Voices of the Unemployed

The Limited Federal Extension of Jobless Benefits
Fails to Respond to the Voices of the Unemployed
(May, 2003)
By National Employment Law Project

The day before leaving for the Memorial Day recess, the House of Representatives voted to continue the limited federal program of extended unemployment benefits until the end of the year.   The Senate is expected to approve the legislation today and send the measure to the President for his signature before the program expires May 31st.  The Democrats in the House and the Senate are expected to call for future votes to provide more than the limited 13 weeks of benefits under the current program.  

The decision to continue the program while only providing 13 weeks of assistance denies unemployment checks to more than one million workers who have run out of their limited federal benefits and still find themselves unemployed.  Another 680,000 workers are expected to exhaust their federal benefits over the next three months.   What follows are key findings from a recent national survey of unemployed workers (conducted by Peter D. Hart Research Associates for the National Employment Law Project) that illustrate the serious limitations of the new extension legislation.  Also provided are the related comments of unemployed workers excerpted from www.UnemployedWorkers.org.

Unemployment Benefits Provide Critical Support to Workers and their Families

• 78 percent of unemployed workers say that unemployment benefits have been very important in helping meet their family’s basic needs.
• Nearly seven in ten unemployed workers (68 percent) say that the ending of their unemployment benefits has had a major impact on their financial situation.
• 75 percent of unemployed workers say that it would be very helpful for Congress to increase the number of weeks of federal extended benefits from 13 to 26 weeks.

My extended benefits have expired and I am now living with my parents. I had to declare bankruptcy and I had my automobile repossessed. Unemployment benefits helped me pay my bills so I could concentrate on finding employment again.
Bill McShane (Tulsa, Oklahoma)

I have been unemployed now for 9 months. This is the first time in over 16 years that I have been unemployed. At the time of my layoff I had two children attending [college] and had it not been for the extension of unemployment insurance benefits my family and I would have suffered terrible financial distress. Those funds were greatly appreciated and needed.
Maria Romero (Coral Springs, Florida) 

My unemployment has run out. My credit is ruined. Now I am in danger of losing my home. I have a family that I can't support. I have tried to get any type of job, but I don't have experience in anything but the computer industry, and a job at a fast food restaurant won’t even cover my grocery bills (not that I haven't tried).                  
Elliot Miller (Berkeley, Illinois)

I have worked in the telecommunications industry for over 14 years and was laid-off at no fault of my own. I have NEVER collected unemployment benefits prior and have exhausted all of my unemployment benefits. For so many who are but a paycheck away from homelessness, unemployment checks may be the only way to keep themselves and their families fed and housed until they find another job.
Ms. Berardi (New Jersey)

Workers Today Are Searching Harder than Ever for Fewer Jobs

• 83 percent of unemployed workers say it is harder today to find an acceptable job compared to when they last had to look for work.
• The average unemployed worker has applied for 29 jobs.

Just as we were finally recovering (from being laid off by IBM in 1998), we were laid off again. My husband exhausted his extension the first week in May. I will exhaust my regular unemployment benefits the first week in June. Out of over 1500 job resumes submitted, I have had two telephone interviews and two in-person interviews. We have even tried Wal Mart.
Collette Puryear (Concord, North Carolina)

Amazes me as that I have been underemployed / underpaid / unemployed for 17 months. I have all the required licenses, background, experience and can interview twice a week & still don't get a job offer. We have built the communities and paid our dues, why do we now need to lose our homes? My young daughter is paying student loans and may have to help save my house.
Anonymous (Minneapolis, Minnesota)

I was laid off in May 2001 from my job as a programmer. To date I am still unemployed and am unable to find the most menial of jobs despite sending out hundreds of resumes for IT and Clerical (which I am overqualified but willing to do) positions.                  
Anonymous (New York, New York) 

Unemployment Causes Severe Economic & Family Hardships

• More than half of the unemployed have had to postpone medical treatment (57 percent) or cut back on spending for food (56 percent).
• One in four (26 percent) of the unemployed has had to move to other housing or move in with friends or relatives.

I was unable to keep my health insurance because I couldn’t afford the COBRA payments. I did try to get low-income medical care provided by the state, but was told that I would have to wait six months after leaving my prior insurer to “qualify.”  I have therefore been unable to refill my medications, see a doctor, or maintain any follow-up treatments for five months.                            
Emily (Minneapolis, Minnesota)

I have been unemployed since September 2002. My unemployment benefits are the only thing allowing me to remain in my apartment.  My extension runs out in July.
Rosalind Brinson (Jersey City, New Jersey)
 
I am female, white, middle age with a home, utilities, car payments and health insurance to maintain.  I do not need more training; I need a job with a livable wage.
Carolann Violissi (East Hampton, Connecticut)