"So I can just wait for my direct deposit?" (employee, 2009)

[NJDevil]

Not trying to offend anyone, but I feel only applying for one job a week is just lazy. It lumps you in with those who try to live off the gov't because "somebody" owes them something. If, however, you spend hours every day looking for a job (like I do) and all you can find is one to apply for, you are doing the right thing. But if after a month you've only applied for 4 or 5 jobs, you're either not looking in the right places or need to broaden your criteria. As far as people being lazy in looking for work, yeah it screws someone in the long run. And the time not spent looking was the time your job was advertised.

The longer I'm unemployed, I don't know if it's time to settle for a job I really don't want (and wouldn't stay at) or hold out for what I really want and what would look better on my resume.

[DressageGirl]

I also think that people should be required to continue to look for jobs while receiving benefits. That being said, I also realize that it would cost alot more money to staff the unemployment offices enough to where they could check more. I don't want any more taxes going toward unemployment agencies at this particular moment in time. I think the money can be utilized better elsewhere.

I think individual states handle it differently. I have a friend in SC who said that she did have to list two jobs she applied to every week as has always been the case but another friend in NC who said that she didn't.

[jkcoop]

I would imagine there is also different mentalities depending on what wage bracket you are in. If someone is drawing UI that is close to what they made before, then there is probably less motivation to go find work.....

But if you are maxed out and it's not even remotely close - trust me - you are NOT wanting to stay on Unemployment!

[lovetheduns]

Also--- the FUTA tax (Federal Unemployment Tax) is NOT paid by the worker. Your employer pays for this tax on your behalf. So technically, no worker is "paying" into the unemployment tax. So the entitlement of that you have paid into unemployment for a decade is NOT accurate.

[kodaka]

A state could require 1 application per week. Or two. Or ten. Or twenty. But what defines a genuine job search effort is about more than just the number of applications completed each week. One person could send out five hundred resumes and get no job and another could send out ten and get five offers. Which is why many states are dropping the number of application stipulation--it just isn't a good measure of who is actively seeking work and who isn't. Not to mention, the logs unemployment officers used to audit can be pretty easily faked.

Furthermore, it is not the number of applications sent out that determines a person's eligibility. If that were the case, college students and self-employed people could qualify merely for having mailed out some resumes. But they aren't eligible. Because it is the fact of having been employed and then losing that jobs that determines one's eligibility.

In the end, the majority of people receiving unemployment are honestly trying to find work. The assumptions may are making on this thread that everyone receiving unemployment is "lazy" or "pathetic" is just an excuse to judge other people. Claiming to be the lone person honestly seeking work while every single other unemployed person--all 18 million of them--are the lazy and pathetic ones...well, the arrogance of such a claim is just stunning.

[kodaka]

Also--- the FUTA tax (Federal Unemployment Tax) is NOT paid by the worker. Your employer pays for this tax on your behalf. So technically, no worker is "paying" into the unemployment tax. So the entitlement of that you have paid into unemployment for a decade is NOT accurate.

If you want to quote me, then quote me. I did not use the word entitled I used the word eligible. Don't deliberately misquote and manipulate my words to give yourself more justification for your judgements.

And FUTA is a percentage of a worker's gross wages. As are state and federal taxes, FICA, etc. Usually the employer pays all of these as a means of convenience, but they are a percentage of the worker's wages nonetheless, so yes, it is the individual who has paid into the unemployment fund.

18 million people didn't suddenly decide they didn't want to work and would rather sit at home and collect state benefits. Most are career professionals who want nothing better than to get back to work. To presume so defies all logic and intelligent thought.

[7 Wishes]

Originally Posted by DressageGirl

I also think that people should be required to continue to look for jobs while receiving benefits. That being said, I also realize that it would cost alot more money to staff the unemployment offices enough to where they could check more. I don't want any more taxes going toward unemployment agencies at this particular moment in time. I think the money can be utilized better elsewhere.

I think individual states handle it differently. I have a friend in SC who said that she did have to list two jobs she applied to every week as has always been the case but another friend in NC who said that she didn't.

But it could be an interesting cycle. By staffing unemployment offices more you are creating jobs just doing that and possibly getting some people off unemployment. Where do you think the money could be better utilized? (And yes, I do have a couple of ideas, one is to train the unemployed for new careers, the other is to help small business......I honestly don't think adding staffing to UE offices creates jobs long term, just noting that every bit helps).

[JS1]

Originally Posted by 7 Wishes

But it could be an interesting cycle. By staffing unemployment offices more you are creating jobs just doing that and possibly getting some people off unemployment. Where do you think the money could be better utilized? (And yes, I do have a couple of ideas, one is to train the unemployed for new careers, the other is to help small business......I honestly don't think adding staffing to UE offices creates jobs long term, just noting that every bit helps).

No kidding! I thought it was just insane that there's no unemployment office to go to. Even if I have to stand in line, at least I'll get served eventually. If I have to call and the line is busy, I'm screwed.

I missed out on three weeks of unemployment compensation because of under-staffing in the unemployment office. Hire some people to work in the unemployment office -- create more jobs and service the people who are unemployed! Win-win!

[7 Wishes]

Originally Posted by JS1

No kidding! I thought it was just insane that there's no unemployment office to go to. Even if I have to stand in line, at least I'll get served eventually. If I have to call and the line is busy, I'm screwed.

I missed out on three weeks of unemployment compensation because of under-staffing in the unemployment office. Hire some people to work in the unemployment office -- create more jobs and service the people who are unemployed! Win-win!

I think in some states (NY and CA come to mind) the reason they don't actually do that is because their budgets are so bad that they'd probably have to fire teachers and cops to staff these offices more.

NY is so bad in that regard that virtually everything is automated now....and when you do actually visit for something they try to get you out as quick as they can or just direct you to waiting on line to use a computer. It's probably one of the easiest states to "cheat" on UI right now. I hear the same about CA too. Not that I'm advocating that, I'm just saying how sad the state of things are now.

[xlabel]

Originally Posted by jkcoop

I would imagine there is also different mentalities depending on what wage bracket you are in. If someone is drawing UI that is close to what they made before, then there is probably less motivation to go find work.....

But if you are maxed out and it's not even remotely close - trust me - you are NOT wanting to stay on Unemployment!

No doubt, 2 years ago I would go to Wal-Mart and cash my paycheck and I could hardly get my wallet closed, I had to put it in my front pocket, it hurt to bad to sit on it. Wouldn't even shop there, just used them for check cashing. Now I go to the same Wal-mart and shop with my Unemployment debit card getting Hamburger helper and ramen noodles, food I absolutely despise.