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Good news about the economy may actually be bad news for people currently looking for a job. New statistics indicate that fewer people are signing up for unemployment benefits in Oregon each week. Economists say this is a sign that the recession is coming to an end — and that a jobless recovery is what's on the way. That means the economy may improve, but the number of employment opportunities may not.
Since the beginning of this recession a year ago, about 100,000 people have lost their jobs. Many of them rely on unemployment benefits to get them through the difficult days, to help them pay their mortgage, purchase groceries or fill their cars with gas. But unemployment benefits only last so long (anywhere from 26 to to 79 weeks, depending on the extensions received).
For 3,000 people their benefits ran out on September 5th. That's expected to increase by about 500 people each week for the next month. Obviously this is bad news for anyone relying on that cash. The good news, however, is that beginning October 4th, the Oregon Emergency Benefits Program kicks in with an additional 13 weeks of checks. But how do people cope during that intermediate time, when some benefits have stopped and others have yet to kick in? How do people cope when all their benefits max out?
What about those people for whom unemployment ran out long ago — the long-time unemployed who can't get a job but don't have unemployment?
And what about the folks who are routinely under-employed? They might have a PhD, but the only job available to them is waitressing. How do they get by?
Do you fall into any of these categories? What is your experience?
Tagged as: benefits · unemployment
Photo credit: Old Sarge / Creative Commons
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Yes, it is going to be a "jobless recovery" and as noted here it is going to be many years before we have enough jobs for working age adults.
As noted here, Congress needs to enact extensions of unemployment insurance. That should have been the first order of business after getting back from the August recess.
The last recovery bill also used a carrot (money for state unemployment programs) to get states like Oregon to modernize their unemployment systems. They should continue to do the same so that more improvements can be made, such as helping part time workers can get benefits.
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Let's not even call it a recovery - because it won't be without job creation in the private sector. Real job creation, not government-created jobs.
The big problem in our economy is debt - at all levels from government down to personal debt. We've reached an unsustainable level of debt and now we have reached the point where it needs to either be paid down or defaulted. The Government's response has been to encourage people to take on even more debt (Cash for Clunkers, $8000 first time homebuyers credit), but this won't work. Be prepared for about a decade of high unemployment.
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I've been able to use unemployment benefits only once and found that the "benefit" partially covered bills and food. I got a loan from a friend to tide me over. After that experience I saved money to live for several years in case I became unemployed again. This is my second lengthy (multi-year) stint of unemployment and I'm fortunate to rely on savings.
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I am no longer on unemployment because I took the first job that was offered to me - Unemployment rules require you do NOT turn down any job offer or you will be denied unemployment insurance benefits. As a result I now work for an abusive boss with zero benefits and have developed health problems due to extreme stress. I cannot quit because in Oregon no matter what your boss "does" to you a "quit" automatically means you do not have access to unemployment benefits. Yes, I am underemployed to boot - even if my boss was an honest decent human being which he is definitely not. I am my sole support - no family or friends who could pitch in financially, they are all in the same economic problem. NOW I WANT TO KNOW THIS. If you are trying to survive on unemployment benefits, or your benefits have run out, or you are underemployed: HOW ARE YOU GOING TO PAY FOR THE "MANDATORY HEALTH INSURANCE" our elected officials are trying to get passed nationally? Does everyone realize that our elected officials are trying to get a national compulsory health insurance plan passed that will REQUIRE under penalty of VERY STIFF FINES tied to your federal income taxes which if you aren't able to pay you WILL go to jail for not paying because the fines will be tied to your income taxes - READ THE PROPOSED LEGISLATION!!! - There needs to be a huge outcry and dialogue about this! It is only now coming to the attention of the national media. It WILL hit hardest those who are trying by some desperate means to survive financially until the job market makes some kind of a comeback. Does everyone realize this will also INCREASE homelessness which is the topic for later this week on Think Out Loud???
FOLKS - this is extremely scary and we all need to tackle our elected officials about this "mandatory health insurance." Whether your support is for private insurance or public option or single payer is not the issue - the real issue is this: WHERE ARE THE UNDEREMPLOYED/UNEMPLOYED GOING TO GET THE MONEY TO PAY FOR THIS MANDATORY HEALTH INSURANCE???
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Don't worry about having to pay health insurance. I heard a news report that said anything that passes won't take effect for 3 or 4 years.
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There will be aid for those who are unemployed to buy health insurance. That's part of the proposed bill.
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I am confused by the contradictions I see, what I hear, and what I read. Friday I went to Clackamas Town Center and Costco to shop. I had trouble finding a parking space at each. Inside there were crowds of people purchasing merchandise. Oregon is fourth in the nation for unemployment? Out of curiosity I used the Internet to look at a site called Job Dango. There I found thirty pages of jobs, at about 18 to 20 jobs per page. The range of jobs was very large. Many offered training, medical and 401k benefits. I know of a number of people who have decided to not work. A neighbor explained to me how to “play the system”. He explained how to stay unemployed and meet the conditions for unemployment benefits. His excuse for not taking a job was that none paid him enough and did not offer what he wanted to do. Taking personal responsibility and accepting the idea that we cannot always have everything we want, exactly the way we want it appears to be a concept that has been dumped in today’s world. Do some, or many expect more than what is realistic, and do extended unemployment benefits actually encourage unemployment?
Lynda M.
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There are a lot of people still in denial and still shopping and charging it. But the more people you know that are losing their jobs, the more you realize that it could hit you too - a lot of us who are still employed have cut back on spending drastically to increase savings.
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I use jobdango. The 30 pages of advertisements with 18 lines per page which you speak of do not apply to everyone. Each opening lists qualifications that most people probably do not have. The Sunday employment special on OPB TV stated that employers are now looking for people who fit into the job specified perfectly. Therefore, anyone not trained on a particular software, or with a particular skillset will not even be considered. I have had many weeks go by without any requests to be interviewed because I do not exactly fit what they are looking for. There may be contradictions in your world because you see people shopping, but this does not mean that unemployed people are not looking for work. It also doesn't mean they never have to buy anything. They need clothes for interviews and also food would be good.
I found your over-generalizations based on one neighbor to be hurtful and insulting. I hope that you never have the opportunity to experience a bout of long-term unemployment. If, however, you do get that experience sometime in the future, especially if you don't own a home, then you will know first-hand what it's like not to know where you will be a year from now. Have a little compassion!
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usesjobdango, I apologize. I wanted to keep my comment short, I do see how it contains generalizations. I offered the story and info only to support my two questions at the end. I was very interested in this program because as I said I see contradictions, and it is confusing. In the past I was out of work because of economic conditions. I was younger and had a family to support. I realized that: An employer would not hire me because I "needed" a job. The job would exist only if the employer had no other choice but to hire someone. I would be hired only if I could make the employer more than I would be paid. I had to have the skills that were needed. I had to live on a budget that did not exceed my earning ability. I had to create an emergency fund. I do have a great deal of compassion for someone that is unemployed and wants to work. In this kind of communication it is difficult to convey how one feels. In my writing I may be reflecting somethings from the emotion I experienced when the realities of unemployment happened to me. I worked one and a half jobs. I requested a night shift at a low paying assembly plant so I could look for a job during the morning hours. Later I worked days and weekends (two jobs) and found a way to go to school evenings. I mention some of this because I want you to know I have felt something of the experience and understand. I did not have a house to lose, but I did have rent to pay for some very humble quarters. I was very lucky in eventually getting the certifications I needed to improve my situation. It took years. Again I apologize. It is an employers market, and a different time than my experience. I had some luck, and sincerely wish you luck.
Lynda M
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A "jobless recovery" - It's like driving along the highway and seeing a long line of green and healthy trees - what's behind all of that - clear cuts. Clear cuts - that's what we are - the jobless. We are no longer even relevant - not even to be counted. Dismissed in the "recovery" - how dare they, because they can, because that will give hope to those who have jobs - spend more, invest more - you'll be fine - concentrate on the haves not the have nots. The jobless percentage rate lowers as the jobless no longer collect unemployment - who made that one up?
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Even the statement "jobless recovery" indicates that our system of evaluating the economy's health is seriously flawed.
What jobless recovery means to me, when I hear it, is that corporations, banks, and Wall Street are doing OK now. The rest of us can sink or swim without even being noticed.
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That is a hard lesson to learn but that is the way it has always been.
When newsies talk about the economy they don't mean workers, workers don't matter to the cheap-labor Conservative wealthy.
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I've been a professional Vocational Counselor for almost thirty years, and in June had my hours reduced to fifteen hours per week due to a drastic drop in referrals from insurers. Combined with offset Unemployment Insurance, this results in an overall monthly income of less than $2,000, with a mortgage of $1,000. Because I am still 'employed,' I also get nailed for the full $470 price for monthly COBRA coverage, rather than being eligible for the 65% premium reduction under the recovery act.
I cannot keep this up long, but at least I am fortunate in that I have some resources upon which to draw.... I am well aware that others are not so fortunate, but also that it is a very thin line....
In the interim, I've been looking, nationwide, for new full time employment since March, and although I've submitted about sixty applications/resumes, I have heard absolutely nothing back. This is a nasty downturn. I think we all better look for a few Snickers bars (we're going to be here, awhile).
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I am curious if the unemployment percentage statistic includes those who do not claim or are no longer eligible to recieve benefits....if they are not included, what is the real amount of people out of work?
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Unemployment figures count ONLY those who are actively claiming benefits and demonstrably looking for work; the figures do NOT include those who have exhausted their benefits and have given up on looking for work, actively. For a more detailed explanation, I'd offer: http://www.bls.gov/cps/cps_htgm.htm, from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Hope this helps.
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Oregon's high tech sector has been hit hard: there are fewer people working in this industry than in 1996.
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Tektronix just announced a layoff that will happen at the end of the year. They are requiring those laid off to train their Chinese replacements. That's just plain wrong.
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It is very common to train your replacements.
I had a contract person from China and one from India 'shadow' me for one yr before my lay-off. I needed to make space in my cube for them and introduce them to all my suppliers and train them in CAD software . I got 'laid-off' 6 wks prior to retirement eligibility. The foreign workers used their training to quit their subcontract positions and get work visas to stay in US! (They are now both employed in USA... I'm starving)
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The trend in high tech manufacturing in the US is particularly disturbing. It's a low margin sector, and corporations are continually moving their manufacturing operations to cost-advantageous Asia. US workers in this area are not only unprodected by law (or lack of it) but are also generally not unionized, and companies are taking advangate of the lack of employment restrictions in this courntry.
This sector has been America's last bastion for manufacturing dominance, necisistated by the desire to keep high tech IP under tight wraps. Recently, regulations preventing this IP from being outsourced to China have been relaxed, and even companies like Intel which are very protective of their IP are opening new factories there that will manufacture microprocessors far more advanced than anything made in China to date. This is bad news for Oregon, one of Intel's largest manufacturing sites.
Applied Materials, the US's largest supplier of equipent to the semiconductor and solar industries has announced intentions to move US manufacturing to Singapore. Additionally, they continue to build new plants in China and Germany, where most of their solar customers reside. The governments of both China and Germany offer subsidies to companies and individuals who install solar panels, something not offered in the US, hence the lack of domestic customers for manufacturing equipment.
So what is the fate of the US engineering and technology professions as we become more and more of a country that produces no hard goods? If we don't make anything here, we don't need factory workers, and then we also don't need to design anything here, so we no longer need engineers.
There are two engineering sectors that are safe for the time being: the military contractors and infrastructure. As long as we still want our military developments to be top secret (and we still deem cranking out weapons systems a high priority) and as long as it's still cheaper to build bridges and highways here than to make them elsewhere and import them, these jobs will be safe.
Barring swift government intervention, I don't see the high tech sector turning around anytime soon. It may be a very long time before those 1996 employment numbers are attained again.
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I have a job but after Graduating with a B.S. in computer science I was able to hold on to my current job but I have not been able to get a new job. I am getting worried because loan repayment happens soon but on top of that health insurance for my family is over 800 dollars !. my Wife has been looking for a job for the last year and 1/2 and she has a B.S. in biology . I think its sad how every one is claiming a rebound but this is directly after the cash for clunkers, because I sure dont see a recovery.
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Indeed, all this talk of "green shoots" seems to be manufactured. The "recovery" has been for bankers only as the government pumps money into the banking system.
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Who is creating good-paying, meaningful jobs? It seems like too many U.S. businesses have shifted their businesses overseas.
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Right now most of the high paying jobs are in Gov't most of the private sector is doing bad.
The Navy Has so many people trying to get in there is a huge waiting list.
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I've been unemployed for a little over a year -- first time collecting benefits in my life, first time out of work for longer than a few weeks. I've survived because I have low living costs by adding $12,000 to my home equity line of credit, which I was lucky to have. More recently my boyfriend moved in and that helps, too.
I collected unemployment through Washington State for the first 6 months (I live in Oregon, have worked in Washington and Oregon), which was a much better system -- it paid more, for one thing, but it was also better organized, more informative, more logical in a lot of ways (e.g., you're required to log three employer contacts a week online in WA, rather than random periodic audits in OR). Even the WA website works better -- much better. Switching to Oregon was a bit of a shock. I don't really understand why Oregon does a worse job, but that's not my question.
But my questions are: who should I complain to about the weaknesses and problems I see? Which specific politicians are responsible? And are there any organizations advocating for the unemployed generally? I've always had pleasant encounters with the people on the phone, btw (when I can get through) but I don't get the sense that they are "agents of change."
Thanks for covering this important topic.
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you would be hard pressed to find a politician that would change the unemployee benifits especially during this time.
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Mary,
Thanks for your thoughtful comments on the unemployment insurance system in Oregon. We always strive to improve our services and I would be interested to get some more specifics from you about your experience with the Employment Department.
Please feel free to contact me at this address:
http://findit.emp.state.or.us/write-us/compose.cfm?id=16
Thanks!
Tom Fuller, Communications Manager, WorkSource Oregon
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When did the concept of "layoff" begin? Seems like when the economy slows, prices should go down, everyone should keep their jobs, but everyone's pay rate should go down.
When did this start, where most keep their high pay rates while others' go to zero? -
This jobless economy is what Conservatives happily refer to as "Creative Destruction" in the "Free Market", they don't give a tinkers damn about people, they just care about making money and to hell with the hindmost.
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Actually, the problem right now is that we're not getting "Creative Destruction" in the right areas. We need bad debt to either be defaulted on or paid off - that will allow us to recover when folks aren't encumbered by debt. Instead government actions like TARP are keeping the bad debt around and that's going to prolong the misery.
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Recovery of out the last recession (the tech wreck, 2001 to 2003) was called a jobless recovery. However, this time around, we won't be able to have a sustainable recovery with out job creation. That's because unemployment is now too high and too broadbased.
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There was federal stimulus money devoted to jobs. Is that all used up? How many of the unemployed is that money expected to help?
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Greetings -
I am hesistant to use the Oregon I-Match job skills. I doubt its effectiveness and doubt its ability to match my skill-set accurately to an appropriate job.
Please ask your guest how I-Match works and how effective its been proven to be.
Regards,
- Russ J from Beaverton OR
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I registered on I-Match but have never been matched to a job -- I find it very un-user friendly, too. I believe we're required to do it to collect unemployment, but it's another example to me of a way I think the elements of the Oregon system are sort of broken and ineffecient.
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Russ J I am on i-match as well, I can tell you its good to get your self out there. You also need to contact those companies that are looking for people via phone or find out who the contact person is who posted the listing
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I have found that unemployment seems to work for people who are manipulators of the system more than people who work hard and find themselves in a bad place. I was a teacher, and had to start substitute teaching last December. Wasn't getting called enough and got another job in March. I was laid off from that in August and had to go on unemployment. They haven't and won't pay me because teachers were off for the summer and so, since I was once a substitute, I can't qualify. Even though I had another job, and got laid off, and haven't been on unemployment in 10 years, and was working full time up to October of last year, I still can't get help due to nothing more than a technicality. So much for the noble position of being a teacher. No one is helping me now, especially my government.
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The earlier guest made the comment that unemployment benefits are paid by employers but that is just a legislative smokescreen definition, because if workers did not work, the money would not be created to pay those benefits.
Workers earned those benefits by their previous work, they are not some "Nobless Oblige" type charitable contribution from caring employers.
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I am currently a post-bachelor's college student working in a seasonal job that I do enjoy and offers a transit pass. However, I am in a bad position. I am currently owing back rent for this month, have bills that are past due, and worried about my financial aid. I just graduated with a degree in Community Development and I am unsure about the job prospects in that field.
Right now I am going to go out and seek anything I can find and hoping financial aid will pull through. The reason for stay in college this year is to riding out this tough times. What can I do right now to help myself out?
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Unemployed for 4.5yrs now.
Definately ran out of benefits a couple yrs ago !
Property taxes = 10x what I spend on food
Health care would cost 10x food also (If I could afford it)
Stimulus $$ and such things as 'Health care benefits' for UNEMPLOYED all escape the person who has extended unemployment beyond what the system allows. You drop into the BLACK HOLE.
This isn't pretty.
Of our household, 50% is unemployed and 50% significantly under-employed. Family income has dropped 80% (as in we now make 20% of what we were earning!!)
My ex-CEO is enjoying living in Monte Carlo and spending my retirement from 32 yrs of service. I'm on Plan D (desperation - despondency)
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Is this a “Recession” or a “Depression”!
Local estimates are well over 25% unemployed.
Helping each other is happening, but it generates no taxes.
How will Washington pay for the debit it is running up without the taxes from 25% of its normal base?
Me? I officially don't count any more. The choice of self employment effectively locks you out of the system you pay taxes in to. However, I believe this makes my life better, pushes me to succeed to find means outside of the "Normal" system. Of course, I by normal measures or legal definition have less income and a more flexible and enjoyable life because I do not have to work those hours to support the "Change", LOL!
I wonder how many, once they accept, it are finding the pleasure of a simpler life in their "downward mobility". -
I am currently underemployed, though I feel extremely lucky that I have anything at all! My fiance has a great full time job with good benefits and one thing we have considered is to get married early so I would be able to take advantage of her benefits as well. It's easy for us to consider since we are already engaged, but I'm wondering if anyone else has considered these huge life changes as options to weather the storm...?
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Oh yes, There are lots of folks making huge life changes, especially prevalent amoungst those in thier late 50's and beyond. (They have little time to recover from investment / equity losses.)
1) Single 'older' folks are choosing to "Marry-for-benefits"
2) Big rise in Co-housing / finding roommates to help with rent.
3) Reverse mortgage, tho VERY expensive and restrictive, many have to do this to eat.
4) Transitional housing - elderly folks typically have most of their assets in a 'paid-off' house, and PREVIOUSLY sold the houses to new families and the elders freed 'single family housing', then moved into communal / assisted living. NOW - seniors are leaving 'assisted living' and moving to apartments, to free their cash flows.
5) Houses are not selling, seniors are staying put because they cannot sell, or can't loose equity.
6) Senior Centers are having increased vacanies, resulting in foreclosures and lay-offs.
7) More people are dying because they have no healthcare.
8) People are entering hospice early because they cannot self-fund medical care, and are now afraid to drive to Mex for medications.
9) Lots of kids are moving back home, and bringing their family!
10) More Potlucks!!
My suggestion for future employment 'Home Health Care' & financial management (real comprehensive managers, not just a saleperson).
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One thing that is often forgotten in this "jobless recovery" discussion is the dearth of recent college graduates who are not 1) not eligible for unemployment benefits and 2) not counted as unemployed.
I graduated for law school in 2008 and have yet to find stable work as an attorney. My husband (who I met in law school) and I decided to "hang our shingle" which is an industry term for opening your own firm. We were on track to make about $35K our first year, but decided to close shop and move back to Portland. Now we must wait until February to sit for the bar exam, and the earliest we can expect to rehang our shingle is in March 2010. To keep busy, we're painting houses and managing my mom's rental properties.
What I want to take note of is that so many of my friends from our class are still unemployed, working pro bono, or are working as assistants for attorneys (not practicing law at all, but as assistants) and consider themselves lucky.
Most of us thought the road to a JD degree would be the golden ticket to a job. We didn't feel we were entitled to $150K firm jobs, but we thought we'd at least make $60-80k/year. In this economy, forget about it. Don't even get me started on the $100K+ debt many of us carry, plus credit card debt (which we don't have, but many do).
Recent college grads (from all programs) who are unemployed within six months of graduation should get counted in the unemployment data too. The numbers would be trememendously higher if we were!
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I am 52 yrs old, single male, unemployed or under-employed as a contractor in video/TV production. I went to college in the 80's when as a woodworker, I was laid off and so at that time school seemed like a good option. After a two year program and lots of free jobs to get experience,.. I started to get some paying jobs.. I continued to go to college and eventualy got a BS Degree in Communication and with my Two year degree in Television productions I was ready to get a job,. . . And I applied,.. to many openings,.. yet I only got,.. contracting jobs.. and have continued to this day to take contracting and keep trying to find a regular job.. but now,.. with 22+ years of working experience,.. I don't get many considerations from employers.. I bring many years of experience and still to this day... I am applying to entry level jobs,.. like everyone else,.. I don't get un-employment,.. I have had to take food stamps and I can't pay my bills,.. all of my creditors... are calling,.. and I can't pay anyone,... all of my money must go to housing,... and gas to find a job or go to a job if I locate one.
I realize this is off the show,.. but you really need to cover this further. Many people like myself, and all those that called today...and the many I am sure who did not hear this show... will be struggleing and many people in this State,.. are having extream difficulty and really need more help.
This Nation is in real trouble,.. and Oregon is a Flag ship of a state with unemployment and we need Federal Help.
thanks
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Creative Destruction is largely an oxymoron. We experience lots of destruction but I don't see much creation.
Somebody mentioned a shopping mall full of folk. Maybe the shoppers were window shopping -- not buying anything but wishing they could. What better to do when you're unemployed than swing through the mall -- if it's not too depressing.
But maybe people at the malls are consuming. I biked through Irvington and Grant Park neighborhoods and saw at least 10 houses being completely remodeled from the ground up. It's as if these home owners or builders are preparing for the next real estate run up.
I wondered how these owners were able to afford their upgrades. Were they using debt? Paying cash? Did they have quality employment? How did they get there? Is that his beautiful house? His beautiful wife? Letting the days go by....
Then I recalled days when I made lots of money but was mentally exhausted and unhealthy. On my bike I renewed my resolve to live more simply with fewer material trinkets. My job is to become a better human being; to overcome my shortcomings. These things are easier to work on when I'm not doing somebody else's 9-5 work.
Remember to count your blessings as well as your curses.
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I do not understand why the media reports that people "have given up looking for work" when all that has happened is their unemployment benefits have run out. Same problem with the media insisting in the last recession and also at the start of this one (hey - they all seem to run together don't they???) that unemployment is reduced when all that means is the US Department of Labor simply doesn't count the unemployed whose benefits have run out.
Here's a bulletin: just because your unemployment benefits expired DOES NOT mean you aren't still looking for work. And just because your benefits have run out DOES NOT mean you are employed.
I can tell you I completely agree with the comments about i-Match. In fact i-Match matched me with something so completely inappropriate that I was utterly unqualified for that I had to spend 2 plus hours on the phone trying to convince the Unemployment Enforcement folks that I truly was NOT qualified and DID NOT have transportation to drive 60 miles each way to a job they insisted I apply for that I was UNQUALIFIED for. I'm talking about job requirement to know computer software I never learned, did not claim to know, in a job location I could not hope to reach!
When I lived in Washington state I had an excellent experience with the one time I needed to claim unemployment (the large-company satellite office I was in closed). Washington's program was well run, efficient, responsive and staffed by intelligent, caring people. Not like in Oregon where particularly the attitudes and approach of the people who run the job search clinics (some of which are required attendance) are arrogant, dismissive, engage in "victim blaming" and over-simplify job searching for everything except entry level nobrainer positions.
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I was laid off of my job in January during a downsizing. I am 61 so this was pretty devastating. I do not have the resources to retire, and while I can "get by" on unemployment benefits there is no future in unemployment, nor do I wish to continue to remain unemployed. I'm very lucky--I had no debts, but, there are no jobs. I was one of those middle managers in a not-for-profit organization. These jobs are universally underpaid, but the recession has given the not-for-profit world the unexpected benefit of being able to hire overqualified out of work professionals at reduced wages.
I have dug in and re-created my career by going back to school (yes at 61) to change to a recession-proof profession. Unfortunately it takes time to build a new career, particularly one that is self-employed. Education/retraining was fortunately available, and I am entering a new arena, which is important as I do not believe that most of the downsized jobs will come back--at least not in the same job description. The world is changing rapidly and it is critical that we all figure out how to re-engineer ourselves to meet the demands of our changing world.
I'm grateful for our system that supports us in our inability to find valuable employment. I am also grateful for encouragement, and the opportunity to reinvent a career. That is what the American dream is about--being to turn a nightmare into a positive experience. To do it meant making lemonade. I'm not back earning a living yet but I will be. And I will have made it happen myself, with lots and lots of help from my friends and the State of Oregon. It has taken more than 6 months, and were it not for the extension of benefits I'd have been in the position of losing my home, my car, and my independence. I'm very grateful.
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Comments are now closed.
If Unemployement Insurance is not providing for those who have a reasonable need than it is not functioning properly. The economy will always have ups and downs and its more efficient for the public to be adequately covered through an insurance program as opposed to relying on personal savings (not forgetting those who make so little they can hardly save for anything).
Rather than only alotting a set number of weeks of checks and relying on the federal government to provide a bailout when extensions are desperately needed, its would be more effective to provide conditions for continued benefits (such as applying for a certain number of jobs per week) that go into affect when defined economic triggers take place which indicate a recession.