Most of the Unemployed No Longer Receive Unemployment Benefits

[Donnachaidh]

http://www.commondreams.org/headline/2011/11/05-3

WASHINGTON — The jobs crisis has left so many people out of work for so long that most of America's unemployed are no longer receiving unemployment benefits.

Early last year, 75 percent were receiving checks. The figure is now 48 percent — a shift that points to a growing crisis of long-term unemployment. Nearly one-third of America's 14 million unemployed have had no job for a year or more.

Congress is expected to decide by year's end whether to continue providing emergency unemployment benefits for up to 99 weeks in the hardest-hit states. If the emergency benefits expire, the proportion of the unemployed receiving aid would fall further.

The ranks of the poor would also rise. The Census Bureau says unemployment benefits kept 3.2 million people from slipping into poverty last year. It defines poverty as annual income below $22,314 for a family of four.

Much more at the link --

[Rabblevox]

1. I'm soon to be among them...

My UI will be exhausted the week before X-mas. I'm almost certain I will not get another extension. And there are no jobs in sight.

It's going to be a happy fucking new year.

[Glimmer of Hope]

6. I am sorry. I wish things were better.

[YellowRubberDuckie]

10. I'm not sure where you live, but I know a lot of people who are working as servers in restaurants.

After the first week of training, it is fast cash and you can make a crap ton of money. I did it in college. Weekends were normally up to $20 an hour in some cases. If that is an option, I'd recommend it. People suck, but being homeless does too. I hope you find something, man. I'm sorry for your predicament.
Duckie

[Beacool]

14. I'm sorry.

Things are tough for so many people.

I wish you the best.

:hug:

[Tejas]

2. "no job for a year or more"

I'm confused. With no income, how have 4 million people been able to exist for a year or more?

[indepat]

4. Republicans know people will do what they have to do to survive, that

many will turn to petty theft for which they can be charged, convicted, then incarcerated in for-profit prisons. Neat. :patriot:

[Donnachaidh]

7. through the quickly emptying charity organizations

If you've never been through the wringer, it would seem an impossibility.

You BEG from family and friends, you BEG at State level, you BEG through your church -- you spend 24 hours a day scraping up small change to keep your phone working, so you can spend hours on the phone looking for aid.

It's a HORROR scenario. And many of the groups that were there for most are now finding they too are out of funds to help.

[Tejas]

8. Red Cross and Salvation Army here.

The past two hurricanes showed the spirit of giving was still alive.

[Donnachaidh]

15. I can speak from personal experience on both

Both organizations have places where *the spirit of giving* is sadly lacking. In fact, they spend more time looking for cash donations than actually helping people.

[Horse with no Name]

9. Lots of ways to survive

Selling the stuff you own, using predatory lenders, letting your secured stuff get repo'd, losing your house, moving in with relatives or friends or going to a shelter...

but none of it very pretty.

[Donnachaidh]

16. what is stunning is how those who are not affected seem to think it's a breeze to get help

I suppose that's something we can thank our media for, huh?

I live near a very *ritzy* area of Newt Gingrich's district -- and guess what is flourishing in that area?

Pawn Shops.

Title Loan Shops.

Strip malls are emptying out - even in that area. ALL the jewelry stores are now offering to buy back jewelry and gold. Pawn shops on every major street section. Title pawn popping up just as fast.

Yeah -- the economy is getting better. :sarcasm:

[Starry Messenger]

3. recommend.

[autorank]

5. This is why they gave up repealing the Bush tax cuts

To get unemployment extended... what a joke.

K8R

[Horse with no Name]

11. Yep...and the currently unemployed got a few more weeks

and the rich got a few years...


Neat how that works, eh?

[Yooperman]

12. Yep... I was unemployed...

Benefits ran out.... got a job working 15 hours a week at $8.00 an hour. Used to make $15.00 an hour as a furniture/cabinetmaker. 5 of 6 companies I have worked for in last 13 years have moved out of the country or closed altogether. I not only lost my job... once my unemployment ran out... my wife kicked me out as we were slowly sinking and the stress of me not working was the final straw.

I was fortunate that my aged mother had room for me.... and with the meager wages I was taking in was enough to live. However, last week my Mother was put in ICU with a mini-stroke and crisis level hyper-tension which they can't get under control. She will never be coming home again. I don't make enough to support this home... so my future looks bleak. I may be homeless in a matter of weeks.

I contacted an attorney to see if I can get some compensation from my wife...he says I can but that could take months....

I am one of the millions that Cain says just get a job!! .... FUCK YOU Herman Cain - you have NO idea what it is like for those that have had their world collapse around them.

55 years old...and not much to look forward too... it's not supposed to be this way. Fuck NAFTA and all those that thought it would be a boon for America.

[CreekDog]

13. There are dozens of nations that are treating the victims of economic catastrophe better than the US

at what point does all this mean that the US is not the best nation in the world --when other nations treat their needy better than ours?

not the best, no, no, not in this respect.