Do Tier 5 Unemployment 99'ers Have Right to Gripe?
Years ago I would have never agreed with the fact that a person on unemployment for 99 weeks should deserve any more. But this is a different era. People are suffering in ways financially that can not be compared to any time in recent memory. The misunderstanding is that these so called 99'ers would have been sitting around, collecting checks and perhaps misrepresenting the fact that they are job hunting. But almost a year ago my opinion changed completely on that. I lost my job and have been struggling to find a job ever since. It's been a very hard road for me trying to find a new position. I have a college degree in Journalism and years of experience in the communications field. I can only imagine how tough it might be for those job seekers in this tough job environment who don't have a degree or enough practical experience to land a position.
My story is in the earlier stages compared to those seeking a Tier 5 unemployment extension. I am less than 52 weeks but still waiting on word for the Senate to pass a new unemployment extension to allow to me to go to a new Tier. I have been searching furiously for a job by sending out resume after resume. I want something that relates to my degree and I believe I should have the opportunity to wait for that opportunity. The only problem is there just aren't that many jobs open in the field I majored in while at college. That leaves me battling many many people for one good position. That story is probably very very similar to many of the Tier 5 or 99'ers who are still trying to land a good job that is connected to a career and not just a simple paycheck. If we paid unemployment insurance for all those years--shouldn't everyone be allowed that opportunity up to some extent.
Given the current job market, I think it's an emergency that Tier 5 unemployment seekers are facing. I can completely empathize with their plight considering my current circumstances. My mother would be a Tier 5 unemployment extension beneficiary if Congress were to pass such an item. She has been out of work for nearly 2 years and her last Tier recently expired. She's tried to search for jobs with little or no luck-just like me.
The truth is the job market is absolutely horrible. Personally, I don't want a job on my resume that doesn't lead me in the type of career path that I belong. It may come down to me lowering my expectations if the unemployment extension isn't passed or-dare I say, I get to 99 weeks if it passes and still have had no luck.
I don't plan on making it that far-although I would have never guessed I would be victim to the current job market if you asked me that 50 weeks ago. The goal for me is to have a job within 2 months and I believe that is realistic.
The only problem is that 'realistic' today is not the realistic expectations you had 2-3 years ago. I will most likely take a large cut in pay and have to work my way back to the top of my field or a new field. I still have high hopes.
I can't imagine what a Tier 5 or 99'er is feeling. The level of optimism has to be low if a person has sincerely tried unsuccessfully for nearly 2 years and landed nothing. The Tier 5 hopefuls are not just battling financial woes but in all likelihood some levels of depression. That's why I believe it's imperative these people are helped. If not money, then other incentives like the ability to go back to school and learn a new trade.
I'll do what it takes to keep food on the table but I believe that paying unemployment insurance for the years that I did should mean something. It should mean that I am allowed to find the job of my dreams to replace the one I lost. If it isn't the job of my dreams, it should be close. Tier 5 99'ers should be allowed that right to. At some point, Congress is going to have cut off unemployment benefits somewhere. Right now, given the job market, it just isn't practical to have the Tier 5 people doing without. It's not going to increase spending. It's certainly not going to help the housing market. So Congress faces a tough question of adding to debt or risking many Americans facing a huge individual crisis.
I posted a story about the unemployment extension a few days ago. What I heard was many heart wrenching stories concerning Tier 5 or 99'ers who have lost jobs and face a tough road in the near future. The crisis is happening right now and something needs to be done to cut off the bleeding. There aren't enough jobs to go around. A few months ago, there were 6 candidates for every one position. While that has likely improved, the statistics haven't been altered enough to warrant the Senate delaying an extension of unemployment benefits. I believe that extension should also include a Tier 5 and possibly 6 until things improve.
Published by Chris Houston
Freelance Writer, Communications Specialist and Keyword Analyst in a small corn riddled Hoosier town. That's a mouthful, isn't it? Specifically I write about sports, reality television, entertainment, hot t... View profile
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19 Comments
Post a CommentMy New Name Is "Bank Of Screwed Working Class" Maybe I Will Get A $30.billion Dollar Rescue Package, And Make More Millions, and Forget That The Bailout Was With Taxpayers Money, The American Way!!!
Unemployment, Cobra, Medical insurance is all gone. I am not unemployed by choice. I've been working since I was a teenager. I never expected to find myself unemployed as I neared 50. Some things we have control of and some things we don't. Layoffs and the timing of them are things we have no control of. Why then are we to be left out in the cold with nothing? Afterall, we are not generation welfare recipients. We are hardworking Americans who have experienced the misfortune of being laid off in a downed economy.
Chris, 99ers feel like they have been told they have no value to society and no one cares if they live or die.
To all unemployed, keep certifying your unemployment even if there is "no hope" of an extension to keep the reports reflective of realty.
To those concerned with budget deficits, end war and humanitarian aid to all other countries, end subsidies to business, reverse legislation supporting outsourced labor, end trade deficits, shut down businesses that hire undocumented workers.
Our congressmen both some democrats and especially all the republicans are concerned about the debt and deficits. These were Herbert Hoover's concerns. We need to learn from history. You cannot over stimulate a recession you idiots!!!
You are right about one thing for sure - There aren't enough jobs to go round. Can employers be persuaded to offer job -share? Some employers here in the uk are starting to offer this as a way of helping more people.
One other tiny detail, you don't know how hard it is to get a low-paid job, until you try for that. Much more competition at that level, and you are seen as overqualified = not desperate enough.
The unemployed Americans are suffering. Those waiting for their extensions in the early stages and the 99'rs. The Gov. started this and can't fix it which leaves Americans shattered beyond hope to get back to where we were. You don't get much sympathy from college educated people with jobs. They don't want to see it and can't understand it because they live in a close circle not seeing the forest for the trees. We are shattered like broken glass. I don't think it will be soon when the pieces can be put together. It will take years and prolonging this lack of concern for us is going to cause greater problems. The people who are under 99 weeks have to understand we went through the same torture of waiting. Now we are called 99'rs because since this all began there has been no fix. Look at Congress and you know why. Bunch of selfish people who shouldn't be in office.
I am a 99er. I lost my job and became homeless,living on a porch which the owner nicely pretended that he did not realize I was there and let me at least have shelter from the rain. I finally was okayed for 100. a week unemployment benefit after much red tape. Now I have a room for which I am grateful. I cannot find a job. I am qualified for a variety of jobs, but don't have a degree but do have computer skills. I am a woman, 53 years old, type 2 diabetic and desperate. People joke about even taking a job at McDonalds. well, I would be exstatic to find a minimum wage job at Mcdonalds or any other fast food place. I have tried,mbut jobs are mostly filled by illegals or high school children. I guess I will be back living on a porch(if i'm lucky or on the street if I'm not.) I have no family to help me. I don't know what to do.
why dont i get the 99 weeks if i need them like the rest of the unemployed people? why am i getting cut off after the first tier?
opps typo on the banks that we need to call: Chase, AIG Fanny Mae and others! Lets do to them what they do to us. Call them every 16-22 minutes and give them the option to pay up or we come and repo their buildings, desks, cars, phones etc. We want our money back! NOW!
Supposedly the reason that they haven't passed an extension is because of cost? OK, here's a way to free up money, call all the banks we gave tax payers money and tell them it's time to pay up. Think of it as one big bill collector calling. How much you think we can get 50-200 BILLION, hmm that should be enough to fund UI for a long time to come. WAKE UP CONGRESS pass the Tiers for as long as it takes to get this country going again. There is no excuse for allowing American workers who have fallen on hard times due to NO FAULT OF THEIR OWN to be allowed to starve, lose everything they have while companies like Cahse, AIG and others are allowed to steal our money and never help anyone.
And by the way for the person who said workers don't pay unemployment insurance, I checked my paycheck (from PA) and it comes out of my taxes that are deducted from my pay. Get your facts straight. Everyone pays for it not just employers.