Unemployment Benefits Extensions: Five Reasons Unemployment Benefits Should Be Extended

There seem to be varying opinions about unemployment benefits extensions. Some believe that those that are receiving them are just milking the system, lazy free-loaders enjoying a "vacation" from working and earning their living by taking money for nothing from those who are still employed. They argue that if we keep extending unemployment benefits, those folks will just never bother to go get a job, as they believe they are already too comfortable living on the government dole.

While I wouldn't presume to argue that not one among the millions of people who are receiving unemployment benefits are taking some level of advantage of the time away from a nine to five, I don't believe the majority are abusing the system. Speaking for myself, I know I would much rather be working and feeling at least somewhat secure in a job (and better about myself), rather than forced to rely on the government for my survival, beating the all too sparse bushes for every crumb of possible gainful employment and worrying, worrying and worrying some more that I will never find anything even resembling the kind of position or income I had worked my way up to attaining not all that long ago; and worrying that if I don't everything I worked and saved for all those years will be lost.

For those that are critical of extending unemployment benefits to those of us less fortunate, here are a few things I ask you to consider:

The fact that a person is receiving unemployment benefits shows that they were working -

There can be a perception that people who are dependent on unemployment benefits are lazy and looking for a handout. Unemployment benefits recipients, I believe, can be confused with permanent generational welfare recipients, who may or may not have ever even held a job. But note that one can only qualify for unemployment benefits as a result of first having a job, then losing that job and through no fault of your own. In my case, I was working 12-14 hour days right up to the moment when my manager called me and told me I was being laid off, along with my staff and 20% of the company's workforce nationwide. I certainly did not ask to lose my job. Neither I nor the millions now dependent on unemployment benefits sought to be unemployed and living off of the government. We, like those fortunate enough to still have their jobs, are some of the hardworking people that paid our taxes and contributed to the wealth of this nation. And we want to be back in that position again.

Unemployment benefits are a fraction of an unemployed person's previous income so they are not "comfortable" while dependent on them -

In case anyone is not aware of it, unemployment benefits do not replace your entire income, nor do I believe they should. Each state has a different equation and all have caps on the amount they pay in unemployment benefits. In my case, I receive the maximum amount possible each week, but that is less than a third of what I made on my job, and I can no longer afford medical or dental insurance. This amount doesn't cover my mortgage, let alone the rest of my expenses. I had to quit paying on my credit cards and got severely behind on my house in order to keep food on the table, heat and power on in the house and gas in the tank. I am grateful for my unemployment benefits for keeping my son and I warm and fed, but I am far from comfortable!

Without unemployment benefits, the unemployed can soon become even less employable -

As difficult as looking for and finding a job is in this economy, it would be almost impossible if I did not have my unemployment benefits. I rely primarily on the internet to find available jobs. I look on various job sites, email employers and attach my resumes and cover letters electronically. I call potential employers on my phone. I go to interviews in my car. Without unemployment benefits, I could no longer keep my power or my internet or my phone service on, I could not pay for my car or the gas to get me to the interviews. Please try to imagine how much more difficult it would be for those of us trying to secure new employment to do so if we are living on the street or in a homeless shelter. Imagine doing it with no transportation, no phone, no address. Imagine how much harder it is to get up, the farther down you go. That is why unemployment benefits must be extended until the economy can begin to turn and improve and those of us that are looking finally start finding employers that can hire.

Without unemployment benefits extensions, many of the unemployed who fall off the unemployment roles will wind up on the welfare roles, then all the more dependent on a government/tax payor handout.

If not wanting to pay for unemployment benefits is one's argument, then it should be considered that those that are abandoned by the unemployment system will inevitably wind up in the welfare system, still taking money from the tax payer, but then with even less of a shot at doing anything about it.

Without unemployment benefits, a domino effect of bankruptcies, foreclosures and business failures can further affect those who are still working -

The first wave of foreclosures was said to have been caused by the sub-prime mortgage crisis. The second wave now in progress was said to have been caused by rising unemployment. But for the millions of us who are still doing our best to keep our homes and pay our bills with the amounts we receive from our unemployment benefits, should unemployment benefits extensions not be passed, more homes will go into foreclosure, furthering lowering the value of the homes of those still employed. Many more bankruptcies will occur, further straining the financial system who pass on their losses to their paying customers. And without the little bit of income we unemployment benefits recipients receive, we will have less to put into the economy, forcing more businesses to close and more jobs to be lost ... Maybe even yours!

Unemployment most definitely affects everyone. This is why I believe it is critical that Congress continue to pass unemployment benefits extensions and then otherwise get out of the way of the free market so jobs can be created that will allow the unemployed to get back into the labor force and off of unemployment for good.