Unemployment benefits

Fieldmouse · 10-28-2010, 04:47 AM

So they are set to run out once again after the elections. After 2 years worth, are the Dems going to extend them once again?

ButchA · 10-28-2010, 04:58 AM

Hmmm... I've been unemployed since May and still can't find anything in the I.T. industry. It has been extremely tight financially, but somehow, miraculously, my wife and I are surviving (wife's job, my unemployment benefits, and my USCG retirement pension - the pension pays my mortgage).

I shouldn't complain though, as there are others who have literally lost everything they had. So far, we have been holding our own, but it's not easy.

vc1111 · 10-28-2010, 05:09 AM

I think it is easy to forget that these are severe times. Despite the fact that we dodged the bullet (so far), the economy was on the brink of collapse only a short time ago.

The unemployment figures are like fat content in food. The numbers may sound benign, but even a little increase can cause problems that can be hard to imagine...especially if you still have a job.

While there are always those who abuse any welfare benefit, many of them ease an awful lot of suffering for an awful lot of people. Instead of cursing the welfare, I try to say a quiet prayer thanking God for the things I have.

And yes, politicians use welfare benefits as a re-election stepping stone, but that does not negate the benefits, does it?

Fieldmouse · 10-28-2010, 05:18 AM

Butch, I'm not sure I understand how someone can be retired and receive unemployment beanies at the same time.

VC, while we have extended our unemployment bennies to 2 years, the Swiss of all people are looking at cutting back their 26 weeks saying it hurts more than it helps. I already posted on this but Europe is clearly in recovery while we are far from any turn around.

ButchA · 10-28-2010, 05:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fieldmouse

Butch, I'm not sure I understand how someone can be retired and receive unemployment beanies at the same time.

You have to be retired for over 18 months (or 12 months?). That's what the regs say, and that's how I qualified, since I retired in 1996.

If I got laid off back in 1996 (or even 1997), then I wouldn't qualify and would get $0.00

Fieldmouse · 10-28-2010, 05:55 AM

I'm do understand that's the law but it's something we need to look at in the future. I'm ok with folks retiring and going back to work even at the very same job. It just hard to say your unemployed when you in fact are retired.

falcon · 10-28-2010, 09:16 AM

Unemployment benefits for separating military members is a federal program. The program is administered by the states. Some states allow military retirees to draw their full unemployment benefits; some do not. In some states a person who receives disability retirement from the military is not allowed to draw unemployment.

In 1980 folks were bailing out of Jimmy Carter's army in droves and he was mad. Carter asked congress to pass a law that prevented retired military members from drawing unemployment benefits. This law was signed by Jimmy Carter in 1980.

Under the law that Carter signed; a military person who served his hitch honorably and got out was not allowed to draw unemployment. A person who was kicked out of the military with a dishonorable, undesirable or bad conduct discharge was allowed to draw unemployment.

The military retirees i worked with on a job in the early 90s were talking about signing up for unemployment when the job ended. The law had changed sometime in the late 80s or early 90s.

Phil from Maine · 12-04-2010, 07:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fieldmouse

So they are set to run out once again after the elections. After 2 years worth, are the Dems going to extend them once again?

I see you have your way on this one.. With around 15 million out of work and looking for jobs they know that there is plenty of work out there.. Now with close to around 38,700 unemployed workers loosing the unemployment compensation a day. Roughly 1 every second is loosing this needed benefit at a time of year of hope. That they have paid into the unemployment benifit system the entire time they worked. Your republicans buddies want to sit back and debate it. They want to help the fat cats enjoy more pocket fulls of dollars shipping jobs abroad! I hope they all will remember this comes 2012..

DeerandbearhoG · 12-04-2010, 09:01 AM

Im not unemployed, Ive owed my own BIZ for 9 years, and Im actually doing OK, but these past couple years have made me realize you need to be diverse in your skills, to stay employed. I refuse to be dependent on the govt for a check. Im just finishing up my 6 week course to become a CNA (basically you clean old peoples dirty diapers in nursing homes), Its not pleasant work ,but I know one thing, Ill never be unemployed. Point is, if you cant find work in your field, find out what fields are hiring and get training, if I can do it, so can anyone else. People being out of work for 2 years is ridiculous!

(BTW this wasnt directed toward anyone here)

salukipv1 · 12-04-2010, 09:23 AM

sure, ship our jobs overseas, hire illegals/exploit them for personal gain, then when the middle and lower class must struggle to survive let's keep cutting their benefits, and unemployment.

there's no reason anyone in this country should have to be unemployed, and don't tell me it's because these lazy welfare people don't want to work, that's a small percentage of who's on unemployment these days, many quality middle class jobs have been lost, and to think these people with families and homes, and bills just want to collect more unemployment to live the easy life, the easy life is having a quality job with benefits, not living off unemployment.

the middle and lower class needs to wake up and learn who's in power I just heard on the radio, the top 1% owns I believe 39% of this country, more than the bottom 90%.