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Jobless have no 'fail-safe' measures
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Anyone who has been unemployed can relate to the special circumstances being forced upon us. We are at the mercy of state governments who are beholden to federal laws that seem destined to ensure the average American is on the brink of disaster before it steps in to help.
While the New Mexico unemployment rate officially hit 6.5 percent in May, according to the U.S. Labor Dept., our local Workforce “Solutions,” is about five months behind the tiers of payment before the federal unemployment extension benefits can be paid.
While I qualified for the extended federal unemployment benefits May 3, from prior work I performed in Arizona before I had to relocate here, the state was only required to pay me two weeks because I lived in another state that had not reached 6 percent unemployment.
After two weeks, and promise of 13 weeks, I was abruptly cut off from my unemployment benefits. It took another two weeks to get through on the telephone to find out why.
Does anyone realize what a measly $2,460 can do for my life? I could keep my apartment, save my car insurance, pay my storage fees, have money for gas, and food. What, too much to ask? (Before you comment, I have worked for the past 30 years, paid into unemployment, and have literally applied for more than 400 jobs since last Fall.)
According to representatives from the Arizona Department of Economic “Security,” 25 states, including Colorado and New Mexico are not enacting the federal extended unemployment benefits, and probably won’t until the Fall. Meanwhile, all of us who worked in a state that has enacted the 6 percent rule, and moved to one of those 25 states who have not, are screwed.
After being in contact with my lawmaker, Sen. Tom Udall, I found out they have no jurisdiction over the situation and did not assist me. They put me in touch with the Arizona DES, and New Mexico Workforce, who ran me around for another two weeks because no one I talked to, knew anything about it.
Finally, a contact through New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson’s office called me last week with great news. New Mexico has acknowledged its 6.5 percent unemployment, and soon I would be able to get my benefits started again. It was a great Fourth of July weekend, because I knew I wouldn’t have to give up my apartment, and would have gas and other necessities to keep looking for a job.
Finally, a contact through New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson’s office called me last week with great news. New Mexico has acknowledged its 6.5 percent unemployment, and soon I would be able to get my benefits started again. It was a great Fourth of July weekend, because I knew I wouldn’t have to give up my apartment, and would have gas and other necessities to keep looking for a job.
Well, on Monday this week, I heard from New Mexico Workforce. After researching my case, it will be at least another 26 weeks before my benefits start up again. It was explained that New Mexico had to exhaust state tiers of payments and federal tiers of payments before it would actually be lined up for the federal extended unemployment benefits.
I’ve spent the week on the phone. With a pay or quit notice from my landlord, I got the Albuquerque Community Tool Kit. It is a laminated, spiral bound resource guide that lists assistance from food stamps to women’s shelters.
It took all week to find out that out of the 11 agencies listed to assist with rent, 10 of them have no funding and have not offered rental assistance for some time. The one agency that has money, told me to call between 1 and 2 p.m. Tuesday to try and get an appointment. Despite my fast redial I was not one of the lucky ones to get even an answer or a subsequent appointment.
I did qualify for food stamps, but they won’t pay until the 12th. If I was a drug addict, or a beaten woman, I could get shelter. If I had children, I could get money for toilet paper.
Food stamps, used by a reported 38 million Americans now, can only be used for boxed or fresh food. You can’t get any other items but food, and it cannot be prepared already.
So when I live in my car soon, I can’t grab a cooked chicken breast, but I can get it raw and maybe cook it on my engine? I’m not sure how it will play out yet. (Let’s not even talk about the other people in line looking at you with disgust as you pay with your food stamps debit (EBT) card.)
After the frustration and humiliation of this week, I finally called Gov. Richardson’s office and told my contact of the situation and asked only thing: I want proof that President Barack Obama knows what is going on with these convoluted, vary from state-to-state, unexplainable, unattainable regulations and requirements my government has put on this “stimulus.” I haven’t heard back.
How the hell are these lawmakers going to fix the healthcare system, when the “fail-safe” system of unemployment is not working as it should? Soon, there will be thousands more people who are on the streets. It is ridiculous.
For more info: http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0709/24697.html
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resources ·
homeless ·
aid ·
Obama Administration ·
unemployment ·
extended benefits ·
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