Unemployment question

[minkydog]

I heard Pres. Obama say that they were extending unemployement benefits to those people who dropped off the list after 12 months. That they would be retroactive. Did I hear that right? If that is true I need to get DS23 to go apply. Although he just got a new job last week, he has been out of work since Feb 2009. His unemployment stopped about 5 months ago and he's been pretty hard hit.

 

[yoopermom]

Call your state unemployment agency for the facts (if it's like MI, this can take a half day of busy signals). Here in MI, we were told to continue to call in on our regular two week schedule, at the regular time, and NOT to miss even one, and that back $$ will be paid "eventually". I don't know if you'll be able to do it retroactively or not. Good luck!
Terri

 

[MoniqueU]

I really have mixed feelings on this. My DH has been out of work a few times in the past years and never filed for Unemploymentk he just dealt with it asap and got a new job, someitmes not what he wanted at the pay he wanted but living off unempldepoyment is/was not an option for us.

I know alot of people out of work right now and all but 2 aren't even actively looking for work or won't take jobs they seem to think are beneath them. In my husbands line of work they always hire but the hours are around 60 a week, maybe even more or a little less depnding. All you have to do is be good with people, have no felonies and be willing to work. Health care kicks in in 90 days. Why people won't at least give that a shot I don't know. Sometimes you don't always get the job you want but sooner or later all this money is going to dry up and people are going to have to take the jobs they aren't willing to do now. JmHO YMMV

 

[Feralpeg]

I really have mixed feelings on this. My DH has been out of work a few times in the past years and never filed for Unemploymentk he just dealt with it asap and got a new job, someitmes not what he wanted at the pay he wanted but living off unempldepoyment is/was not an option for us.

I know alot of people out of work right now and all but 2 aren't even actively looking for work or won't take jobs they seem to think are beneath them. In my husbands line of work they always hire but the hours are around 60 a week, maybe even more or a little less depnding. All you have to do is be good with people, have no felonies and be willing to work. Health care kicks in in 90 days. Why people won't at least give that a shot I don't know. Sometimes you don't always get the job you want but sooner or later all this money is going to dry up and people are going to have to take the jobs they aren't willing to do now. JmHO YMMV

On the other hand, I have a friend who has been out of work, for the most part, for over a year. When I say, for the most part, it is because he picks up whatever little job that comes along while continuing to look for something. He has been to interview after interview, but nothing. His unemployment ran out and he is really struggling.

The poor guys is so nice, but he has a disfigurement that makes him a little intimidating. While we all know that such a thing should not disqualify someone from getting a job, the reality is that no one seems to want him although he is very qualified. For his sake, I am so glad to hear that he will again be able to receive unemployment while continuing to try to find a job.

 

[golfgal]

I really have mixed feelings on this. My DH has been out of work a few times in the past years and never filed for Unemploymentk he just dealt with it asap and got a new job, someitmes not what he wanted at the pay he wanted but living off unempldepoyment is/was not an option for us.

I know alot of people out of work right now and all but 2 aren't even actively looking for work or won't take jobs they seem to think are beneath them. In my husbands line of work they always hire but the hours are around 60 a week, maybe even more or a little less depnding. All you have to do is be good with people, have no felonies and be willing to work. Health care kicks in in 90 days. Why people won't at least give that a shot I don't know. Sometimes you don't always get the job you want but sooner or later all this money is going to dry up and people are going to have to take the jobs they aren't willing to do now. JmHO YMMV

It is not as easy as that. Sure you can apply for any old job but if you are overqualified you won't be considered for the position. If someone was making $150K at a previous job and applies for a job that pays $60K, they won't even give him the time of day because he will bail the second a better paying job comes along-and rightly so. It costs companies a LOT of money to hire and train new employees so they want the best fit for the job. They aren't going to hire someone with 20 years of experience for an entry level position so it has nothing to do with being picky. Also, it doesn't make sense to take a minimum wage job that will pay LESS then what you make on unemployment. Keep in mind that unemployment is an insurance product that employers pay into, not just money sitting around in the state coffers.

 

[minkydog]

It is not as easy as that. Sure you can apply for any old job but if you are overqualified you won't be considered for the position. If someone was making $150K at a previous job and applies for a job that pays $60K, they won't even give him the time of day because he will bail the second a better paying job comes along-and rightly so. .

I can attest to that. I was out of work on disability for a year. When I was well enough I started putting in applications everywhere. I'm a nurse, but I didn't want to go back into that. I must have put out 100s of apps and NEVER got one bite. I believe wholeheartedly that they took one look at my extensive nursing resume and said "Meh. She'll bail as soon a hospital calls." They never even gave me a chance to explain myself!

I will talk to DS and have him call the unemployment office. For the record, DS has been actively seeking employment for over a year. I must admit, I was underwhelmed with his efforts the first few months. But once he got going he was very diligent. It has really been hard on him to put in 100s of apps and getting no offers. He took a job with Publix last week, the ONLY job that he has been offered in a year and a half. John is tapped out. I don't feel one bit bad about him taking unemployment. Just in the last month he has had car insurance come due, his brakes failed and had to be fixed, and he has to buy his tag by Friday. With $0 in his bank account. Fortunately, we are able to help him with these necessaries--living where we do, he HAS to have a car to look for and go to a job. I shudder to think what would happen if he had no one to assist him.

 

[PrincessKsMom]

I really have mixed feelings on this. My DH has been out of work a few times in the past years and never filed for Unemploymentk he just dealt with it asap and got a new job, someitmes not what he wanted at the pay he wanted but living off unempldepoyment is/was not an option for us.

I know alot of people out of work right now and all but 2 aren't even actively looking for work or won't take jobs they seem to think are beneath them. In my husbands line of work they always hire but the hours are around 60 a week, maybe even more or a little less depnding. All you have to do is be good with people, have no felonies and be willing to work. Health care kicks in in 90 days. Why people won't at least give that a shot I don't know. Sometimes you don't always get the job you want but sooner or later all this money is going to dry up and people are going to have to take the jobs they aren't willing to do now. JmHO YMMV

And if you're a single parent, it's very hard to find childcare that with work with you on a 60+ hour a week schedule. Your husband is lucky that you are there to support him and carry the burden on the homefront. Often times the wife (not always but sometimes) has been home raising the children when the husband loses his job and REFUSES to look for employment outside the home. Everyone needs to pitch in, whether they like it or not. JMHO.

 

[golfgal]

And if you're a single parent, it's very hard to find childcare that with work with you on a 60+ hour a week schedule. Your husband is lucky that you are there to support him and carry the burden on the homefront. Often times the wife (not always but sometimes) has been home raising the children when the husband loses his job and REFUSES to look for employment outside the home. Everyone needs to pitch in, whether they like it or not. JMHO.

Again, you run into the same story, just because they aren't working doesn't mean they aren't looking. Just because you apply for jobs doesn't mean you will get them either-even at a fast food restaurant, etc. I had a very hard time finding a job after staying home with the kids for 15 years. I have a college degree and had a very good work history before I stayed home with the kids but getting that proverbial foot in the door was very difficult.

 

[PrincessKsMom]

Again, you run into the same story, just because they aren't working doesn't mean they aren't looking. Just because you apply for jobs doesn't mean you will get them either-even at a fast food restaurant, etc. I had a very hard time finding a job after staying home with the kids for 15 years. I have a college degree and had a very good work history before I stayed home with the kids but getting that proverbial foot in the door was very difficult.

I completely understand what you mean. My cousin is looking for work and been on multiple job interviews, but not one bite. I just meant that there are some women out there (and probably men too) who are quite comfortable being within the home and don't see them getting a job outside the home as a viable option. Of course this isn't the case for every situation, but I do know of a few.

 

[golfgal]

I completely understand what you mean. My cousin is looking for work and been on multiple job interviews, but not one bite. I just meant that there are some women out there (and probably men too) who are quite comfortable being within the home and don't see them getting a job outside the home as a viable option. Of course this isn't the case for every situation, but I do know of a few.

Which I can TOTALLY understand. Even after 4 years all of the "house" stuff still falls on my shoulders. Dh does most of the yard work and helps clean around the house but if the kids need to go somewhere, I take them, when it is time for dentist or dr appointments, I have to arrange my schedule to take them, I still pay the bills, take care of calling service people, getting stuff fixed, etc. etc., why, because I have done that since I was home with the kids. DH is a work in progress but even the kids ALWAYS call me if they need something and never call DH because they are not used to having to go to him for things. It is a difficult switch for everyone to make.

 

[pixiewings71]

I really have mixed feelings on this. My DH has been out of work a few times in the past years and never filed for Unemploymentk he just dealt with it asap and got a new job, someitmes not what he wanted at the pay he wanted but living off unempldepoyment is/was not an option for us.

I know alot of people out of work right now and all but 2 aren't even actively looking for work or won't take jobs they seem to think are beneath them. In my husbands line of work they always hire but the hours are around 60 a week, maybe even more or a little less depnding. All you have to do is be good with people, have no felonies and be willing to work. Health care kicks in in 90 days. Why people won't at least give that a shot I don't know. Sometimes you don't always get the job you want but sooner or later all this money is going to dry up and people are going to have to take the jobs they aren't willing to do now. JmHO YMMV

Or you live in a state where 12% of the population is out of work so for every job there are so many appliants that it takes forever to get a job.....I lost my job in June, you can bet I'm going to collect as much unemployment as I can, especially since my family needs my income. It's not always as easy as just getting another job, we have income needs and getting a part time retail job won't meet those needs right now....now that's not to say that in a few months it won't but right now I make more money drawing UI so that's what I'm going to do. And yes, I am looking for jobs, every day and I'm applying for work at least once a week and I've had 1 interview since I lost my job. I can't work a job that requires 60 hours a week, I have 2 kids in school, I have to be available for them.

 

[KNEIPPK]

I heard Pres. Obama say that they were extending unemployement benefits to those people who dropped off the list after 12 months. That they would be retroactive. Did I hear that right? If that is true I need to get DS23 to go apply. Although he just got a new job last week, he has been out of work since Feb 2009. His unemployment stopped about 5 months ago and he's been pretty hard hit.

to answer your question-- a girl i work with was laid off in oct and just returned to work in may- she did not get any extensions- as they stopped 2 weeks before she returned to work--she received a letter in the mail telling her what day to go to the unemployment office and they gave here the 2 weeks she did not get on her orginal claim- so yes he should check into it

 

[CharliNye]

I lost my longtime job a year ago march. Why? Because the family company I worked for had to downsize, they were in construction. They even fired family members it was that bad(just picture a father having to let his son and daughter go).

I'm also a parent of two kids, one of whom is small. The last two and half yrs of the position I worked some of that time from home. I also have a medical condition that they were very understanding of that would sometimes mean I needed to work from home. I worked there for ten yrs. I worked as an administrative assistant.

Now picture this: I'm in Chicago. We have a 10% unemployment rate. yeah. I can't work a job that starts before 8 am because I couldn't leave my preteen home alone, and couldn't leave for school til 7:15. Couldn't be on school grounds til after 7:30. I also have a toddler. She I could have dropped off at daycare. But again, it was my son's schedule that caused a problem.

Most admin positions used to be 9-5. NOW they want you there between 7 &8. One position was a distance, that taking in chicago rush hour, I would have to leave my house by 6:30 to get there by 8. No joke. Add to the fact that I have problems with peripheral vision so driving super far distances is damn near dangerous for me, it limited how FAR in the burbs I could go.

To make matters worse, most of the hourly rates were about three dollars less then what I made before. I would basically be working for daycare and THAT is it! It's been THAT bad around here. And I hear it from a lot of other parents who have been in my position, salaries have gone down but daycare fees have gone up(and you have to picky, I had a friend whose kid was abused in a very reputable one a while back, you don't just throw your kid in the closest one).

I've submitted app after app. It basically comes down to too many people who are looking, and the employers knowing this lower salary expectations. And the ones who are really left in the lurch are the parents like myself.

Never judge and think people aren't trying. But take into account that after a while some people do start suffering depression from being out of work so long.

Oh and to answer the OP's question: Yes there were new guidelines and funding put into place two weeks ago. Check with your state.

 

[disney1990]

I really have mixed feelings on this. My DH has been out of work a few times in the past years and never filed for Unemploymentk he just dealt with it asap and got a new job, someitmes not what he wanted at the pay he wanted but living off unempldepoyment is/was not an option for us.

I know alot of people out of work right now and all but 2 aren't even actively looking for work or won't take jobs they seem to think are beneath them. In my husbands line of work they always hire but the hours are around 60 a week, maybe even more or a little less depnding. All you have to do is be good with people, have no felonies and be willing to work. Health care kicks in in 90 days. Why people won't at least give that a shot I don't know. Sometimes you don't always get the job you want but sooner or later all this money is going to dry up and people are going to have to take the jobs they aren't willing to do now. JmHO YMMV

Maybe unemployment wasn't an option for you -- but it wasn't a choice for me. I was unemployed for 15 months during to my company being closed down. I applied for work daily -- yes, virtually every single day. In those 15 months of being unemployed, I had exactly 3 job interviews. Really!

Thankfully, I have been employed since May and I love my new job. It was worth the wait because it is wonderful. I love the people I work with, I love the work and I love that somebody was willing to pay me a salary equal to what I was making before I was laid off.

 

[C.Ann]

I don't know anyone - other than maybe a single person (and that's "iffy") that can even come close to surviving on just unemployment these days.. In most cases, it wouldn't even cover a car payment - let alone a mortage/rent; utilities; food; health insurance; etc.. (And just because someone is on unemployment, that doesn't necessarily mean they automatically qualify for food stamps or some sort of state-run health plan..)

I think the majority of the folks who are on unemployment are really out there busting their butts to find work, but it either isn't there or the employer won't take a chance on hiring them for reasons that others have stated here..

If anyone thinks they can qualify again - and still needs it - get in touch with your unemployment office ASAP!!

And best of luck to all of you who are in this position right now..