Fear And Hopelessness As Five Families Prepare To Lose Unemployment Benefits

[xchrom]

http://www.buzzfeed.com/jacobfischler/fear-and-hopelessness-as-five-families-prepare-to-lose-unemp


Job seekers enter a job fair at a new Target retail store on Aug. 15, 2013, in San Francisco. Hundreds of job seekers applied for jobs during a job fair to staff a new Target city store. Justin Sullivan / Getty Images

About 1.3 million long-term unemployed Americans will stop receiving federal unemployment benefits beginning Saturday, the consequence over a debate in Washington about the size and role of government.

***SNIP


Bruce and Celeste Leibowitz — Brooklyn, N.Y.

In 2009, Bruce Leibowitz was laid off from his job at the National Envelope Corporation in Long Island City, N.Y. Since then he’s struggled to find long-term employment. He’s held several odd jobs since, but none have lasted. He’s been on unemployment three of the last five years, supported in part by his wife, Celeste, who works as a freelance fundraiser.

***SNIP

Randy Russo — Chicago, Ill.

Randy Russo, 50, lost his job as a design project manager in March. Dipping into his savings, Russo attends web design classes under the Work Investment Act (WIA), trying to improve his employment odds. He’s worked in the graphics field for the last 35 years, but the job requirements have changed since he started. It took four months just to be approved for the WIA program and it’ll take another several months to complete. Until then, he’s looked for part-time work that’s been tough to come by.

Kerstin Foster — Naugatuck, Conn.

Kerstin Foster, 45, expects to start work as an office administrator for a civil engineering company on Feb. 1, though she says that date can be pushed back at any time. Her last contract ended in January, and she hasn’t found work since. She has lived off emergency unemployment benefits and the $120 per week she gets in child support for her 13-year-old son; she also supports her 23-year-old son, who lives with her and has also been unable to find work.

[drm604]

1. K&R

This is about real people, not abstract economic theories.

These aren't lazy people who were happy to get by on their inadequate unemployment checks. Living on unemployment is not a picnic. If you're on unemployment that means that you are bringing in less money than when you were when working and, since millions of working people live hand to mouth, and had monthly budgets based on their employed income, living on unemployment is NOT a free ride. It is NOT something that takes away the incentive to find employment. It IS something that hopefully keeps your head above water and slows down the descent into bankruptcy while making it possible to hang on and continue looking for work.

Anyone who thinks that cutting it off is doing them a favour is an idiot or at least is severely sheltered from the reality most Americans face.

[Le Taz Hot]

2. Notice a trend in these 4 examples?

They're all 45 and over.

[progressoid]

4. Yep. And more like it at the link. n/t

[Packerowner740]

6. Lost my last job just as I was coming up on 50

I was also starting to have some pretty serious health issues. Went on unemployment until that ran out but thank god I was approved for disability a year ago. I know how tough it is to find a job once you hit that age. They want to employ the younger kids they can pay half as much.

[SheilaT]

8. The last woman has a 23 year old son who can't find work, it says.

While older workers do seem to be taking the brunt of it, there is an across the board loss of jobs.

[dixiegrrrrl]

3. What's the length of the long term unemployment benefits?

I know the state programs vary, but do not know the federal terms.

Got good news and bad news from my 2 sons, who live across the country from me.

the unemployed one has found a job....yayyy.

The employed one has been laid off.....crap.

[redqueen]

5. 26 weeks of federal benefits.

There was a 13-week extension in place (IIRC) but that was eliminated in this last fiasco.

It will hit some states harder than others. I hope all of those who are hurt by this failure remember who fought for them.

[abelenkpe]

7. Who fought to extend unemployment?

Honest question. Personally feeling quite abandoned. Can't let the kiddos know though.

[ConservativeDemocrat]

13. Obama prods Congress to act on unemployment benefits

And Congress (meaning, really, the GOP), isn't budging.

- C.D. Proud Member of the Reality Based Community

[abelenkpe]

17. At least he said something

Seriously disappointed more aren't pushing to extend.

[ConservativeDemocrat]

20. You misunderstand exactly WHO has to push...

It's the VOTERS who have to push. Not the President. You think the Congressional GOP cares what the President thinks?

- C.D. Proud Member of the Reality Based Community

[Demo_Chris]

15. No one. nt

[ProSense]

19. Here is Bernie Sanders on the situation:

[SheilaT]

9. I can't resist making a very bad

and not funny joke: To every action there is an equal and opposite reaction.

Great that one found a job, hope the other is re-employed soon.

[dixiegrrrrl]

18. They are both over 40...

that is my main concern, knowing the dynamics of this "new America".

I really worry what will happen to them over the next 20 years.

[KG]

10. well thank goodness for all those democrats that voted for this budget. let's elect more!

[DirkGently]

11. We are imprisoned by irrational cruelty in this country.

We can help, but we choose not to. Because cruelty has become a religion and even the most rational, beneficial kindness is its greatest sin.

[Berlum]

12. Republicons shredding America's safety net, and crapping on the poor to enrich the rich. Ptooey.

[Lady Freedom Returns]

14. +1

[Demo_Chris]

16. How long should benefits last, and if forever....

Are you willing to decouple unemployment compensation payments from income while employed?