(X-post) Turn, turn, turn...

[barelyproper]

This first month of the new year is indeed time for changes. I feel myself growing and stretching, but I am not sure in what directions I am headed. I think I know where I will live in one months time. I do not know what I will be doing for money, but would prefer not to have to use unemployment

Comments

[ribbin]

*laughs* ignore them. Having used unemployment, I can tell you exactly how it works: You file for it (you can do this online). You get a letter with a scheduled phone call. You answer the phone. You answer their questions. They say thank you, and hang up. Then you start receiving money a week after it's through.

Then, you have to fill out some paperwork saying how many hours you worked in a given week, and how much you made. That money is deducted from your check. After a while (I think a month or two), you need to start giving evidence that you've started looking for work. This basically means you're using an employment agency.

If you're on unemployment for a year, it stops.

It really is that simple. Kind of a pain in the ass? Sure, but it's a hell of a lot less work than a job, and if there's a problem (such a misunderstanding or really anything that wasn't your fault), you WILL get that money eventually, although it might be delayed. For instance: I once had a misunderstanding about filling in a form. It wasn't filled in EXACTLY like the other one. So I didn't get money for that week, I got a letter saying to call them. Did, they sent me another one (a week later) I filled it in the same way and sent it back, they filed it a week later, and a week after that I got a double check. Totally worth spending a couple of hours calling back and filling out the dumb form twice.

Seriously. It's not hard if you're willing to follow up on things. And it's free money! And don't even start on that "responsible people don't use unemployment"- I felt that way too, but seriously, it's the government making sure people don't end up homeless. It's OK to use it. It's there to be used. You paid your income tax, you paid into that pot, now it's your turn to pull some back out.

Or don't. Your call:)

[kid_lit_fan]

IAWTC. Yes, it is a pain if it suddenly stops, but A)You can usually re-start it and B)It is better to have it then not than to not have it. It is hundreds or thousands of dollars that ARE YOURS BY RIGHT.

I am currently a month behind (some weeks, I don't work full-time so I still get some of the unemployment), because I filled something out incorrectly, but I will be getting four (small) checks in the next couple days.

Also, having to put something down on the reverse side of "Did you look for work? If "Yes," please fill out reverse side" is a good motivator for looking.