Readers talk about the unemployment benefits extension

Over the past few weeks I've been closely following the effort in Congress to pass legislation for an emergency extension of unemployment benefits for folks who've been out of work for a long time. Currently it's attached to HR 2642. It has passed both the House and Senate but in different forms, so they'll have to meet to reconcile differences. Bush has vowed to veto the bill.

During this time, Workforce Developments readership has shot up, and I've been getting more comments than usual. Overwhelmingly, the visits are from people Googling phrases like "unemployment extension," and the comments have mostly been on those posts. In other words, this is of interest to a many, many people.

It's worth hearing from people who would be personally affected by the extension. Here's a sampling of those comments, in their own words:

Come on lets get some extended benefits going. I am a hard worker and have been laid off from full time work since July 2007. My unemployment benefits ended the first of Jan and all I have been able to find is 12 hours of work a week at $8 an hour and I did not get that until the last week of Feb. I could use some help here!!

        --Laurie

I've been unemployed since November. And I've been trying to find work for MONTHS!! Even the temp agencies are slow, and when I do work with them, I can't interview for a new position. My unemployment ran out months ago, and the debt collectors are calling at all hours. Where is my $600 going? Bills. Such a silly move on Bush's part. He is so detached...

        --Argh

Unemployment is not my way of life and I'm sure it is not the way of life for 99% of the people who are now jobless. It has been a very humble experience and I have learned that being unemployed has a horrible stigma attached. My benefits ran out two weeks ago. We have a child in college and my benefit check was covering her rent. She is not qualified for ANY grants or FASFA money due to our 2007 tax return (because our combined income was tied into my previous employment)a Home equity loan is out since our home has DECREASED in value and student loans are hard to find plus interest rates are high. We are struggling to pay bills with one income not to mention health care costs. We have done everything right in the past and now I feel like we need just alittle help along with the other thousands who just need to eat. I guess that is hard to understand when you are living in the best public housing (the White House) and receiving free lifetime health care etc...like George Bush is.

        --Kristie

I RAN OUT OF BENEFITS 4/2006 , IF THEY PASS THE EXTENSION FOR THE 26 WEEKS WILL I BE RECIEVE ANY OF THIS MONEY?

        --Ken

please pass this I've not been able to find work since July 2007

        --Larry

please vote yes.my wife and i are in our early 70s and can,t find work. our benefts have expired. THANK YOU!!!!

        --Harold

For updates on the bill, resources for unemployed workers, and to join a discussion about unemployment, visit the National Employment Law Center's UnemployedWorkers.org.

Thanks to Michele Martin at Bamboo Project blog whose 31 Day Comment Challenge inspired this post.

Comments

[Michele Martin]

This is a great, although heartbreaking example of writing a post based on people's comments, Bronwyn. It makes me sick to see how people are suffering because of the short-sighted and, frankly, inexplicable response of the White House to this issue. It's disgusting to see how little they care for people in this country.

[Bryan]

I don't think most people even know where to go when they loose their job. There are a lot of resources out thier though such as 2-1-1.org (shameless plug: http://worldofbigbry.blogspot.com/2008/02/2-1-1-for-assistance.html I spoke with a lady at church last week who said that her benifits ran out a long time ago after she was laid off from Walmart. I told her about the local One-Stop and she was suprised that it even existed. Using the internet and associated tools would greatly enhance the ability to get people jobs. But, it may be that workforce organizations don't want to decrease the unemployment rate too fast because they would then loose money. At least that's what's happening in Louisianna right now. http://worldofbigbry.blogspot.com/

[Amelia]

I too have been unemployed since November and have been activity searching for work since. Recently I have been on more 1st and 2nd interviews so hopefully I will land something quick. My unemployment ran out about 3 weeks ago, and I am on the brinks of loosing it. The positions in which I am interviewing for conducts extensive background checks which take a long time and they includes financial obligation check. I am so desperate to keep my financial obligations in fair condition that I have borrowed money from family, money that I do not know when I will be able to pay back, not only am I in such a financial crunch but digging a bigger hole. And so close to landing a job.

[Bronwyn]

Good luck, Amelia. I hope you land a job soon. Thanks for sharing your experience.

[Terry]

I have been out of work since august 2007 and i ran out of my unemployment benefits in april of 2008 and i live in michigan the most hardest hit state with highest rate in unemployed workers. and i cant even collect cash assist thru my family independant agnecy because i am single male with no kids. and i cant even afford health insurance because i have no money to cover the premuims and i need to go to my doctors so i can get a check up. so please please please pass this bill. because to me it seems like bush does not care about the people that are really hurting and that is the thousands and thousands of us americans who work hard to try to find jobs and we cant even pay for gas.