unemployment for 2 years?

[RF536]

I just finally got a job after having been unemployed for 2yrs, and yes I did get unemployment for almost the whole time. That doesn't mean I sat that and was happy to get the check for doing nothing. I sent out hundreds if not thousands of rusume's and job applications, went on several job interviews and followed up on any job lead I heard of, but with so many people looking for a job if you don't have the exact skill set the employer is looking for they won't even look at you.

In Michigan you are maxed out at $360/week, I was making over $40K a year when I was let go from my job due to corporate downsizing, so obviously this was a huge pay cut. Luckily DH has a good paying job with good benefits, but we did have to cut several expenses. No we didn't sponge off a relative, we made it on our own.

 

[wdwfan16]

I don't even see how anyone could live off unemployment unless they are sponging off a relative. My DH has been out of work before and never bothered to file no matter the circumstance. This might be a broad staatement but if you can afford to live off unelmployment you either weren't working much to start with or have a good paying job. JMHO.

So not true. DH and I have jobs that we knew unemployment was possible during our careers. We set out to be able to make it on two unemployment checks (we both work) except for health insurance. Since we pay our own health insurance we knew how much that was. We have an emergency fund to pay for the insurance. If only one of us loses out job we can make all of our bills and still save a small amount. So yes one can live on unemployment if you plan way in advance for the possibility.

If you extend yourself to need all of your income and then get laid off you can have a very hard time making it on unemployment but you can still do it with a good emergency fun.

 

[eliza61]

If you extend yourself to need all of your income and then get laid off you can have a very hard time making it on unemployment but you can still do it with a good emergency fun.

I'm not laughing at you wdw, I'm laughing because we just had a thread regarding a newspaper article that said most working Americans have less than 5K saved for retirement and most Americans are 1 paycheck away from financial ruin.
While it's not really a funny situation, most people don't have an emergency fund but do have on average 2K in credit card debt. That's why so many really need the unemployment benefits.

I just hope that when the economy turns around we don't fall back into our (as a country) bad spending habits.

 

[wdwfan16]

I'm not laughing at you wdw, I'm laughing because we just had a thread regarding a newspaper article that said most working Americans have less than 5K saved for retirement and most Americans are 1 paycheck away from financial ruin.
While it's not really a funny situation, most people don't have an emergency fund but do have on average 2K in credit card debt. That's why so many really need the unemployment benefits.

I just hope that when the economy turns around we don't fall back into our (as a country) bad spending habits.

I am afraid we will. I did not see that thread.

I believe unemployment is needed but we are making it into a welfare type program now. The government needs to make an environment where the companies sitting on all their cash will hire employees rather than what we are doing now.

I had a cousin who was in a accident and he and his family had no emergency fund and spent like drunken sailors. They don't even have life insurance. They almost lost everything. He is back to work now but getting older. Did they learn from that experience? Nope. They are spending like drunken sailors again.

I loved when they told me how people lost money in mutual funds and were proud that they have not retirement account. They pointed out that the MF people lost money but they have all their things!!! Yup that vacation, cruise, pool, timeshare and on and on will be so nice to have taken or owned when you can't pay your bills.

 

[dakcp2001]

k so I just talked to someone who got fired from their job a couple weeks ago (good job, delivery job , teamsters union, you fill in the blanks) for serious attendance issues...and they said they don't have to worry about working for the next 2 years cause they will be able to collect unemployment....like no intention of even seriously trying to find a job. Is this where our country is at right now? State of Florida, thanks.

Sounds like you are a busy body.

 

[3 MEN AND A BOAT]

sort-of related, we had 2 people after the oil spill want us(our family owns a small seafood shop) to sign some letters that said they were working for us up until the spill. when in fact 1 quite 4 months prior, and the other 6months prior.
on several occassions we have had workers quit and then try claiming, but we protested. some have also tried getting me to pay them under the table, like i am going to stick my neck on the line for their useless tails.
Paul

 

[ez]

Sounds like you are a busy body.

actually this is a relative who called me and told me all this....don't see how I was being a busy body I was just shocked that somebody could get fired, go on unemployment and assume they wont have to work for two years.
I had seen this relatives facebook status updates, before he called, and was wondering what was up....all these "life is good" and "does it get any better???" posts.