Hawaii has best unemployment bennies in the nation (loans, income)

[nullgeo]

No, Hawaii does NOT have the best set up in the nation. Regardless of the rate being "generous", percent-wise. The point I was making remains: the COL in Hawaii is so high that most people have to work multiple crap jobs and bunk up with extended families or buddies. When anyone is out of work, 54% of their already too low to live on wage is, well, half of already too low to live on.

Better than a poke in the eye with a sharp stick? I suppose you could say so. But, more of a safety net than other states with lower rates but MUCH lower COL? No. It doesn't total up that way. Hawaii HAS to have this higher rate -- and even with it, it still becomes impossible to survive when out of work.

The reason I harp on this isn't to be argumentative for the sake of nit-picking. I emphasize this reality to discourage ANY optimism whatsoever on the part of anybody other than specialized medical or military-related high-tech with written job guarantees / transfers. Any straw of hope to grasp in the minds of dreamers, when it comes to wanting to move to Hawaii, is a disservice. Come here unprepared if you must try -- but not misinformed.

[OpenD]

Originally Posted by fancyapint

And this just in...
Hawaii Politicians Can File for Unemployment Benefits if They Are Voted Out or Meet Term Limits, But That is Not the Case in All Mainland States | Hawaii Reporter

So for the USA, I can safely say Hawaii gives you the best chance when you are down on your luck, or just finish up your term and need some R and R

OK, OK, geez, what was I thinking? Being voted out of office is clearly the way to cash in on Hawai'i's *BIG CASH PRIZE!*

[mdand3boys]

Originally Posted by OpenD

OK, OK, geez, what was I thinking? Being voted out of office is clearly the way to cash in on Hawai'i's *BIG CASH PRIZE!*

That is what Puna's past council woman has done, while working cash jobs at the local market farmers every Sunday, too. She gets the max unemployment, which is around $575 or so per week. Local paper even had an article about it.

[Joliefille]

Originally Posted by mdand3boys

That is what Puna's past council woman has done, while working cash jobs at the local market farmers every Sunday, too. She gets the max unemployment, which is around $575 or so per week. Local paper even had an article about it.

Sheesh. I support social safety nets, but don't like to see people take advantage like that.

You'd think she'd be ashamed to have her snout in the public trough, if she was working again.

[CyberCity]

Originally Posted by mdand3boys

That is what Puna's past council woman has done, while working cash jobs at the local market farmers every Sunday, too. She gets the max unemployment, which is around $575 or so per week. Local paper even had an article about it.

Link? Some of our council politics could be from OZ.

[winkosmosis]

If I was laid off, 54% of my salary would put me on the street, and so would the typical job in Hawaii for that matter. If it was possible to get unemployment while working and making a certain salary below a living wage, that would be better.

[fancyapint]

Look, if you are the border line to begin with wherever you are and whatever benefit you get save SOCIALISM you are screwed. Unemployment IS NOT an escape from personal responsibility. Not what it is about. If you blow all your cash or have not marketable skills you are done. The government in the US is not a charity. If you have a rainy day fund and a decent job that is cut, Hawaiis unemployment is the best there is stateside, bar none. Just ask the politicians If its good enough to be abused its pretty darn good Look at Europe, in some places it is better to RECEIVE BENEFITS than to WORK MINIMUM WAGE. We dont want that do we??????

[Ford Beebe]

Originally Posted by fancyapint

Good news about Hawaii's safety net, given the cost of living. No wonder lots of folks take a chance on Hawaii

1. Hawaii
Percentage of Weekly Wages Covered By Benefits: 54.3%
Average Weekly Benefit Amount: $416
Unemployed Receiving Benefits: 43% (Seventh Highest)
> Unemployment: 6.3% (Ninth Highest)

Hawaii is the only state to provide the unemployed with an average of more than 50% of weekly wages, and its average weekly benefit is also the nation's highest. The state's jobless rate has remained steady at 6.3% for four months, down from 6.8% one year ago. In Hawaii, the unemployment insurance program is entirely funded by employers

The 10 Best States for Unemployment Benefits -- and the 10 Worst - DailyFinance

I would categorically state that comparatively better unemployment compensation is a factor in the decision to move to Hawaii exactly 0.00000% of the time.

[whtviper1]

Originally Posted by fancyapint

Look, if you are the border line to begin with wherever you are and whatever benefit you get save SOCIALISM you are screwed. Unemployment IS NOT an escape from personal responsibility. Not what it is about. If you blow all your cash or have not marketable skills you are done. The government in the US is not a charity. If you have a rainy day fund and a decent job that is cut, Hawaiis unemployment is the best there is stateside, bar none. Just ask the politicians If its good enough to be abused its pretty darn good Look at Europe, in some places it is better to RECEIVE BENEFITS than to WORK MINIMUM WAGE. We dont want that do we??????

The flaw with your logic continues to be that you believe Hawaii's unemployment benefit is the best in the US. It may pay the most in terms of a $$ benefit - but you are still in the highest cost of living state in the US. Let's discuss a specific example: In Iowa the average weekly benefit is $321 and in Hawaii it is $416. I guarantee you the person in Iowa is far better off. That person on Iowa can still pay rent and eat - in Hawaii, you cannot at that level.

[nullgeo]

Originally Posted by fancyapint

Look, if you are the border line to begin with wherever you are and whatever benefit you get save SOCIALISM you are screwed. Unemployment IS NOT an escape from personal responsibility. Not what it is about. If you blow all your cash or have not marketable skills you are done. The government in the US is not a charity. If you have a rainy day fund and a decent job that is cut, Hawaiis unemployment is the best there is stateside, bar none. Just ask the politicians If its good enough to be abused its pretty darn good Look at Europe, in some places it is better to RECEIVE BENEFITS than to WORK MINIMUM WAGE. We dont want that do we??????

Originally Posted by Ford Beebe

I would categorically state that comparatively better unemployment compensation is a factor in the decision to move to Hawaii exactly 0.00000% of the time.

Heh -- Beat me to it, Ford.

Fancy, you just don't get it at all, do you? Hawaii's unemployment is NOT the best there is stateside. I'm going to guess you don't live in Hawaii -- or maybe you just arrived? The value of benefits -- that which would define "the best there is stateside" -- is relative to the circumstances which the benefits have to address. And in Hawaii this unemployment rate doesn't begin to address the extraordinary high COL. We're not talking about a high-ish COL ... we're talking about the highest COL in the nation that co-exists with the lowest common wages and the lowest full-time employment opportunities.