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170,000 Californians could benefit from jobless extension
September 23rd, 2009, 2:44 pm · 36 Comments · posted by Mary Ann Milbourn
A bill that would extend unemployment for 13 weeks could aid 170,000 Californians whose benefits will run out by the end of the year, says the state Employment Development Department.
The House of Representatives approved the bill, H.R. 3548, Tuesday, Sept. 22. It must also be approved by the Senate and signed by the President before becoming law.
Unemployment benefits, which are funded by employers, usually are only available for 26 weeks. However, as the recession deepened over the last year, Congress approved three extensions.
Workers in high-unemployment states like California can now get up to 79 weeks of jobless benefits paying $65 to $475 a week.
But even with those extensions, thousands of workers are running out of benefits. EDD officials estimate 66,000 already have fallen off California's unemployment rolls.
With the unemployment rate across the country continuing to rise — California's hit 12.2% in August — pressure has increased on Congress to approve a fourth extension. The new bill, which was passed as an emergency measure, is expected to provide additional benefits in 27 states.
The bill sailed through the House of Representatives on a 331-83 vote, but there are some who have reservations.
They argue that unemployment should be a temporary safety net and that giving people 92 weeks of benefits makes it more of a welfare program being run at the expense of the businesses that must pay for it.
What do you think? Vote in the Register's poll:
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To those who voted here under "no, people should find jobs" are obviously people who have jobs and have no idea how hard it is to find a job. Quit your job and try to find another one, then you will see.
its not a matter of the difficulty of finding a job in this market. because as a recruiter i know that there are plenty of positions available (3,600 jobs in Irvine posted on Monster today)
The question is whether or not it is correct for people/organizations to continue to pick up the tab for people who are unemployed.
my advice, go get some skills, stop being picky, focus on self improvement...and get out of my pocket.
Easier said than done Jose.
If a person, lets say, has been a bookkeeper for over 15 years, then loses her job, then needs to find a whole other career, like taking blood at some medical center, that person would have to go back to school, which is fine, but in the meantime, that person needs her unemployment to survive. It will take time for people to learn new skills. But I have to agree on one thing, some people are not looking and are sucking up the benefits and just waiting for something to happen instead of making something to happen. Besides, unemployment checks are not that big, it is hard to live on 300.00 per week, but it does help.
all i know is that if MCcain would be our president there would be alot of more people on the streets alot more homes lost no extensions on unemployment benefits. thank god for OBAMA.
I personally have applied for over 300 jobs in the last 6 months. If I am fortunate enough to even hear back from anyone , there are usually more than 50 other candidates for the job. My benefits ran out last month. I live in northern San Diego County. If you can get me any of those 3,600 jobs you refer to, I'll take it now!
I have skills, I have gone back to school and have another degree in Auto Technology and I am ASE certified, can't get an interview or a job.
Take that Jose.
JOSE:
New skills you say. I know people who have gotten training for new skills spending in excess of $10,000 only to be replace by a person in their 20's coming into this country on a H1B work visa from India. The person from Inida is doing 100% of the job with new skills replacing a person who was 53 with more skiills and experience. He is no longer working and has almost no chance a finding a new job with his new skills. So those who just tell the 50+ to get new skills do not live in the real world where the 50+ no longer are respected or wanted by the job market with jobs that pay decent wages.
jose wow ur incredible 3600 jobs lol im a carpenter can build a home from the ground up, plummbing, electrical,drywall well everything. here Ive gone to construction sites when they r barely clearing the ground to build and they have already posted a sign that they r not hiring with just bulldozers cleaning lol THERE R NO JOBS available
I was laid off in Jan-09 and lucky enough to find a job in April-09. However, I totally agree with John. It's really really hard to find a job out there. So those who said "NO" should think twice before they speak up such a thing.
No, try having the job you've held for 10 years vanish from under you with no notice nor warning; "nothing personal, it's just a business decision." Then try to find work as you live off savings, then investments, then credit cards and loans from friends and family; always with the same, vein hope that that Law of Large Numbers would have to mean that somebody, someplace is going to call you after submitting 1,500 resumes all across the country and Europe, and that you'll be able to have your life back again!
That sucks, but honestly, it sucks just as much whether you have 40 years, 20 years, 10 years, 5 years or no years experience to be laid off. We all get stuck in the same boat of not being able to find work, have to cut back on everything and blow through your savings. Trust me, it is just as rough on everyone else out there!
I think it also should be pointed out that when we lost our jobs many of our credit scores also took a plung down the toilet. I was then unable to meet my obligations and now my credit has suffered greatly. I have often made it to the last interview just to find they could not hire me do to my credit score. I have 10 years expirence in the finance industry and have all of given up on applying to any jobs in the field because of my credit. There are many things such as these that people need to take into consideration when passing judgement. I am in school now to be a medical assistant but without my unemplyment I would not be able to survive. Just remember what go's around, comes all the way back around.
Amazing some people want unemployment benefits stopped at a time of record high unemployment. You would have a case if the unemployment rate was still at 4 or 5 percent, but not when it's over 12 percent.
If you stop the benefits home foreclosures would increase, more people would be homeless, more companies would go under (since people would not have money). Things would only get worst by cutting benefits now.
My wife lost her job. She is on unemployment. She fills out applications every day, both online and in person. She has her resume on several of the online locations like Monster, etc. She has been on a plethora of interviews; all usually have 200-300 applicants there for one job. She pounds the pavement every day and can't find a job. So yeah, I think unemployment should be extended. If we didn't have her unemployment, we wouldn't be able to pay our mortgage. At least in her case, calling unemployment "welfare" as in the article, isn't fair. She wants to find a job. She cries at least once a week because she can't find a job. The difference here is that she wants to work. So calling it welfare may apply for some, but not all.
I hope your wife finds a job real soon.
I too have been through the same ordeal, it's so awful and it throws you into a deep depression. Many blessings to the both of you.
:)
This is certainly NOT about people who want to sit home and collect a check. This is about people who would do anything to get a job and earn money, but there just aren't any jobs. I've be to interviews with over 100 people applying for 1 job.
Companies have stopped all new projects and are focused on just saving money on normal business operations. There is almost no hiring for people that help companies build business.
I agree with the statements above. I got laid off from my job in January but recently landed a part-time job. I would do anything to get a full time job again with benefits. I now sent out over 200 resumes and have been on interviews, but no luck. It is sooooo competitive right now that you have to compete with all the East Coast people that are looking for jobs too. I'm in financial services but teaching was the only thing to helped save me for now. I always thought unemployment was for the lazy but these times are truly different. You really cannot find a job right now. You think I want to stay home all week long? It drives me crazy.
Yes the people who are looking for a job need to be helped. This program has no money and is filled with state I.O.U.s in the billions. Just like Obama, keep printing money and let the next generation pay it back.
Where are all the good times we read about, stock market up over 50% and home prices, sales up? Get real - you can't have real growth without jobs.
I completely agree with John!! Its tough out there looking for work. People who have JOBS quit them and try competing with the rest of us!!
My significant was laid off early this year and was fortunate to find a position through a friend, albeit at a slight cut in pay and with a longer commute. I know it is a tough time in the labor market and I support extension of benefits for the truly affected.
What I don't support are the two other people I know who have decided to, in essence, take a paid vacation. One is passively job seeking, but mostly just spending his days at the gym and his nights socializing. The only thing he works at is finding a way to stretch and maximize his "vacation" benefits. The other is a laid off school teacher who has decided to collect unemployment until the district is hiring again.
I agree with all of you. The job market here is terrible; I feel your pain.
Many who have long term jobs or bought OC homes years ago don't understand. If you purchased a house and/or incurred substantial debt recently and lose your job...you're potentially in deep trouble.
There are decent job markets out there, and good jobs to be had...unfortunately, not many here in California. Like it or not, it's true... for most it's a difficult decision whether to stay here and hope, or bite the bullet, deal with reality, and move on.
California has had a 'pretend' economy revolving around housing fraud, village idiots and their HELOC ATM machine withdrawls for a decade. Those days are long gone.
The current employment landscape is not likely to improve for at least 3-5 years, especially in Calif. Trillions of $'s in capital have been destroyed and there is simply no catalyst to fuel an equivalent expansion. In fact, the current levels could be the new norm for a decade or more.
GET OVER IT. MOVE-ON AND OUT, THE JOBS AREN'T COMING BACK.
Right on, BOGEY.
No one has a "right" to live in California. Pack up a UHaul and hit the highway.
If you haven't saved enough buffer cash to weather this storm over all of your years of employment, then you weren't making enough money to live in California anyways.
man you follks have bad mojo.
The Wall Street crooks have stolen literally $TRILLIONS$ of dollars from you folks and few of you even notice let alone voice your disapproval. But after the corporate pigmen blow up the economy forcing people from their jobs you cry like banchees when a tiny piece of the public treasure returns to the common working-class peon. hah. Do you have any idea whatsoever how much corruption there is that goes on between your elected officials and the Wall Street crooks? Educate yourselves. I would much rather have the money returned to common, ordianary ham 'n egger than go to the Wall Street pigs!
ocobserver, great point, and I mean it, I love your comment.
I was just discussing this the other day, and I for one am so sick and tired of our Government Officials, they are a joke to say the least. Corruption is at it's highest level in many places and if we can get that under control then our Country will be a great place to live like it once was. I can't even watch the news hardly anymore, because I truly get sick to my stomach.
:)
I'm glad to see this bill passed the House of Representatives because California really needs it. But, I'm very disappointed in the three congressmen from California who voted against it. Tom McClintock from District 4 where in one of his counties alone the unemployment rate (Plumas County) is 18.9 %. The other two were Duncan Hunter from San Diego area and Devin Nunes from Tulare. Very disappointed in their vote and would like to know why they voted against HR3548.
If every unemployed person out there would take a few minutes from their job search and SLAM all their elected officials from State Assembly thru Whitehouse with our emails, letters and phone calls, expressing to them how bad we really are hurting out here- maybe we can all make an impact.
The numbers for continued claims of UEI do not reflect the millions who no longer have any benefits to collect - but we still do not have jobs!
If there are no jobs where you live, move to places where the jobs are!
There are places that are hiring: Texas and the panhandle states, North Dakota, South Dakota, Alaska, Montana, Nevada (want businesses to move there), and parts of Colorado..
Leave California! The ship is sinking unless you are already wealthy or Mexican. Andwealthy Mexicans really stand to prosper. :)
Unemployment is not like welfare and our state's food stamp programs?
You mean California has an end date to this giveaway?
My friend's sister keeps getting babes and more bucks each month.
We had better turn to the Federal Government in Washington and change this. Bet they want people to collect more from the richer folks.
Can't the Newport Beach residents just pay more taxes to cover it?
We do not have to wait for the sea to rise, this state is sinking on it's own.
K77
No Jose, there are not 3,600 jobs posted today on Monster in Irvine.
There are 166 jobs posted today in Irvine. Irvine is the business hub in this region and that is and indicator of just how bad things really are.
There have been 3,600 jobs posted in the last 60 days. I would think many of the older positions have already been filled or maybe they are "scam listings".
Well....
Looks like Jose is getting a good ass kicking....AND a good dose of reality !!
The goverment should extend unemployment benerfit and to create job in U.S
I support to increase tax on any products make in China. Look.... You see how many product make in USA
I live in eastern PA. We have 35,000 unemployed people here at last count. Our rate is near 10%. Our local lawmakers have no clue. The next county over has a $45,000,000 surplus in their budget. They still claim they need to raise taxes by 9%. (We need the money). The local hospital had a $75,000,000 surplus in their budget. (We need the money). I lost my job in March of 2007. I went to get retraining, the answer was "We do not have programs for people like you". & "We have no money for job retraining". & while our lawmakers claim there are jobs out there nobody can seem to find them. Must be the "Hidden job market". People need all the unemployment they can get until the jobs come back from China, Mexico, & were ever else our government helped send them.
Andrew u r right alot of people dont get it things made AMERICA are of the best quality and just so all of u buying import cars just know that when u buy an import CAR 60% of the price goes back to jApAn or korea or europe n we are eatin s#$%^%&T here thanks alot SELLOUTS. buy american to keep our economy strong and yes we need the extension im broke and my home is in foreclosure already will have to move b4 christmas to a 1bd apt we r 5 in my family ooooh wait also my car will be picked up soon also im hiding it to have something to drive meanwhile thanks republicans and jose wake up look around u .