Nearly One Million US Workers Cut Off Unemployment Benefits

First off, the article wad obviously written by a communist/socialist...

"...those deprived of work by the economic crisis of capitalism..."

Bullshit, capitalism itself is not the culprit. A few corrupt power brokers in banking institutions and governments worldwide are responsible but will never be held accountable.

Now I ask this, to collect unemployment, I would need to be employed for at minimum 6 months, if I am fired/layer off at the end of this 6 months, should I be able to collect any "benefit" from the government for a time period up to almost 4 times the length of my employment? That is assinine.

How come it's not Capitalism? Isn't the meme of Capitalism, the bottom line?
That's how jobs get sent overseas and the one willing to work for the less money gets all the jobs.

Business is not at fault. An Ethical business will take in consideration it's obligation to the community, enviroment as much as the bottom line.

It's Capitalism, that has destroyed the ability of everybody all over the earth to make a living by by promoting greed, selfishness and individualism above everything else.

How stupid is it put all the land in a few people's hands and make everybody else forget how to use it?

In the end Capitalism is going to destroy itself as every one who has ever studied what it does in the world, has predicted.

In fact, it's already destroyed--printing money and surviving on credit.

Since the dawn of time, Business used to evlevate society and mankind.

Now most of them just grab, grab, kill, steal, and destroy.

And that's Capitalism--not coorparatism, socialism, communism or anything else.

That's a system that don't care about anything but piling up money for a few that they will never be able to spend or use.

If you have all the money in the world and everybody else is starving, rebelling, or crazy from stress, what is your money going to buy?

So, in closing, dont trust EDD. Now I'm without a job, no money whatsoever coming in, and I cannot get a job.

They are out of money, and this is how they are getting some of it back, by telling you, they overpaid you, and you have to pay it back. Even though I've worked for 27 yrs of my life, and this is the longest I have ever been unemployed.

by the way I am an IT professional with certs of MCP, MCSE and A+ and tons of IT training to boot.


I'll bet you were replaced by Haji.

Ohh totally !! The 99 week thing is suspicious, cause now they are randomly making people pay it back


What???

By what justification? Here, as far as I remember, the ONLY way you can be made to pay back is if you are working, and make over a certain percentage of your UI amount without claiming it, or fail to report that you have obtained employment and receive more payments while employed. My brother used to be a seasonal worker, so I learned quite a bit about it while he was laid off yearly.

On what grounds are they making people pay back UI that they need because they are UNEMPLOYED and not making money?


Well, that's the thing. You know how you have to fill out your bi-weekly form and mail it in, and it asks if you made any money. So I got a temporary job, 1 week job, included it on my form, and they called the company, and the company said I quit. Soo, I got a phone call from EDD one day saying are you ready for your phone interview. I said I wasnt aware I had one. They said they couldnt do it untill I got the paperwork in the mail. They never sent it. I called to let them know I never got it after a 2nd request, when the truth of the matter is, is they never sent it. I waited 4 weeks for this paperwork, in the mean time no benefits. The employer I worked a temp job for, freaked out didnt want to be liable for having to give me benefits, when they werent liable, and I was denied the remainer of my benefits. THEN, I get a letter from EDD in the mail, (funny how you selective they are with paperwork they send you), saying I owed 2 weeks plus a penalty of 300.00. This after I told EDD I was hired as a temp to fill in for 1 week while someone was on vacation. I said they are lying.
I didnt quit ! I called the company and they said they didnt want to be on the hook for my unemployment. WTF !!

So I run into a random person 2 weeks ago, and as we are sharing our unemployment stories, she tells me and EDD rep told her never to include any earnings on the form or they will deny you your benefits and then tell you to pay it back. An EDD rep told her this !!!

My EDD check was my only income. How the hell am I supposed to pay it back, when I cant get a job, and they denied me my benefits ? With what money am I supposed to pay it back with ? Sure I can appeal it, but after talking to a lawyer, I was told I would lose. And that this is a common practice for EDD. And will have to pay it back regardless. All because I was honest !! Do you believe that shit ! Honesty gets you no where !

So, in closing, dont trust EDD. Now I'm without a job, no money whatsoever coming in, and I cannot get a job.

They are out of money, and this is how they are getting some of it back, by telling you, they overpaid you, and you have to pay it back. Even though I've worked for 27 yrs of my life, and this is the longest I have ever been unemployed.

So, in closing, dont trust EDD. Now I'm without a job, no money whatsoever coming in, and I cannot get a job.

They are out of money, and this is how they are getting some of it back, by telling you, they overpaid you, and you have to pay it back. Even though I've worked for 27 yrs of my life, and this is the longest I have ever been unemployed.


This is incredibly harsh. But, sadly, not the first such story I know of, on BOTH sides of the border.

I really feel for you, as I know what it's like to be in a hard place. All I can do is suggest to you the same as I've suggested to others... try to leverage your skillset. Construction, mechanics, IT... whatever you do, try to get it out there. Years ago I kept myself going for a while doing PC repairs and network stuff, by undercutting bigger companies, all through word of mouth. I suggested a friend do the same, which turned into a contract with a construction company for wiring home networking hubs in their new construction development.

As times are getting harder for everyone, more and more people are willing and WANTING to barter and trade for services and goods, and to look for local, less expensive help with things they can't do themselves. You sound like the type that keeps fighting, so I believe you'll make it. Best of luck to you.

i really feel sorry for these people

no job no money

Ohh totally !! The 99 week thing is suspicious, cause now they are randomly making people pay it back


What???

By what justification? Here, as far as I remember, the ONLY way you can be made to pay back is if you are working, and make over a certain percentage of your UI amount without claiming it, or fail to report that you have obtained employment and receive more payments while employed. My brother used to be a seasonal worker, so I learned quite a bit about it while he was laid off yearly.

On what grounds are they making people pay back UI that they need because they are UNEMPLOYED and not making money?


Well, that's the thing. You know how you have to fill out your bi-weekly form and mail it in, and it asks if you made any money. So I got a temporary job, 1 week job, included it on my form, and they called the company, and the company said I quit. Soo, I got a phone call from EDD one day saying are you ready for your phone interview. I said I wasnt aware I had one. They said they couldnt do it untill I got the paperwork in the mail. They never sent it. I called to let them know I never got it after a 2nd request, when the truth of the matter is, is they never sent it. I waited 4 weeks for this paperwork, in the mean time no benefits. The employer I worked a temp job for, freaked out didnt want to be liable for having to give me benefits, when they werent liable, and I was denied the remainer of my benefits. THEN, I get a letter from EDD in the mail, (funny how you selective they are with paperwork they send you), saying I owed 2 weeks plus a penalty of 300.00. This after I told EDD I was hired as a temp to fill in for 1 week while someone was on vacation. I said they are lying.
I didnt quit ! I called the company and they said they didnt want to be on the hook for my unemployment. WTF !!

So I run into a random person 2 weeks ago, and as we are sharing our unemployment stories, she tells me and EDD rep told her never to include any earnings on the form or they will deny you your benefits and then tell you to pay it back. An EDD rep told her this !!!

My EDD check was my only income. How the hell am I supposed to pay it back, when I cant get a job, and they denied me my benefits ? With what money am I supposed to pay it back with ? Sure I can appeal it, but after talking to a lawyer, I was told I would lose. And that this is a common practice for EDD. And will have to pay it back regardless. All because I was honest !! Do you believe that shit ! Honesty gets you no where !

So, in closing, dont trust EDD. Now I'm without a job, no money whatsoever coming in, and I cannot get a job.

They are out of money, and this is how they are getting some of it back, by telling you, they overpaid you, and you have to pay it back. Even though I've worked for 27 yrs of my life, and this is the longest I have ever been unemployed.

Something doesn't add up here.

Every state has different rules...in Ohio you must work a job linger than 6 weeks for the new employer to have any resposibility in you UE. If you work less than 6 week, it all lays on the shoulderof the previous employer. If true in your state, the guy you worked for 1 week has no reason to lie, except stupidity maybe.

Porbablt the hearing was so you could contest what was said about you quitting. You can't quit a job, or refuse to take a job in most circumstances and continue drawing UE. Tha's why they have hearings, to determine if and why you quit or refused employment

Good luck

There have been numerous experiments that involved an almostpure form of socialism/communism/marxism/fascism...because these experiments were conducted under oppressive governments where the 'central commitees' had full reign. But none suceeded. USSR is gone. Cuba...well ask a cuban how his life is.

On the other hand, free market capitalsism has been hampered in it's trials. Unions pressure and even force business to make decisions based on factors other than economic. So does high taxes and government regulations.

Even with these handicaps, free market systems beat central planning time and time again. There is a guy in Utah and some other western states who is ioerating State parks, using the states' hours, fees, and other terms. He pays the states' more than they were making on revenue from the parks, and makes a living for himself and some employees. How can that be?

Sure, it's tough to be without work. But it is better for the whole, it fosters progress. Imagine 100 years ago when technology (autos) took work from wheel wrights, buggy makers and leather whip craftsmen. If the govt had given UE to those people, and to anyone else who came into those trades, would we have the pollution and congested highways we have today (oops, wrong argument). You get the point.

UE is going to remain high as long as govt keeps 'tinkering'. Businesses can't plan, and the changes they can count on are mostly negative (more tax, more liability for employee benefits etc). This same tinkering is slowing investments, capilalists need capital to do their thing.

People are putting up with so much shit these days because they are fearful of losing a job.


Scary, yet true.

It's becoming a rule-by-fear for many. Not only do many have to accept sub-par wages, but overwork and abuse, simply because when employers say "I have a STACK of resumes from people who would be HAPPY to have your job," they're simply telling the TRUTH.

And before anyone comes back with the sorry old "labour board" saw, let's just nip that one right in the bud. Yes, you have recourse to go to the labour board, and if you are in the right, they can force an employer to keep you. JUST long enough for that employer to manufacture a "legitimate" reason to get rid of you. At which point you become a hot potato, because that FOLLOWS you. Who wants to hire a "troublemaker," and who has the time or cares to actually investigate who was in the right?

No, it's clear that there is definitely some sort of truth in the rumours that the higher-ups are finally making a REAL move towards TRUE class separation. There will soon be only two classes... the poor and their owners. Because once things hit a certain level, ALL will be working poor, because everything pools at the bottom of a hill, and those that hold the money can decide just exactly how they want the rest of us to perform.

It's criminal, scary, and sad, but OH so close to being reality...

I just love the attitude of employed people going, GET A JOB! In some ways, I'm kinda excited about the whole house of cards falling down. A lot of assholes will come down with it.

Dont you guys read the news...the recession is over

i really feel sorry for these people

no job no money






for people who arent int the USA, trust me, its not as bad as it been made to sound.....people are just bored and want to see doom. Maybe becuase they cant get laid, maybe becuase they dont want to work, maybe becuase they are on the bottom of the food chain and need something/someone to blame....trust me, what is going on in the US?? Movies, baseball games, picnics, beach, concerts, partys, TV, American Idol....lawns are being mowed, people have jobs, people are getting married , hospitals are running...

i apply for my last check on this monday.
i got 18 weeks because the job i found lasted 5 months and their business went south and i was down sized out.

i don't want an extension, i want to work.
i was laid off twice in two years after 19 years on the one job making $57K a year.

the last job i had i made $45K base.

i am applying for any jobs i can find now even wal mart is full up...

i have four neighbors who had middle class income jobs and they were laid off. all four work at wal mart now.
it's a wonderful life.

if you have a good paying job thank God and pray your not next.

by the way I am an IT professional with certs of MCP, MCSE and A+ and tons of IT training to boot.



oh forgot to mention i am a home owner and father of two young boys.

i feel ashamed that I am on unemployment.
i was taught growing up that a man is supposed to support and nurture his family not be a beggar on the governments tit.

I just love the attitude of employed people going, GET A JOB! In some ways, I'm kinda excited about the whole house of cards falling down. A lot of assholes will come down with it.


I know, doesn't that burn your ass? I know it does mine.

I'm EXTREMELY grateful that I DO have a job, and a good one at that (considering it allows me to be here, having this conversation.) But I also know how HARD it is to find ANY job, and how long it took me to get where I am. The unthinking arrogance of the "get a job" crew stems, IMHO, from one of two sources... those young enough that they are still in school, MAYBE with a part time job, and no REAL responsibilities; and those lucky enough to have and have kept good jobs, either through luck or seniority. I would wager that NONE of the people with that attitude have ever had HARDSHIP when it comes to work, or survival for that matter.

However, I can't agree with you about being in ANY way happy about an impending collapse, if we're unfortunate enough to see it. Arrogant assworms or not, I wouldn't wish that kind of suffering on ANYONE who's not ACTIVELY evil.

The reason you see people still buying stuff and out there like everything is normal is because a lot of people live on CREDIT.

I worked years at a store and most people payed by VISA, MASTERCARD, AMERICAN EXPRESS even for small items that would total a few dollars.

A lot of it is bullshit. You will see the BMW and you don't want to see the 60-100k debt they are in.

And there are a lot of people living on the fringe. I know tons of people out of work and unemployed, luckily it's mostly young people who live at home. If it wasn't for family, a LOT of people would literally be on the streets.

The reason you see people still buying stuff and out there like everything is normal is because a lot of people live on CREDIT.

I worked years at a store and most people payed by VISA, MASTERCARD, AMERICAN EXPRESS even for small items that would total a few dollars.

A lot of it is bullshit. You will see the BMW and you don't want to see the 60-100k debt they are in.

And there are a lot of people living on the fringe. I know tons of people out of work and unemployed, luckily it's mostly young people who live at home. If it wasn't for family, a LOT of people would literally be on the streets.


Run up your credit card at Walmart. (The credit card companies LOVE you if you max)

This is so f'ed.

Unless you know you will get a decent job after University, it is not worth the 40,000 plus debt hole it will create in your life.

It's bullshit that our government won't even help care of those truly in need. For those that are cheating and lieing to get their money, it is handed out with fervor. But for those that are in real need, that have sincerely and avidly looked for employment even down to the smallest tasks yet are denied, those people need our governments help. But our fucked up government is basically saying "fuck you". THEY need to live on unemployment for a year and see where it gets them! Bastards!

Thing is, I have put up with alot of judgemental people telling me there are millions of jobs waiting for me.

We also have the problem of foreigners coming from countries like India where University education is free and come to Canada with a bazillion degrees in IT, Medicine, etc..

The reason you see people still buying stuff and out there like everything is normal is because a lot of people live on CREDIT.

I worked years at a store and most people payed by VISA, MASTERCARD, AMERICAN EXPRESS even for small items that would total a few dollars.

A lot of it is bullshit. You will see the BMW and you don't want to see the 60-100k debt they are in.

And there are a lot of people living on the fringe. I know tons of people out of work and unemployed, luckily it's mostly young people who live at home. If it wasn't for family, a LOT of people would literally be on the streets.


Run up your credit card at Walmart. (The credit card companies LOVE you if you max)

This is so f'ed.


I've taken in people whose debit account get denied and then they get all embarrased and go oh I just deposited my cheque....bs.

I've also taken in tons of peolpe who have maxed out their limit on like 3 credit cards and the 4th one finally goes in. Mind you, where I worked, I could clearly see the parking lot and I'd look to see what kind of car they were driving and it was a lot of SUVs, Lexus, BMWs etc...

IT IS AN ILLUSION. But most don't get it.

Your entire paragraph shows that YOU take no responsibility for the situation you are now in.

It's bullshit that our government won't even help care of those truly in need. For those that are cheating and lieing to get their money, it is handed out with fervor. But for those that are in real need, that have sincerely and avidly looked for employment even down to the smallest tasks yet are denied, those people need our governments help. But our fucked up government is basically saying "fuck you". THEY need to live on unemployment for a year and see where it gets them! Bastards!


You completely misunderstand the system.The government is NOT SET UP to hand out charity for the rest of your life.



WHY blame the government ? It is ultimately YOUR responsibility to feed yourself.

I am neither cruel nor heartless, but you have options, and primarily you need CHARITY, until you can find a job.

I wish you well, but it is NOT the government's fault that you can't find a job.

Private corporations that sent AMERICAN jobs overseas due to their GREED, are partly at fault, but take SOME responsibility for yourself, for God's sake.

YOU should have built up your savings when you WERE working.

Your entire paragraph shows that YOU take no responsibility for the situation you are now in.

Your entire paragraph shows that YOU take no responsibility for the situation you are now in.



I don't understand your position. Spoken like someone who has never truly BEEN "in need."

The government IS RESPONSIBLE to pay those benefits which they deduct from the pay of any citizen, your country or mine. Don't blur the line between UNEMPLOYMENT benefits and welfare payments, because they are two VERY different things.
Taking your stance, I should have the right to tell the government that I WILL not pay into unemployment OR pension, and handle my OWN finances in case of emergency. As I cannot exercise that right, the government is now in contract with me to provide payment of benefits which have been deducted from MY income, drawn by MY labour.

Furthermore, the government is a body elected to, in it's simplest form, shepherd the welfare of it's electorate. That means that MY tax dollars, providing THEIR salaries, give me the right to both expect and demand fair treatment and assistance. By YOUR position, my insurance company can take my money for twenty years, then simply decide to only cover a small portion of the damages incurred in an accident, or none at all, BUT still demand the deductible fee from me.

This makes sense to you?

There have been numerous experiments that involved an almostpure form of socialism/communism/marxism/fascism...because these experiments were conducted under oppressive governments where the 'central commitees' had full reign. But none suceeded. USSR is gone. Cuba...well ask a cuban how his life is.

On the other hand, free market capitalsism has been hampered in it's trials. Unions pressure and even force business to make decisions based on factors other than economic. So does high taxes and government regulations.

Even with these handicaps, free market systems beat central planning time and time again. There is a guy in Utah and some other western states who is ioerating State parks, using the states' hours, fees, and other terms. He pays the states' more than they were making on revenue from the parks, and makes a living for himself and some employees. How can that be?

Sure, it's tough to be without work. But it is better for the whole, it fosters progress. Imagine 100 years ago when technology (autos) took work from wheel wrights, buggy makers and leather whip craftsmen. If the govt had given UE to those people, and to anyone else who came into those trades, would we have the pollution and congested highways we have today (oops, wrong argument). You get the point.

UE is going to remain high as long as govt keeps 'tinkering'. Businesses can't plan, and the changes they can count on are mostly negative (more tax, more liability for employee benefits etc). This same tinkering is slowing investments, capilalists need capital to do their thing.


You need to take the blinders off. When has Capitalism(the lastest incarnation of Imperialism) been a long term success?
I'm not talking in terms of centuries, but milleniums as has Communism which has kept the species of man alive since the dawn of time?

Capitalism has never generated a dime in wealth. It has always subsisted on military might, slavery and robbery. As soon as every Nation got strong enough to resist, it starts to die.

How is a 12T debt a success. How is it wealth?

Your entire paragraph shows that YOU take no responsibility for the situation you are now in.



I don't understand your position. Spoken like someone who has never truly BEEN "in need."

The government IS RESPONSIBLE to pay those benefits which they deduct from the pay of any citizen, your country or mine. Don't blur the line between UNEMPLOYMENT benefits and welfare payments, because they are two VERY different things.
Taking your stance, I should have the right to tell the government that I WILL not pay into unemployment OR pension, and handle my OWN finances in case of emergency. As I cannot exercise that right, the government is now in contract with me to provide payment of benefits which have been deducted from MY income, drawn by MY labour.

Furthermore, the government is a body elected to, in it's simplest form, shepherd the welfare of it's electorate. That means that MY tax dollars, providing THEIR salaries, give me the right to both expect and demand fair treatment and assistance. By YOUR position, my insurance company can take my money for twenty years, then simply decide to only cover a small portion of the damages incurred in an accident, or none at all, BUT still demand the deductible fee from me.

This makes sense to you?



Unemployment "insurance" is paid by the EMPLOYER, not the employee ( unless perhaps the person is in a union, and pays into a "strike" fund ).

Employees only pay for 1/2 of Social Security and Medicare, the employer pays the other half.

My point, which went right over your imbecile-IQ head, is that too many people are whining they need gov't. help, but primarily they FAILED to plan ahead.

I stand by my statement that the guy I responded to, is taking NO personal responsibility for his own sorry situation.

I grew up VERY poor, and the MOMENT I got a job, I started SAVING my money, because I did not want to be poor again.

I never owned a car until I was 25, and it was used.

Unemployment "insurance" is paid by the EMPLOYER, not the employee ( unless perhaps the person is in a union, and pays into a "strike" fund ).

Employees only pay for 1/2 of Social Security and Medicare, the employer pays the other half.

My point, which went right over your imbecile-IQ head, is that too many people are whining they need gov't. help, but primarily they FAILED to plan ahead.

I stand by my statement that the guy I responded to, is taking NO personal responsibility for his own sorry situation.

I grew up VERY poor, and the MOMENT I got a job, I started SAVING my money, because I did not want to be poor again.

I never owned a car until I was 25, and it was used.