The line between jobless benefits and welfare

The line between jobless benefits and welfare

www.msnbc.msn.com

About 11.4 million out-of-work people now collect unemployment compensation, at a cost of $10 billion a month. Half of them have been receiving payments for more than six months, the usual insurance limit. But under multiple extensions enacted by the federal government in response to the downturn, workers can collect the payments for as long as 99 weeks in states with the highest unemployment rates — the longest period since the program's inception.

The unemployed say extensions help to tide them over in unusually difficult times when jobs are hard to come by.

(visit the link for the full news article)

Well it sounds like Unemployment is being collected for longer than I thought. The article makes it almost sound like one can collect Unemployment forever....

But with the couple politicians recently speaking out against extensions, while people suffer, they made it sound like offering people benefits a little longer would break the system.

Only a matter of time before we are ALL relying on government, it seems.... Is this what they are going for, you think??

www.msnbc.msn.com
(visit the link for the full news article)

There is a Lawful dictum of "He who receives the benefit should also bear the disadvantage."

Things like Social Security, Welfare, and unemployment benefits are designed so as to put us under control.

Those "benefits" are there for a reason.

The more people depend on government, the more they will think twice before going against the hand that feed them.

On the other hand, government better pray the day doesn't come where it is no longer able to feed the dependents.

Originally posted by jam321

On the other hand, government better pray the day doesn't come where it is no longer able to feed the dependents.

I agree with you completely. I just can't help but think that without these programs, there would be a lot of desperate and pissed off people, with a lot of time on their hands.... And did I mention pissed off?

Pissed off indeed.

Could you imagine Grandpa's and Grandma's leading the charge?

Really don't know what the answer is to employment. It really wasn't meant to be extended this much.

But, people do need help.

CUT THEM OFF.

I'm tired of myself and others talking about how bad the job pool is for hiring people while many sit home and collect a check for doing nothing.

It's a good idea to have unemployment benefits so people don't end up homeless from a layoff, but 99 weeks sounds ridiculous. 8 years ? It's far too easy to abuse.

The benefit amount should be gradually reduced. I know the economy is bad, but after a few years, it's no longer unemployment, but welfare. People used to migrate to find jobs. A lot of people in the higher priced areas like SF or NYC have already packed up and left. I've read China is hiring. Go teach English on the mainland. The pay is low 20-30k a year, but the cost of living is peanuts.

I know I may be blasted about this but, remember the things that have been discussed about how many in this country do not want to do what we have termed "those dirty jobs" that are beneath us, and yet we complain when people come here illegally and do those jobs?

How about those who are out of work and can`t find "their kind of work", take "those dirty jobs"? You kill two birds with one stone this way, you find employment by taking "those jobs", and do away with the illegal problem. There is only one problem I see with this though. Even though it puts those who are here illegally out of work, would the government do anything about them? I for one doubt it, but it was worth a shot.

I agree with the "lowering" of benefits over time. I know many unemployed people who will not take a job because it will only pay a couple hundred more a Month than collecting the "free" check. To them, why go work 40 hours a week (160 hours a month) for a measly $200 bucks or less more money a month?... That is like getting paid a buck an hour... see the mentality here? Why go back to work 40 hours a week when I only make a buck an hour more....???

Funny story.... my company pays $12.00 an hour start pay for call center employees. Our HR has had people deny the job offer because they need a minimum of $14.50 an hour just to break even from the free unemployment and food stamps. So in my state, unemployment and food stamps = about $14.50 an hour..... (Let's not even go into the "free" Medicade)

So, why go back to work unless you make considerably more than $14.50???



[edit on 9-3-2010 by infolurker]

Originally posted by Schaden
It's a good idea to have unemployment benefits so people don't end up homeless from a layoff, but 99 weeks sounds ridiculous. 8 years ? It's far too easy to abuse.

The benefit amount should be gradually reduced. I know the economy is bad, but after a few years, it's no longer unemployment, but welfare. People used to migrate to find jobs. A lot of people in the higher priced areas like SF or NYC have already packed up and left. I've read China is hiring. Go teach English on the mainland. The pay is low 20-30k a year, but the cost of living is peanuts.

Last time I checked 99 weeks was 5 weeks short of two years. I realize the days are getting shorter because of the earthquakes but I think it was only by 1.6 milliseconds so far.

I hope you don't work handling cash or are in accounting ;-)

Cheers - Dave

[edit on 3/9.2010 by bobs_uruncle]

I call the 99 weeks into question.

I don't believe everyone qualifies.

I believe those being retrained under the WIA program are entitled to the full 99 weeks.

Of course, there are a lot of requirements to qualify for the program.

WIA

Just another tidbit to bring to your attention:

How about those with young children? How much is childcare in your area? We pay an arm and a leg. I have definately seen mothers lose their jobs and decide to stay at home due to the fact that childcare is ridiculous. We're talking like middle management mothers ($40-50K) work themselves to the bone to make $200-$400 a week......

I'd rather stick with welfare/unemployment than miss my child growing up right in front of me for $200 a week.....

Especially in low income areas...why not just stay at home and keep popping out kids and getting welfare....if you try to go make something of yourself and put your child in daycare you'll be on the streets with nothing to eat.....

reply to post by awake_awoke


From a personal perspective, I can see why someone would choose to just take advantage of what they are eligible to receive, and raise their own kid.

I mean, I hear of foreigners coming over here to get paid for breeding. But how often do American citizens do it, I wonder?

Right now the economy is broken. Many don't even want to compete with several hundred others, for one crap min wage job.

I would not at all blame Americans for finally making use of what the foreigners have considered the "American Dream' for many years now.

unemployment is a double edged sword. It slow dissent and public outcry over wrong doing.

It also keeps people from flooding the streets because of foreclosures and other things and out of the representatives offices.

Which brings up another question. If your unemployment ran out and you got foreclosed on or went homeless. What would you take with you?

On my list would be my rifle and handgun with ammo.You are even more vulnerable to violence on the streets 24/7.

Of coarse if you got picked up by the police you would have a nice place to stay. Wile you fought the second amendment haters on the grounds that gun ownership does not require a home. It only requires ownership of the property.

Basically the argument is. Firearm Ownership is denied to people who have committed no crime unless homeless is a crime.

Therefore the law is being illegally applied.

Originally posted by LostNemesis
Only a matter of time before we are ALL relying on government, it seems.... Is this what they are going for, you think??

I regularly hear this argument in Ireland as we have a generous Unemployment benefit system and pretty generous welfare system.. But by no means the most generous in the EU. And at the moment, with 12% unemployment, the welfare is sucking us dry as a nation... (Even though the entitlements for Unemployment benefit are costing us more - this benefit is a social insurance, already paid for by the collector)

The fact is though, it is human nature to want to better ourselves so if the opportunity to make more money and progress through employment is there, the majority of people will take it..

So once work is available, the amount on welfare will collapse.. as I have seen many times before.

And for those that need a helping hand on getting off welfare, there should be stringent measures in place in order to catch the scroungers and toss them out on their asses for defrauding the system, which in Ireland there is (not strict enough for my liking though)..

This is the incentive not to collapse into stagnant socialism.