Wanting to get back to work; I'm sure many people are stuck, just like I am.

[shockey80]

I took myself out of work back in march because my job was very unsafe and my wife and I are in our sixties. I did not want to bring the virus home to my wife and possibly kill her. At first I did not want to apply for unemployment, I was living off my savings. My boss suggested I apply. Luckily I was approved.

Where I live the infection rate is low, but the virus is still around. Because of what Trump and Republicans Governors have done the virus is spreading like a wild fire across the country.

I want to go back to my job, get off unemployment, but I am afraid the virus could spike again where I live. I have been working for over 40 years and I never applied for unemployment until now. I would rather work but I'm stuck.

I may have to look for a safer job, however, I am over sixty and there are not too many jobs available. I am sure there are many people like myself. We want to get back to work but Trump has made it impossible with his madness.

[Demsrule86]

1. Hubs and I were furloughed but the we were laid of permanently.l..three months now with no jobs.

We look everyday...have had some interviews but were mostly ghosted. Hubs has a recruiter who says everything in Ohio is on hold.

[Chili]

11. in Ohio with you

... wishing you both the very best of luck and opportunity. It is rough - please hang in there.

[Demsrule86]

42. It is bad in Ohio.

[Cha]

40. I'm so sorry, Dems!

Good Luck in the near future for finding jobs!

[Demsrule86]

41. We work it everyday Eventually, one of us should get a jo. Thanks Cha

[Tipperary]

2. There are lots of jobs available.

Why do you not go back to your previous one?

[delisen]

6. Op said it was unsafe.nt

[Demsrule86]

8. There are few jobs where I live in Ohio...did you see the most recent unemployment numbers?

[stopbush]

24. There are currently 4.6 workers unemployed for every available job.

There are not “lots of jobs available,” especially if you are over 50, as ageism is rampant in the job market.

[Tipperary]

27. I am over 60.

I had no problem finding a job even after starting SS. Employers like older workers with a goof job history. Ymmv.

[stopbush]

29. I am 65. I have had a very difficult time finding steady work

and have had to take freelance jobs most of the time. Tons of interviews and follow-up interviews but the steady job always seems to go to people in their 30s.

[MoonlitKnight]

35. Have you noticed

That you go through a couple of phone interviews and then they finally do a Skype interview and they see your age and you get ghosted?

[stopbush]

39. Yes. I've taken to wearing a George Clooney mask for the Skype interview.

[PoindexterOglethorpe]

30. Bingo.

I had no trouble finding jobs past age 60. It helped that I didn't have a career, but was always looking at entry-level jobs. A lot of employers, as you said, like older workers with a good job history.

The last time I applied for a job I was about 66, already retired on on SS. The job was posted as part time. Unfortunately, their definition of part time was 30 hours a week, mine was 20. I'd have been hired on the spot were I willing to do 30 hours. As it is, the owner of the small business in question liked me well enough that she took me on two different times for a temp job there.

[ProfessorGAC]

3. Terrible Position

Hope things work out, Shockey.
I understand your position, but thankfully, I'm retired, so I'm not in that situation.
If you worked 40 years, there's nothing wrong with collecting UEI. Especially during a pandemic.
You paid into it for 4 decades! You did it to stay safe. Smart decision.
Hang in there.

[LizBeth]

5. That is what I figured. I had been working since 12 and never took from the system. I am taking

thru July, and fug it.

[ProfessorGAC]

14. As I Told Shockley...

...it's insurance. You paid decades of premiums. Now you need to file a claim.
I've been paying homeowner's premiums for 35 years. Never needed to file a claim.
But, if a tree falls on the house, I'm sure not going to hesitate to file a claim because I never had to before! Same here, for you folks negatively affected by the pandemic.
If it makes you feel better about it, pretend you're collecting my premiums. I'm retired & will never file a claim! LOL!

[LizBeth]

23. Ah, thanks. You know, I knew this,. but yes, thanks. You are right.

[MiniMe]

38. Technically, it is your employer who paid the uninsurance premiums.

[shockey80]

7. I never collected unemployment, even when I was laid off in the past.

I went out and applied for jobs instead. I was a lot younger then and I got hired fairly soon after I was laid off. This is different for sure, I feel trapped.

[Sherman A1]

9. Apply for the UEI

and take every penny you are due.

[ProfessorGAC]

10. Like I Said...

...nothing to be embarrassed about, though. It's insurance. You paid premiums for 4 decades.
Now, you need it.
Collect it until you feel safe going back.

[shockey80]

12. Thanks.

[LizBeth]

4. I am exactly in your position, experienced the same. Last week my boss called me to be the first

to get my job back. They really appreciate me, the job is good enough and I am treating well by management and owner. I even get a bit bored here and think about the fun I had chatting with people. Which is the crux of the problem. He said there were 80 check ins that day> That would be at least 80, probably over a 100 people in a small lobby with no ventilation of people from Wa, Ca, Nv and Az staying with us. So though Oregon has been sitting low, their numbers are worrisomely rising and I could not do it. As I said, bosses like me and told me they understood, give them a call when I am ready. Now, the upside, I read about a light that can be put in these small building that will kill not only covid, but even flu and cold germs. I can see me going back to something like that.

Otherwise I have to find a job where I am not such high risk of getting it from so many people in a small place. At 60 a job is hard. With such high unemployment it is that much tougher with such a competitive field of resumes.

[delisen]

15. Pleas do not feel quilty re unemploy insurance

It is part of our safety net for economic system bumps and emergencies and paid for as insurance.

Your first responsibility is to care for yourself and your spouse, to stay alive and well, and then you will be keeping others safe.

[LizBeth]

25. +1. Yes. Thanks. That is what I told myself when I first stepped out. How stupid would I feel

if I did for a 1300 a month pay check. Lol. Or ended up with a 50k hospital bill.

[marlakay]

31. I totally understand I live in Oregon too

But am concerned about summer travel by car here. My neighbor went camping last weekend on coast and said almost all the cars were from CA so I bet our numbers are going to go up.

Our governor has been careful and just opened up the parks, but unfortunately thats to people who come from states with more cases also.

[LizBeth]

34. It is increasing. 277 increase as of yesterday. Not a high number but it is for Oregon.

[onecaliberal]

13. I was ordered back to work when I can easily work from home. Safety is no consideration .

[shockey80]

17. Wow, if you can work from home why did they order you back?

[onecaliberal]

18. I have no idea.

We had a meeting before returning and were told what protocols would be in place. They’ve literally done none of it. The cleaning isn’t done. They’re not checking for wellness daily. We have a mask policy but there is a woman in the office who refuses to wear a mask and is NOT made to comply.

[Chili]

16. it's horrible to have to choose between work and being safe

Take care of yourselves - and hoping you can find somewhere safer to work.

[onecaliberal]

20. I've been at this job for 15 years.

If I leave I lose years of service and can kiss my retirement goodbye. Sadly I live in a red county.

[shockey80]

21. You are in a tough spot, however consider this.

If your job is unsafe and you catch the virus and die. Your retirement will not matter. Good luck and stay as safe as you can at work.

[onecaliberal]

32. My children will get my retirement.

I am locked in an office with the door closed all day. I have two more days of work and then off for a month. I will have some decisions to make before returning.

[Chili]

36. then stay as long as you can...

Hopefully you can stay on unemployment a little longer?

I'm pulling for you.

[onecaliberal]

37. Thanks. 😊

[jmg257]

19. Going back (upstate NY) July 6th...luckily work picking up, but not much.

[brush]

22. How long before you can get Social Security? If you've worked...

forty years you've earned a good monthly benefit.

[stopbush]

26. That's not necessarily true.

SS looks at your entire work history and takes an average of your top 35 years of earnings to figure your monthly benefit.

If you worked minimum-wage or low-paying jobs most of your life your SS benefit will reflect this.

https://www.ssa.gov/pubs/EN-05-10070.pdf

https://www.ssa.gov/benefits/retirement/estimator.html

[shockey80]

28. Next year, I hope. Needless to say, the future, retirement, has become hard to predict.

I started working in 1977, a long time ago.

[beachbumbob]

33. I feel ya. Im lucky and retired a few years back and same as my wife so we can sit

and watch this play out BUT pretty much messed up retirement, traveling in our RV and our normal routine. But hey, think the stories kids and grand kids can have,