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Unemployment has hit double digits in Oregon, and in some rural areas as many as 20 percent of people are out of work. Congress extended benefits last year, and then put language in the stimulus bill that offers extra funds for unemployment insurance to states that make certain changes to their unemployment laws.
Oregon already meets some of the requirements for federal help, and the legislature is looking at a package of proposed bills (pdf) to do more. Supporters say these changes will modernize the system and give a little extra cash to get people through these especially bad times. Opponents say they'll burden employers at a time when they need all the support they can get to stay in business.
The changes could affect anyone filing for unemployment benefits, and could offer more benefits to part-time workers and unemployed people with children in particular. Have you received unemployment insurance in the past or are you getting it now? If you've gone beyond unemployment insurance limits, what are you doing now? Are you an employer contributing to the system? Would you like to see changes in unemployment benefits?
GUESTS:
- Diane Rosenbaum: State Senator (D-Portland) and chair fo the Senate Commerce and Workforce Development Committee
- Robin Quon: Independent hearings representative for employers in unemployment insurance hearings and former administrative law judge in Oregon, Washington and Illinois
- Steve Wright: Unemployed forest worker
- Tom O'Hare: Unemployed house painter
- Troy Reinhart: Financial advisor and partner in Northwest Quadrant Wealth Management
Tagged as: recession · unemployment
Photo credit: Brian Indrelunas / Flickr / Creative Commons
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When I was laid off in January I was angry, bereft, and frightened. At 61 years of age the thought of searching for a new job was overwhelming. Then I learned that there were no jobs. Those posted offered $11-$16/hour. I was earning $58,000/year. I am far overqualified and am receiving absolutely no responses to resumes and inquiries.
What seems to be happening is that those employers who are seeking employees are getting bargains because those of us out of work have so few choices (well, none!). Salaries are so low that there is no incentive for me to accept a job.
One of the factors in unemployment, especially in my case, is that the company (organization for me) was unwilling to look outside of the box and do what it could to get everyone to participate in a financial downturn/catastrophe. Is it better for everyone to take a 5-10% decrease in pay in order to provide jobs for all? The First Unitarian Church in Portland is a great example of everyone sacrificing for the whole and closing for a month this summer and reducing salaries appropriately so no one lost a job. Because employers (especially small ones) would rather sacrifice a few employees to retain their own earnings, paying more into unemployment insurance seems only fair.
I am lucky. I have options beyond seeking a job. With unemployment benefits I am able to take a course, get certification in a very recession-proof profession, and begin to build my own practice. Not all are so lucky. The benefits in being able to start up my business while retaining partial unemployment benefits will help me, will help the system in the long run, and actually incents me to begin a new profession that will start off slowly and hopefully grow.
Obviously I am myopic. I am in the unfortunate situation of having to seek benefit that is for me only, and not for the good of the whole. But hopefully, by taking the steps I am taking I will be earning again and those I seek to help in my new profession as a professional guardian will benefit. So hopefully it will be win-win. gotta make lemonade!
Mary Morris, former Parish Administrator of Trinity Episcopal Cathedral
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I've been unemployed since September and am collecting unemployment for the first time in my life. I live in Portland but worked in Washignton and Oregon, so I was encouraged by the Oregon unemployment people to file in Washington because they pay a lot more (their max is $540 a week versus Oregon -- $480 or something). Then, after 6 months of looking hard for work to no avail, my Washington benefits ran out and I had to file through Oregon, rather than getting the federal extension because I still had income that I hadn't collected on in Oregon.
Because of the way that benefits are calculated -- something I still don't entirely understand -- I went from $540 a week in Washington to $360 a month (before taxes) in Oregon. It's only been a couple of weeks for me on Oregon benefits (you also have to skip a week -- the "waiting period" -- which is also really tough when you're going from one set of benefits to another) but I really don't know how I'm going to make it -- my health insurance alone is $260 a month. I don't have dependents, or car payments, or a crazy mortgage, etc. so I consider myself relatively lucky, but it seems like the system is kind of broken if you can't at least survive on unemployment benefits.
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Perhaps EH can work a bit to focus on whatever the topic is here. I am confused over what the point of this discussion is. Obviously the job market is horrible for people out of work. Also obvious is the fact that the state and the feds have no extra money. What are we trying to explore here?
There isn't any relief coming for the unemployed from government sources. The cupboard is bare and Oregon state government cannot print money. Although one empathizes with Tom, how can government unemployment payments be any part of the solution? He needs employment. Also probably a different skill set.
Ask him what his plan is. What is his horizon over the next 3 to 5 years?
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"There isn't any relief coming for the unemployed from government sources."
There is actually a whole set of proposed reliefs, as Sen. Rosenbaum is describing now. We started with Tom to get a sense of a personal story before we turned to the policy questions.
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My husband is going to be laid-off from high-tech in two weeks and we are going to be entering the world of unemployment. We fall into the category of people who made too much to qualify for food stamps, but unemployment + what savings we've scraped up won't cut it for long. (There was an article in the Oregonian this weekend about people who are experiencing similar problems) We are grateful for what benefits we will receive while we are looking for work, but are feeling very scared about the future and the job market in PDX.
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I think it would be logical to automatically enroll people who qualify for unemployment in OHP (if they don't have any other alternative). I'm not an economist, but if this were feasible, it would really help. When my husband was laid off back in July '08, he lost his health insurance. Now he's got a bad knee that's starting to impact his ability to work and no way to fix it so that he can get back to his full earning potential. I'm sure he's not the only one. Thank you.
Take care,
Anna in Portland, OR -
I would love to see changes in the unemployment benifits program.
I like the swiss model for unemployment. I think that the unemployed should be required to work for the state to receive their benifits. Things like reporting to jury duty, roadway cleaning crews, safety patrols downtown or on public transportation, temp jobs in city and state offices, and other community work would be benificial to their communities. it would also give the unemployed something to do, an improvement in their skills set, and continued work experience.
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My understanding is that top executives are eligible for unemployment benefits even after they've received a huge severance package. It feels unfair that when our company essentially paid our previous executive director what amounted to 6 months pay in a lump sum that he/she was eligible for unemployment benefits right away. So our company was then penalized with higher unemployment rates even though we paid out a package generous enough to allow time to find another job. We also paid for an employment councelor for this individual. P.S. In reality this individual did find a another job within 6 months but also collected unemployment benefits during that time.
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I hope that the proposal to give a higher benefit to people with dependent children is defeated. Unemployment is supposed to be based on the unemployed person's earnings. If they start giving more or less based on need, it will mean that eventually most people will receive lower benefits. To me, this would defeat the purpose of the program.
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As I listen to the program I am typing out a cover letter for a receptionist position at a chiropractic clinic. I've been unemployed for a month. Unemployment hasn't kicked in all month. Craigslist is getting more depressing. I don't know what is going happen. I can play the harmonica, so perhaps I will start busking as well!
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Something that I think is important to think about is the fact that unemployment insurance is missing a great portion of the unemployed. I am a recent graduate of a master's program and returned to Portland from the southwest two months ago. Those two months have been full of daily job searching and job applications (I've applied to over 100 jobs so far) and I now have $7.00 in my bank account. Were it not for the generosity of my mother and my partner, who was able to find work, I'd be camping in my truck right now. Because I am young, and don't have a work history, as well as the fact that I was in school and not working most recently, I don't qualify for any aid. I think that many people fall into this 'no man's land' of a category where there is no help available, even when they desperately need it. Are there any thoughts on broadening the group of people who could get governmental help?
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I suggest buying beans and rice in large quantity (like from Costco) and adding chicken and beef bouillion for flavoring and learning to eat lots of them while reducing the more expensive types of proteins like actual chicken, beef, and fish to almost the role of condiments.
Many people are reduced to realizing that medical care is only for the wealthy in these times when the choice is to eat or not eat. We really need to drastically change our healthcare system.
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I was "downsized" in January, but didn't register for unemployment until last week.
Part of the reason was a naive belief that I could get a new job quickly (my skills are specialized); and part was the mis-information I had (from a labor lawyer no less), that I could collect from the date of unemployment (minus the waiting week) regardless of when I filed.
Now I understand that those first two months (mid-January to mid-March) are lost to me. Is there anyway I can collect at least 1/2 or 1/3rd of that amount, or am I out of luck?
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I'm currently reluctantly self-employed after being laid off at age 56 in 2001 (part of an 80% work force reduction). I have two observations that apply to today.
1) In many skilled trades (I'm in printing) it's more probable that you'll find "per diem" or part-time work without benefits, and this is almost always the employers' choice. It's ALWAYS to an employers' advantage to have disposable journeyman-level skilled workers on tap without having to hire that talent full-time with benefits. Unemployment Insurance should allow the unemployed to take this work as it comes along without penalizing the wokers so heavily for taking a day or two of work as it becomes available, or taking a part-time no-benefits gig that pays an amount that basically wipes out the weekly unemployment benefit and shortens the length of time one is qualified to collect unemployment since long-term unemployment is becoming the norm.
2) A second point related to the topic has to do with loans taken by workers against their 401K's. Many workers who've been in a job for a while take low interest loans against their 401K's without tax or penalties, paying it back as part of their regular paycheck deductions. When somebody gets laid off the outstanding amount of the loan becomes due in full or else the amount is deemed a disbursement to the employee and therefore subject to both taxes and penalties. This hits the worker at a time when they're most economically vulnerable and unable to deal with either a lump-sum repayment or absorbing the hit of back taxes and penalties for a "disbursement" that wasn't the choice of the poor unemployed schmuck. Both the Feds and State tax collectors should set up a system where people unemployed against their will can continue repaying these loans at the rate they were while employed and not add governmental abuse to the ordeal of unemployment.
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I was laid off 10 days ago, and at 63 the outlook for standard-type jobs is dismal. I have applied for unemployment insurance, and plan to go onto Social Security this week.
But the good thing is that this enables me to "put back," by volunteering for organizations like The Oregon Food Bank and many others. That helps mightily to alleviate the feelings of rejection and feeling unvalued by society, and brings me into contact with some of the best people with the biggest hearts in our society.
I recommend it.
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I would love to hear if any of the proposals would help address the issue of those who are "under-employed" right now. My husband is a Union carpenter, and while he has been completely layed off twice in the past 12 months (during which time his unemployment check was a lifesaver), currently he's working for a contractor who is only able to partially employ him, as small projects come along. Example: 2 weeks ago he only had one day of work, so we recieved a partial unemployment check. Last week he worked 2 days (16hrs), and so we will not be getting our unemployment check.
I have hunch that many workers, especially hourly workers and those in construction or other labor industries, are facing this same struggle.
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What about the numbers of unemployed poor who are ineligible for unemployment benefits? I relocated to Portland prior to the economic collapse. I have been actively looking for employment since August. I had my first interview 3 weeks ago. Like so many others, I am educated and have years of experience in a variety of industries. My only option will be homelessness when my depleted savings runs out in a couple of months. Is this an acceptable option for Oregonians? I am now in the process of begging for rent assistance. I may have to do the same next month. I am trying to postpone the inevitable. What about a public assistance program in Oregon? As Tom said earlier, I am trying my best to think way outside the box.
Thank you - karen
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Robin Quon -
Why does Oregon calculate benefits by W2 wages and not Gross Wages? The calculation excludes "Fringe Benefits". I do not understand how something I paid for out oof my gross wages can be considered a "Fringe Benefit".
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"Troy Reinhart: Financial advisor and partner in Northwest Quadrant Wealth Management"
Is just repeating those old Conservative Republican lies that Ronald "The Great Prevaricator" Reagan spewed out as "Cadillac driving welfare moms", of people too lazy to work and living off welfare. That was slander when Reagan spoke them and they are still slanders.
Shameful!
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Unemployment is useless to me and I have not bothered with it in 3 decades. The last time I stayed inside the system I could not make even my mortgage and if I earned enough on the side to make ends meet the UEI was reduced by that amount. UEI remains a joke to many. Simply UEI fails if you were making more then about minimum wage.
Yet there is HYPOTHETICALLY always an economy that is still working, someone that needs something! Tax wise, "Legal" becomes a luxury when the ends do not meet and your children need to eat. Find the work that is always there outside of "the system". Make the mental adjustment and soon you will learn that you do not need to be "employed" to pay your bills. "Barter", work for "cash" you can get buy on much less per hour if there are no taxes (often 30-40% less). The Taxes? Taxes are a luxury for the times when one can afford them. Your government will always take them late if you feel the need... Remember that it is not in your government’s best interest for you to step (even temporarily) outside of the taxable system. In bad times though you do what you have to do do...HYPOTHETICALLY.
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Sen. Rosenbaum's comments are typical of those bringing me to the brink of frustration with the Democratic party (my party). They talk about government benefits without any apparent recognititon that someone else has to pay for them and without expecting anyone to take responsibility for their own lives (e.g., saving money while employed to pay for education or living expenses after losing a job).
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I commend one of the callers which suggested that while unemployed we should be committed to helping the community whether as volunteer or minimally paid. This situation did not start yesterday.
Many of use as like myself lost our jobs many years ago and only temporarily employed since. My position at the company was terminated in 2000 and while unemployed then, I used my own savings to perform a volunteer service of astronomy teaching across the US ~ Canadian continent for the public and schools on a 10,000 mile solo road trip I made with a special expensive research grade solar telescope; I requested the use of this instrument from the local science museum while I continued to search for work. I could not collect unemployment while away. This was a self initiated venture to teach as I have no degree. My story was featured in news across the nation and again overseas in 2003 ~ 2004. I know this is unusual and not a possibility for everyone, yet the new president’s administration is just now talking of putting people back to school while they are unemployed. I don’t see it happening as unemployed callers today express their lost to find this connection. My efforts later afforded me to be hired to work for a term in a local college as I was hired as an adjunct professor of astronomy, yet that cannot be repeated without a masters degree now.
As I perform this work again soon, it is still really only volunteer or schools and the public. I admit, my astronomy art is featured in NASA websites so I have apparently established a rare talent in demand for lectures. I could easily teach it to any young student as this is what is severely lacking in education today; the arts and sciences. Schools demand interest from me yet there is no pay. I have spoken about it as an unemployed artist on NPR's Talk of the Nation several times.
Why is the system so difficult to offer grants for people that have shown the initiative to do what I do? My reward was further shirked as my own designed and built home of twenty years for my first family was taken by the banks in foreclosure last year. Yet they bail out criminal examples that have robbed the money which could have gone to put people back to school or new work on grants. My last job for the past year ended in December 2008; I currently receive $135 per week unemployment.
Mark Seibold, Artist-Astronomer Portland Oregon
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I live in Central Oregon and have been drawing unemployment for about three months. There are no jobs to be had here and The local newspaper only showed from 6 to 11 help wanted ads over the last three months. I get $370 a week on Oregon's unemployment and I'm very happy and lucky to have that. I had to claim chapter 7 a month ago and I'm lucky to be debt free (except for student loans to pay for my college degree). I'm applying for jobs that don't exist as I'm required and I think that is just fine for now. I can have fun and travel and enjoy my family on the government's nickel! Yay!!
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Changes I would like to see in unemployment:
1. Allow people to attend school while receiving unemployment. Right now attending school or training isn't allowed while receiving unemployment benefits. In some industries, such as software, continuous learning is a requirement and it is counterproductive to not allow unemployed software developers to take evening classes or get other training while unemployed.
2. Have a more clear system on what constitutes a job search. Washington State allows people receiving unemployment to count WorkSource classes on their list of job search activities, and they only require 5 be provided on the list. Requiring 8 (and it isn't clear from reading the requirements if even 8 is enough) weekly contacts doesn't work when you are not able to find 8 jobs that you qualify for, and can encourage people to submit resumes for jobs they're not really qualified for and know they'll get rejected for just to add the contact on their unemployment list.
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A comment in reply of "Desolations" post: Unemployment Insurance *can* benefit those making more than minimum wage. I am one of them. I worked full-time plus here in Oregon for over 13 years. Because of this, I am getting the max weekly amount from my UI benefits. However, I have little debt, am a renter (so no mortgage payments), and have always lived relatively frugally. I am able to keep afloat on my benefits while looking for work. I have also been keeping busy with volunteer activities and spending lost time with fam/friends (because I was such a work-a-holic, I missed out!)
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While I am eager to re-enter the workforce, I feel my benefits were definitely well-earned. I put a hell of a lot of blood, sweat, and tears into work---which contributed to paying into the Unemployment Tax. Although not the best of circumstances, I can't help but feel rewarded for my hard work.
I echo what "Dwills" has to say--YES, I think we should allow people to attend school while on UI (I'd love to go!) and get the job search criteria worked out more clearly. I have submitted many resumes to jobs I am over/under qualified for and have had no desire to work for some companies. I just did it to increase my contact list. But the goal of the Employment Dept. IS simply to get us back to work--not finding us dream jobs! -
I cannot comprehend the values of a US Congress that votes AGAINST the extension of unemployment benefits to US citizens, but finds it moral to spend billions of dollars to "nation build" in Afghanistan. This Congress will not take care of its own people; this strikes me as building another nation while contibuting to the destruction of your own.
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This Congress will not take care of its own people; this strikes me as building another nation while contibuting to the destruction of your own.
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Most of the changes make sense, but hopefully the boost to families with children will only be for legal residents or citizens, and that the boost will only apply to the first couple of kids. People with large numbers of children already don't pay their way because they get so many tax breaks, and overpopulation isn't going to make our country a better place in which to live.