"unemployment" is currently 79 wks in Michigan

**Joan.of.the.Arch** · 08-09-2009, 08:15 AM

It sure can be frustrating to see friends limit themselves. You can begin to wonder if you do share values commonly enough to sustain a friendship.

Sorry to say, but my knee-jerk reaction to the Michigan employment situation is, "Move! Get out of there! There are not enough jobs to go around and that is not going to change any time soon."

**Goldy1** · 08-09-2009, 09:12 AM

Move is a great option. Obstacles do include selling a current home if that is an issue. I have read there are no big employment "hubs" to move to these days either. Cost of living is nice in MI too,.

**disneysteve** · 08-09-2009, 10:43 AM

Originally posted by Goldy1 View Post

I just have freinds who will not even look for a job until it runs out.

I know many people like this, family members included. They see no reason to start looking for work until a couple of weeks before their benefits are due to end. That's the problem with extending the benefits period. It doesn't get people back to work any sooner. In fact, it prolongs them getting back to work.

**FrugalTexan75** · 08-09-2009, 01:03 PM

I don't know how UI works in other states, but in Texas you have to be able to prove that you have done at least 5 qualifying work searches per week in order to receive unemployment. They also lower the amount of qualifying job wage searches after a certain amount of time on UI. So, for example, if I had been offered a job making $12.50/hr or more in the first 18 weeks of UI, and declined it, I would have lost my benefits. After that, if I was offered a job making $12/hr or more, and declined it, I would lose benefits. And so on. So I would imagine that after a certain time period on UI the "low wage" amount would have come pretty close to minimum wage.

**disneysteve** · 08-09-2009, 02:16 PM

Originally posted by FrugalTexan75 View Post

I don't know how UI works in other states, but in Texas you have to be able to prove that you have done at least 5 qualifying work searches per week in order to receive unemployment.

I don't know how it works in PA (where most of the folks I referred to live) but they seem to have no trouble collecting for the full period and then going back to work right after benefits run out.

**cantretire** · 08-09-2009, 04:08 PM

but some are wanting to start getting expereince in new fields, but frankly, feel caught between a wall and a hard place

That says a lot right there. Some people simply can't go back to what they used to do as those jobs may not exist anymore. I was laid off the end of January. I have had precisely ONE interview 3 weeks ago - and didn't get the job. I look for work 6-7 days a week. UI requires that you apply to a certain number of jobs a week to collect. I have 28 years working experience and recently earned my BA - Magna Cum Laude. I'm great with computers and can learn new programs quickly.

I'm in a NYC borough. I pay a reasonable, below-market rent. Moving isn't an option, where would I go? It's like this countrywide. There simply are not enough jobs - at any salary, high or low - to go around. Employers are getting 300 - 400 resumes per job posting. Even temp jobs are impossible to get. I have dozens of websites that I visit every week, and I can't even begin to count the number of company websites I've visited, multiple times, over the last 6 months. Please don't tell us to 'go directly to the company and drop of a resume'. The office buildings do not let you in without an appointment due to security issues.

For many of us, school is not an option no matter how much we desire it. I'm still paying for my BA. Many short programs are not offered at night, so those can't be taken as we have to be available during the day for work as a provision of UI.

Many people have given up on looking and I can understand that. I have days where I simply can't bear to look for a job, knowing that I have nearly no chance of getting one at this time. So, I take a break for a day or two and do research on a business I hope to open one day. Goldy stated that her friends are not bums, but that they aren’t looking. How do you know that they aren’t looking? If these people, who have been so productive in the past, have given up, don’t you wonder why? Don’t you think there is something, somewhere seriously wrong?

My original UI ran out today. I should be eligible for the 33 weeks worth of extensions, at least 20 of them. If not, I’ll have to move back to my parents’ house within the next 2 months. I may need to do this even if I get it, depending on how long my savings hold out.

I find that most of the people complaining about UI are people with jobs. Why? You're not paying for it.

For the critics - what do you think you'll do if your boss calls you into his/her office and tells you that you no longer have a job? Do you think you have a better ability to find a job than the millions already looking?

**cicy33** · 08-09-2009, 04:19 PM

This is one my huge areas too. Lost my job making about 15 an hour. I really can't afford min wage. My rent (which is low compared to some) is $550 per month. Add in utilities, insurance and regular bills and I would be broke. I also feel that since I have had employment significantly above min wage for many years that i want to try hard to get back to that. UI is allowing me that opportunity. One argument I had with a UI employee was over the job search. They asked where I had looked and I advised them I sent resumes via email, went to monster.com and sent more resumes, etc. They said that was not what they wanted. they wanted me to go in person. They just don't understand that is not how it is done anymore. If you are applying for a decent paying job at a good place it is primarily done on the net. and as said above. nobody is hiring much

**DC Metro Crab** · 08-09-2009, 07:49 PM

My thought on this is to not be negatively judgemental. We're talking of people who were kicked out of a dying industry, of all they had ever known, and are living in the most economically depressed area in the national. It's easy to stand outside and see them as being lazy, but most likely they are shell shocked and running into analysis paralysis, depressed, or out of money and stuck geographically. They are in one sh*tty maelstorm, I find no reason to kick them while they are down or rescind friendship and support. This is when they need it the most!

**Goldy1** · 08-09-2009, 07:49 PM

I just met a lot of people in school who openly admited to "riding" out unemployment.
They said they lied about applying for jobs.
I honestly think a nice solution would be cut the benefits in half after so many extensions??

**disneysteve** · 08-10-2009, 05:30 AM

Originally posted by DC Metro Crab View Post

We're talking of people who were kicked out of a dying industry, of all they had ever known, and are living in the most economically depressed area in the national.

I wasn't referring to folks in this situation in my previous post. I was talking about folks in my area: Philadelphia/South Jersey. I know folks who used every day of their benefits before going back to work, and they did that multiple times over the years. They saw no reason to return to work and give up potential unemployment benefits.

**TBH** · 08-10-2009, 06:40 AM

I have a friend like this who is always bragging about how much fun he's having while he's collecting unemployment, and he has stopped looking for work. I think it's pretty easy to pretend you're looking for work when you're really not.

But the person I know who is treating this like a vacation is in the minority. Most people I know who have lost work are looking for a job really diligently and are grateful to have the UC to help them get through.

**sofocused978** · 08-10-2009, 08:13 AM

I have been out of work since October 08. I browse job postings weekly and there are hardly any jobs out there that would pay me what I was making before I got canned from my job. In this market with millions of people seeking employment, employers have their pick of the litter. Almost every job I have seen online is looking for people with degrees and those are the people who will be hired. There was a local golf course that put up a posting seeking a grounds keeper for something like $10/hr and had over 400 applicants for that one position. I hardly believe that golf course ever looked at 1/2 of the applications.

I am getting $525 a week from UI + free health insurance. Why would I give that up and go work someplace for $10/hr, probably on an odd shift nobody else wants to work when I was making 20/hr prior? I'm sorry but I REFUSE to work for $10hr. I could probably collect cans off the side of the road and make more than that without having to bust my butt and deal with someones bs.

**cicy33** · 08-10-2009, 08:21 AM

What amazes me is the people that think that unemployment pays a whole lot. I make around half what I used to. If I go ahead and take a job at min wage then when am I supposed to look for a job that actually pays well and offers me benefits? Fortunately UI does allow for that. They don't dock you if you are trying to get close to what you had before.

**sofocused978** · 08-10-2009, 08:29 AM

I think it really depends on which state you are from. Some are alot better than others.

"unemployment" is currently 79 wks in Michigan