Surviving on Unemployment Insurance

[preciousjeni]

Originally Posted by Benzgirl

I have an appointment on Tuesday to talk to a Job Works Network to cover my books. I never knew that I could get so much by walking in with my Severance Papers.

Is Job Works a federal one-stop employment and training center? If so, that's the exact type of place I work. People on UI can come in and we're basically pushing them into training programs. If you're in training, your UI is extended for a period of time, plus the government has that emergency UI extension for (I believe) seven weeks. We're completely overwhelmed by people who've been laid off.

My very unfortunate task is to convince employers to hire my consumers. When very few legitimate employers are still hiring, it's nearly impossible to be effective.

Every day, people come into our office in tears. It is horrible and there's not much we can do.

[Benzgirl]

Originally Posted by preciousjeni

Is Job Works a federal one-stop employment and training center? If so, that's the exact type of place I work. People on UI can come in and we're basically pushing them into training programs. If you're in training, your UI is extended for a period of time, plus the government has that emergency UI extension for (I believe) seven weeks. We're completely overwhelmed by people who've been laid off.

My very unfortunate task is to convince employers to hire my consumers. When very few legitimate employers are still hiring, it's nearly impossible to be effective.

Every day, people come into our office in tears. It is horrible and there's not much we can do.

It's actually run by the county and is called the Employment netWORK. Most of the services available for the unemployed is not what I can use (i.e. Interviewing Skills, Computer Basics), but they do qualify the unemployed for ITA money. I got the third degree when I was on the phone with the director that I needed to go to their "boot camp" before getting the money. I told him I would get "an excuse" from my Outplacement Coach, if he would like.

Right now, when I interview I am up against candidates who also have Master's Degrees and PhDs. The new face of the unemployed are not blue collar workers; they are educated professionals. So many people I have spoken with are competing against their former co-workers for the same positions. Two of the positions I interviewed for were given to internal candidates, one position was put "on hold", and two others were not what I thought they were. I'm trying to network my way into a Temp position underwriting loans (something I did years ago), just to get me through the next few months.

I'm reinventing myself, which is why I'm going after the Paralegal Cert. I've worked in banking/mortgage for 17 years and know enough about the regulations and statues of credit. I am positioning myself to become a foreclosure or bankruptcy paralegal. Heavens knows, there is plenty of that going on. Sure it's a huge paycut, but honestly, I don't care at this point about the money. I have worked full time for 25 years and I'm going stir crazy.

When I went to a seminar a few weeks ago, they said that Unemployment apps in the county were up 300% from one year ago. It's really bad, and not just here. I just talked to a friend in LA. They are cutting everyone's hours at his company to 4 days and reducing their pay by 20% in order to avoid layoffs. One of my friends last week had to layoff 3 of her 10 employees.

Trust me. The tears flow often, and sometimes for the dumbest things. I'm not losing my house today or next month, but it could happen next year if things don't improve.

[justabeachbrat]

Off topic, slightly.
Not on unemployment, but disability.
When I got hurt, my income imploded by 2/3rds overnight--my bills did not. At the place I went for physical therapy, I knew of two patients who went into foreclosure and another who divorced.
I radically changed my lifestyle, Starbucks, before a daily thing, now a treat.
I could no longer afford my place near the beach, have had to move twice to get within limits. Some of my friends still in safe worlds have stepped away, as if I might spread something. The true ones remain.
I started back to school late last year, then had to drop out due to family matters. I am due to start in a week or so, and boy, what a time to attempt a career change.

[preciousjeni]

Originally Posted by Benzgirl

It's actually run by the county and is called the Employment netWORK. Most of the services available for the unemployed is not what I can use (i.e. Interviewing Skills, Computer Basics), but they do qualify the unemployed for ITA money. I got the third degree when I was on the phone with the director that I needed to go to their "boot camp" before getting the money. I told him I would get "an excuse" from my Outplacement Coach, if he would like.

Right now, when I interview I am up against candidates who also have Master's Degrees and PhDs. The new face of the unemployed are not blue collar workers; they are educated professionals. So many people I have spoken with are competing against their former co-workers for the same positions. Two of the positions I interviewed for were given to internal candidates, one position was put "on hold", and two others were not what I thought they were. I'm trying to network my way into a Temp position underwriting loans (something I did years ago), just to get me through the next few months.

I'm reinventing myself, which is why I'm going after the Paralegal Cert. I've worked in banking/mortgage for 17 years and know enough about the regulations and statues of credit. I am positioning myself to become a foreclosure or bankruptcy paralegal. Heavens knows, there is plenty of that going on. Sure it's a huge paycut, but honestly, I don't care at this point about the money. I have worked full time for 25 years and I'm going stir crazy.

When I went to a seminar a few weeks ago, they said that Unemployment apps in the county were up 300% from one year ago. It's really bad, and not just here. I just talked to a friend in LA. They are cutting everyone's hours at his company to 4 days and reducing their pay by 20% in order to avoid layoffs. One of my friends last week had to layoff 3 of her 10 employees.

Trust me. The tears flow often, and sometimes for the dumbest things. I'm not losing my house today or next month, but it could happen next year if things don't improve.

What you're talking about sounds like a one-stop. They're all funded through the Workforce Investment Act (WIA) and managed by any one of many operators (county, state, community colleges or non-profits - like the one I work for).

I hope our economy bottoms out sooner than later. Of course, that means more people out of work for the short-term. But, it also means an upswing is just around the bend...perhaps even before a lot of people's UI runs out!

[Benzgirl]

Originally Posted by preciousjeni

What you're talking about sounds like a one-stop. They're all funded through the Workforce Investment Act (WIA) and managed by any one of many operators (county, state, community colleges or non-profits - like the one I work for).

Not exactly one-stop (maybe 3 or 4 stops), but he did mention WIA. They are covering tuition for three classes and we are trying to figure out the books now. netWORKS is willing to cover the cost, but because the books need to be purchased through an online site instead of the school bookstore, we are running into a snag. They won't reimburse me, so the admissions office is working with the bookstore to see if they can get in all of the books. I have no idea how they will pay for the WestLaw susbscription.

Just a sidenote. The place that I went was attached to the Welfare Office. Honestly, I was afraid that things were going to be stolen from my car. Most of the people in there were getting information on their GED. The counselor nearly dropped his pen when he asked my education and what I was making. He also asked if I went through the "job book" in the lobby. Yes, but I really don't plan to make a living as a landscaper.

[AGDLynn]

I don't know if the laws have changed since hubby was on UC several years ago...

No taxes were taken out on UI so you had to pay it back at Income Tax time.