income families but also for the agricultural industry. That's why it needs to be a secondary currency - so that American farmers and food producers/processors/importers have a base level of demand that doesn't fluctuate with the economy. Even if the recipient family is committing fraud by trading food stamp benefits for cash or excluded products, someone, somewhere will eventually spend those food stamp dollars on food.

Actually, EBT fraud is a HUGE problem here in California. I don't know why we give out EBT cards or Food Stamps. Give the people what they need, FOOD. Well, I know why we don't, too many people on EBT/Food stamps refuse to accept food. I work at the local food bank, and they get a lot of USDA canned commodities. The can says USDA commondity, peaches...etc.
The food bank has had to post signing asking folks who don't want there products to return them, because so many people were just throwing them out. Good lord, they come from the same canneries as Libbys, and Del Monte, and Hunts and your local store brand.
And don't get me started on the cheese give away of about 15 years ago. People were REFUSING to take it because it was somehow inferior because it was a USDA commondity. My church got 100 pounds of it and those in need refused to take it. They ended up giving it to the congrestation before it spoiled. It was perfectly good cheese...trust me, I ended up with 2 pounds.

 

[eliza61]

If someone chooses to spend their unemployment money on filet mignon or bingo--who am I to tell them it's wrong? It's THEIR benefit.

I think this law is another case of government butting in where they have no business.

I think (and this is just from the talk around Atlantic city council, near where I live) the issue becomes they blow their unemployment insurance on gambling and then go apply for food stamps.

 

[disney1990]

Thankfully, after being unemployed for 15 months, I am now working again.

I worked for 15 years (took a break to have a child) and then worked continuously for another 20 years. I never collected unemployment. I would take great offense if somebody out there told me how I could spend "my" unemployment money. I didn't ask to have our company closed down and to be laid off.

However, being on unemployment and having a State debit card, I could go to the bank and simply draw the unemployment money off of my debit card or I could go to the ATM and do the same thing. So I don't see where this law would prevent anybody from gambling if they really wanted to.

 

[DawnCt1]

Yes, and if the choose to gamble instead of eat, we as the taxpayers will just pay for their food via welfare.

I think it is a pretty big deal.

Do you REALLY pay in the FULL amount that you are receiving for 2 years on unemployment? Does 100% of it come from the unemployed person's pocket?

The big deal here is that unemployment is running for 2 years! There has been a lot written recently that the longer unemployment payments continue, the longer we will have unemployment.

 

[Colleen27]

I think (and this is just from the talk around Atlantic city council, near where I live) the issue becomes they blow their unemployment insurance on gambling and then go apply for food stamps.

It still counts as income, though, regardless of what they do with it. Depending on family size and the UE amount they may or may not qualify for other aid, just like someone working a low wage job may or may not qualify. It is no different than blowing a paycheck at the casino - spending the money stupidly doesn't effect eligibility for assistance.

 

[Cheshire Figment]

Unemployment isn't welfare -- it's insurance. I pay in every month and if something happens where I need that money, I get it back. It's just like life insurance, health insurance, or other non-means tested forms of income.

You do not pay for Unemployment Insurance. It is actually a tax paid by the employer based on the payroll and other factors.

 

[Mickey'snewestfan]

You do not pay for Unemployment Insurance. It is actually a tax paid by the employer based on the payroll and other factors.

Many of us don't pay for our health insurance either (my current employer pays 100%), however both (health insurance and unemployment insurance) are part of my compensation package.

 

[Mrs. Charming]

It's pointless. It's a bigger waste of taxpayer money to make it a law, and then enforce the law. People will just go to Wawa or Sheetz and get their cash that way...

 

[C.Ann]

Who are we to tell people how to spend their unemployment money? I have known many people over the years who have qualified for and received unemployment - that was not money necessary for food and other essentials..

What do we do next? Tell people how they can spend their income tax returns?

 

[Belle0101]

To a PP response.

Employees do not pay into unemployment. Therefore, one does not draw out what they paid in. Making the arguement that one will not accept being told how they can spend their unemployment money based on it being what they paid, a moot point.

And contrary to what a relative of mine thinks, Obama has not been funding her nearly 2 year "vacation". I say that because she is very vocal about not looking for employment until after her "Obama money" runs out.

So where does unemployment come from?

Where does the money come from?

It's raised through state and federal unemployment insurance taxes on employers. The federal tax is 6.2 percent on the first $7,000 in annual wages to each employee. State tax rates vary from state to state, as does the amount of each worker's income that's subject to the tax — which ranges from $7,000 to $34,000.

(Note the percentage and dollar amounts may have changes since this article was written.)

 

[TheDisneyGirl02]

In PA, the debit cards are unique cards that basically say something about the Department of Labor on them. I had one before I had my unemployment changed to direct deposit. There is also another card that is unique to child support that actually has flowers on it and says Pennsylvania.

Thankfully, after being unemployed for 15 months, I am now working again.

I worked for 15 years (took a break to have a child) and then worked continuously for another 20 years. I never collected unemployment. I would take great offense if somebody out there told me how I could spend "my" unemployment money. I didn't ask to have our company closed down and to be laid off.

However, being on unemployment and having a State debit card, I could go to the bank and simply draw the unemployment money off of my debit card or I could go to the ATM and do the same thing. So I don't see where this law would prevent anybody from gambling if they really wanted to.

That is exactly how I feel. I didn't ask to be laid off - I wasn't given a choice to have my salary lowered, I was just laid off one day - actually three months and one day before my wedding.

I'm glad to see that you have a job again.

The big deal here is that unemployment is running for 2 years! There has been a lot written recently that the longer unemployment payments continue, the longer we will have unemployment.

I don't believe that for one second - at least in my case. I would be so happy to have a call - heck, I'd take an interview for a job. I don't want to be on unemployment, but I have bills to pay so I collect unemployment for that reason. I have been searching for a job since the day I lost mine but nothing has come along at all. I'm freaking out about not having a job because so much my life depends on me finding one. My husband and I can't even think about starting a family until I have a job and I'm not getting any younger. I worry about money constantly. I've watched my savings account that I had built up for years being drained just so I can pay the bills each month.

It's a horrible and helpless feeling to be unemployed. You should be thankful that you are not in that position and shouldn't judge those who are so harshly. It's not a life style by any means - I want a job, I just have to find an employer that wants to employ me.

Just an FYI:
I am going on a cruise this week. This trip was not paid with any money from unemployment...so I'm not vacationing on anyone's dime. Just wanted to point that out.

 

[MoniqueU]

My mom is on SSDI I believe it is and worked the system to get there. She also works the system with medical and medicaid I think it is. Yes she did work and paid into all this stuff at one point but when you are taking the handicapped plaque form the dr filled out and marking it permanent when the dr did not and you are able to walk and don't have very much preventing you from getting in and out of a store there is a problem She lives in Vegas and gambles and while I don't have a problem with that at times she will call 911 for an anxiety attack and then tell us(her family) that she had a heart attack and we never came to see her/ There is alot of waste in government aid by those that use the system, I have seen it in my own family and it horrifies me. Meanwhile we pay a ton in taxes and max out on some of the stuff we pay in and when my husband found out how little he would get for unemployment he just shook his head and said it wasn't even worth the hassle, he just better get a job right away and he did. he had to commute 2 hours and work hellish shifts but he did that rather then collect unemployment. I hear from quite a few people all these limitations they put on the kinds of jobs they will take and it just boggles my mind. O am not even sure how the unemployment is even helping people make ends meet? Don't you get an amount based on your income? I would be ticked to know it was a set amount for everyone no matter how much they paid in.

ETA my husband works in an industry where all you need is a drivers license and moderate people skills. That's it. If you put the time in you can make 6 figures your first year with insurance. No experience necessary and no it is not timeshare sales or something like that. My friend has a husband that has been out of work for 2.5 years and she knows the income you can make. Problem is her husband would never want to put the hours in I guess. It is not your typical 9 to 5 job and you have to work some weekend hours. The guy has sat home all this time rather then persue something like that. My husband personally wouldn't hire him because he knows how lazy the guy is but he could get hired on any number of places rather then sit home unemployed. I really don't get it at ALL. Alot more people would be working if they were willing to work alternate shifts and more then 40 hours a week. Even here where unemployment is at 15 percent these jobs are still available. I guess we don't know enough people that want to put the hours in though.

 

[CaliforniaDreamin]

No, it's like any other insurance - most people will never take out everything they've paid in. But that doesn't have anything to do with how they choose to spend that money if they do take it out. I pay for insurance to replace my car if it's totaled. If my car is totaled, I get $20K, and I decide to spend $5K on a new car and the rest on gambling, that's nobody's business but mine. Nobody here would say "how dare you." How is this different? These people paid insurance, had a claim, and are spending the money they received.

I think this sums it all up. I don't see how anyone could argue this point. It's insurance. No one can tell you what to do with it.

 

[Liberty Belle]

Yes, and if the choose to gamble instead of eat, we as the taxpayers will just pay for their food via welfare.

I think it is a pretty big deal.

Do you REALLY pay in the FULL amount that you are receiving for 2 years on unemployment? Does 100% of it come from the unemployed person's pocket?

So we should have an income requirement for casinos? How is this any different?

 

[Liberty Belle]

Last I knew, unemployment maxed out at around $550/week. So, for 2 years, that is $57,200.

I pay in $1.41 per 2 week period. If I've worked for 30 years, that is a total of almost $1100.

I highly doubt you are paying in what benefits you would get fully after 30 years of employment.

Your employer pays the rest. Some people have employers who pay 100% of their health insurance. Does that mean they should never use it?

 

[Liberty Belle]

Just for the record, we as employees don't pay any unemployment tax. That's entirely the responsibility of the employers.

Sincerely,
Current Student
Payroll Class

I think it varies by state.