Week of May 18th, 2008

Dean, San Deigo, California
I was laid off in August from a company where I had worked for 4 years (with one previous 6 month during my tenure).  I saw the axe coming.  My main responsibility was handling secondary investor relations and I watched as loans became more and more difficult to sell due to tightening credit windows and mounting defaults.  I managed to sock away some money and prepared for the worst.  I had no idea that it would EVER get as bad as it has.  My savings are gone and my unemployment benefits were exhausted in February.  I've paid rent once this year and tomorrow is the first of May.  My landlords are extremely kind but I'm beginning to worry that I may run out of kindness sometime soon.  There was a Federal training grant awarded to the State of California to retrain workers in my industry but, when I inquired about it, I found that the amount allocated to my County was a mere $200K which was spent almost as soon as it was received.

I spend my days watching and reading the news hoping for some sign that a benefit extension is coming.  Every day I grow more disgusted with the government and am amazed that the true needs of the citizens most affected by this economic disaster are neglected.  I've called every single elected representative serving me, both democrat and republican, and I am further amazed at the indifference I encounter as I stress the need to send us some help.

I came across this website while surfing for any kind of sign that there might be someone out there trying to get the message out there.  It's truly important to make our voices heard; no one else out there is doing a thing.

Brian, Lacey City, Washington
I was laid off work the first week in November 2007.  It was due to a slower than normal housing market during the winter season.  My boss expected that the market would pick up at the beginning of the year and I would return back to work.  Well here I am in the middle of May and have not found a job as of yet.  I just received my last unemployment check two days ago.  I count on that money to HELP me pay my bills.  I have applied for a countless number of jobs and have been disappointed again and again.  Some of the employers that I have applied for have actually canceled the positions that they were hiring for due to unstable market conditions.  Other employers have had record numbers of applicants apply which greatly reduces my chances of landing a job.  The market is so saturated with laid off construction workers that it is almost impossible to land a decent job.  At this point I don't know what I am going to do. The recession we are in right now is already much worse than that in 2001.  Just wait until the numbers start coming in over the next couple of months, especially with gas prices going up, wages staying stagnant and employers going out of business.  I am really worried about what is going to happen to us in the not so distant future.  So here I am on my knees begging you to please extend the unemployment benefits to buy me just a little bit more time to get a job that I don't want.  Because it is obvious that I won't be working in the construction industry anytime soon.  Thank you for letting me vent and put my TWO CENTS in.  I really hope that this message gets heard because something really needs to be done here.

Maria, Mundelein, Illinois
I am a single college educated middle aged woman with a teenager in college.  I have worked in the construction industry for the past 15 years.  I was laid off from my construction job in October 2007.   I've sent out hundreds of resumes, yet I have only been on six job interviews in 6 months. One interviewer told me although I qualified for the job I would not be a good candidate because my previous salary was 50% higher then what they were offering. He said they were afraid to invest in me for fear I would leave them in the future for a better paying job.

On another interview, the interviewer told me he had gotten over a hundred resumes in one day. He said there was stiff competition but I was the best qualified candidate. I was thrilled about the prospect of working again even though the salary was 40% less then my previous salary and I would have no benefits. It has been 2 months since my last interview and I continue to send out resumes without success. I assume they are getting lost somewhere in the piles of hundreds employers are receiving.

Needless to say things for me are VERY bad, my $600 supplement is being used to pay bills and buy groceries.  If not for a bit of measly savings and the support from my parents I would be filing for bankruptcy, on food stamps, and losing my home.

This may sound pessimistic but my reality is that for the experienced middle aged worker it REALLY seems like the END OF THE AMERICAN DREAM. I am angry that President Bush said he would veto this bill, and angry at the Congressional Representatives who voted against this bill, they are out of touch with reality!  PLEASE check out how your congress person voted so you will know if you want to vote for them in the future.  And call your Senator

Week of April 28, 2008

Robert, Gaithersburg, Maryland

I have been unemployed since Novem ber 16, 2007 and it was not on my own.  I was laid off because of insufficient work and  have only been on two interviews from hundreds of jobs I have applied for. The job market is terrible and for 1 job you apply for there are hundreds applying for the same job. I have worked all my adult life and really feel worthless because I can't  find a honest job.

I am signed up with three employment agencies and none of them have yet to find me a job.  They say the job market is very bad and some of them have also been laid off.  It saddens me to know our politicians only care about themselves and how much publicity that can get for just talking and not doing.

My unemployment will run out the last of May and I have no idea whatI will do. That money enables me to keep my mortgage up because I have depleted all of my other funds to pay other bills. I am very disappointed with Congress because they can pass a lot of these mediocre bills fast but not the ones that  will help hard working honest Americans like me. Please pass this bill and Mr. President if you are listening, please signed it for the good of all Americans that are unemployed.

Calvin, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Unemployment sometimes can far exceed 13 weeks, in many cases it is short term, while other times it is long term. When you have exhausted all your benefit weeks, and that check is your only source of income for that short period of time, when it is all over, everything else tends to be over.

Our federal government should realize that in most cases, such as in my case, that there is a need for the extensions of UC benefits. Many of us depend on those benefits to take care of our families, and pay the ever increasing bills. When there is a loss of job, for whatever reason, the bills still come in, the rent is still due, we have to have lights.

Benefits should be extended to those of us who are out there pounding the pavements, searching for jobs, and who are striving for self-suffiency. The past eight years, there has been no such thing as short-term unemployment. It was before this current administration, that if you were unemployed beyond your 13 weeks, you were encouraged to apply for an extension of benefits, they were broken down into "tiers", and one was allowed to file bi-weekly on an extension.

I understand that unemployment benefits are solely intended to supplement the unemployed temporarily, and again in some cases, short term, however, with the job market being dead locked, it is almost impossible to secure employment.

Debra, Oregon City, Oregon

I have 20 years experience as a graphic designer in the newspaper and magazine industry in print advertising. Myself, along with two others (out of eight) were laid-off from work last November for lack of work. The newspaper circulation was dropping because of the internet and the company I worked for 8 years decided they couldn't wait out the slow times with them as most of their business or lack of it was coming form them. So I was very saddened to be asked to leave, it was the best job I have ever had and well paying job. I am now at the tail end of my unemployment benefits with no luck of a new job in sight. AND NO EXTENSIONS FOR UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS.

The response I have had so far in interviews have left me bewildered. The impression I have when prospective employers look at my resume when they see my job experience is they feel I won't be satisfied with their job offer or maybe I'm not technically educated enough with the computer programs advancing faster than I can keep up with, or I simply have had made too much at my last job $20.00/hr. and they don't think I would be happy with them because it's a entry job.

Week of April 21, 2008

Florence, Bainbridge, NY
"In October, 2007 I was laid off due to reorganization.  At age 56 and had not gone through this before, I was in a panic.

I had to cash in my retirement and pay 30% penalty to the government.  I applied for unemployment and started my job search EVERY DAY for about 4-5 hours on the computer sending resumes.  Until recently I was driving around knocking on every business door I could find.  Now with gas prices @over $3.50/gallon I can't afford to drive anywhere!  I've had a few interviews but at my age group, people don't want to hire you.

When is the government going to help us?  I think over 40 years I've paid in my share over and over.  When is Congress going to wake up and  help the American workers that are in desperate need."

Michael, Browns Mills, NJ
"I have been working with I.T. since the late 1980's. I am 40 now. I have an A.S. in Computer Science, and almost a B.A.! (Stopped going because my first son was on his way...hence my first programming job).

Over the years, I have had companies fighting over me, literally...Back in the 90's, I was offered salaries of over 50k per year, full benefits, plus a startup bonus of 5000 dollars plus. Year 2000....myself and another employee (I was her manager, she was 6 months pregnant, it was near Christmas) was laid off or "outsourced" as they told us. How heartless of them.

Shortly thereafter, I started my own computer repair/sales business but since it faltered, I've been laid off, I applied for unemployment and looked for work. Then, I found out that I could get trained for free and upgrade my certifications. I did. School is now over for the past month and a half. I have been diligently applying, interviewing, and only a few prospects so far, but no promises. Meanwhile, my last unemployment check was 2 weeks ago.  I am seriously tracking and awaiting the Emergency Unemployment Extension Act (S.2544) because now my family is in an EMERGENCY situation."

Week of April 14, 2008

Chantel, Frederick, Maryland
"In September , 2007, I was laid off from what I considered a great job, after just receiving a raise a week earlier. The chain of events does not make much sense, but neither here nor there, the end result remains the same. Needless to say my ability to find a job has been extremely  tough, and I remain unemployed to this day.

I am unable to receive ANY type of assistance from the state in which I reside because their guidelines are simply outrageous when it comes to your income. $560.00/month is the salary range to be exact. Well, my husband works one job making considerably more than $7.00/hr  @ 20 hours a week, but not enough for our family to survive on his income alone, thus, the reason I was working.

Meanwhile we have a $2,300.00 mortgage that is in default and we are facing foreclosure if something does not change. My unemployment has run out, and I have no other options. NO ONE is hiring it seems, so what am I to do? I can’t even begin to tell you how many applications I have filled out (ONLINE of course because they've done away with the paper applications that you can pick up and actually TALK to someone), so my application/resume goes in a pool along with hundreds, perhaps thousands of others, hoping to be pulled from the barrel of hope.

Why is it so hard to receive help from this country, when all I have done is pay taxes and contribute to others in need since the age of 15? Now that I am seeking a little bit of assistance, I can't get it. Now I am on the verge of losing everything that I worked SO hard for.

We bought our house the correct way, we saved and bought something we could afford, we have a fixed rate, and because of this, I am not eligible for mortgage assistance. I read the paperwork, had an honest lender who didn't stick me into a sub prime loan/ adjustable rate and  I'm told, "sorry, we can't help you."

To add insult to injury, they cut off my unemployment."

Robert,  La Mirada City, California
"I have worked as a transportation/trucking dispatcher for many years always working 10-12 hour shifts everyday. I have not been out of work I have always worked and worked hard and long. Last year the company I worked for closed their doors and filed for bankruptcy. I did not get terminated or laid off, it was thru no fault of mine or my performance. I have looked long and hard for work and can not seem to find anything now my unemployment is running out, what am I goin to do?"

Leslie, Waxhaw, North Carolina
"I live in Waxhaw NC and was laid off in October 2007 and finding it difficult to find employment I signed up for unemployment and this week is my last week to collect benefits now I will be forced to lose my home and my car because I'm not able to find employment. I'm desperate and find it really hard to believe if there is $20 billion dollars waiting to pay unemployed people why can't they just pass the bill. I guess they find it not applicable because the government isn't out of work. With the election coming up I guess George W. Bush is too busy trying to exit gracefully. Too much money has been spent on the war and still nothing has been resolved and many lives taken away from their families. I voted for Mr. Bush but would never vote again for someone like him. I lost all my respect for him a long time ago but this just sends me way over the edge. I guess it will be nice and cozy for him and his wife in the White House as taxpayers pay for him to live there and we lose everything that we worked hard for."

Week of April 7, 2008

Casimir, Sterling Heights, Michigan
"I was laid off in June of 2007. Did not think I would have a problem finding suitable employment. Have 30 years sales/management experience plus proprietor experience. Heath benefits ran out in January of 08,no extensions allowed as of now  for unemployment.

Maybe it is my age (59) that is creating this dilema . The extension would surely help for now . All my life I have worked hard to make ends meet,but now with the ecomomy the way it is there is a real possibility of forclosure on my home,,my wife is seriously ill withScleroderma (no insurance) medicaid benefits still pending.

I am in a very humiliating situation and am trying to keep positive and confident that things will turn aroundsoon,just as many other people in this mess. Never thought I would be here."

Ronica Jackson, Cambridge, Massachusetts
""Despite my best efforts, help from friends and family, I am in a very bleak financial position. I have had to ask friends and family for money and they have been incredibly understanding and helpful when possible. But there is no denying that this is very embarrassing to be in this position.

My unemployment insurance ended the second week of February and my rent is paid only through the end of this month. In fact, my landlord took me to court to evict me. I have lived there for ten years and have been one or two weeks late with my rent several times over the last year. My landlord has always liked me as a tenant but he has bills to pay too. It takes five weekly Unemployment Insurance checks to accumulate just enough for my monthly rent, given the weekly unemployment rate I was at. My other bills, including utilities, have not been paid, and have either been disconnected or shut-off notices have been sent to me.

Now if I can’t pay April rent, I could very well be homeless as of April first. Sometimes I look back at my life and am astounded by the breadth and the richness of my life as well as my personal accomplishments and the accomplishments, sacrafices, and hard work of my parents and family.

Then, I shake my head in disbelief; it often brings me to tears that I am in what feels like an insurmountable, impossible situation.  I have worked all my life and never imagined I would be in a situation like this. 

I have come to Washington testify before you with four dollars to my name.

On behalf of so many Americans who share my story, who through no fault of their own are dependent on unemployment insurance, I ask that you extend unemployment so we have a chance of finding work and surviving these hard times."

Testimony before the U.S. Senate, Committee on Health Education, Labor and Pensions (March 6, 2008).