Unemployment sucks!!! (Phoenix: home, employment, compensation)

[locoenlacabeza]

I am so frustrated by this system.
My husband was layed off May 15. He was given severence til June 15.
He applied for benefits but was told that they wouldn't kick in until after severence (which is fine).
He recieved his award letter saying that ONCE he started collecting benefits he needed to start reporting.
We took that to mean after the 15 of June. WRONG.
He should have been reporting all along. It wasn't clear in his award letter that was what they wanted.
We can't get through on the phone lines. He went down there last week and sat from open to close and was never able to get on the phones provided at the office.
We are drowning. We have 7 mouths to feed and there are NO JOBS out there.
What the hell are we supposed to do?

[saved1986]

Arizona (along with florida, alabama and mississippi) are the worst states for unemployment.

[ArizonaBear]

As both of you stated.

I have dealt with unemployment in the past here in Arizona: better than nothing but was not pretty.

[SOON2BNSURPRISE]

I have tried to get a job in Arizona for the past couple of years. Sucks when you work in one state and have a home that you love in another state. I am working in California though. That is nice except for the fact that we have a flex day once a month where we don't work. We also had our first layoffs in the 107 year history of the Hospital. What are the unemployment numbers for the Phoenix area? In the LA metro it is up to just over 10% and may hit 12% by next quarter.

[Linn310]

So is NY...I'm a homeowner, single mom & have been unemployed since Feb '08...but if I lived in AZ (which I thought this would have been my year to move there!!) I would survive alot better than here....my taxes on my home are $13,000/yr vs AZ taxes of around $1,500/yr.

Anyway, check out social services and the housing dept...there are alot of things out there to help....& keep the faith. I have become very frugal & am amazed on how little I am living on..and managing...Good Luck.

[shiphead]

100 others including myself will soon either have to look for work or file for unemployment. I tried call centers, walmart, no replies, not hiring. Not really sure what to do if i cannot find work even at McDonalds.

[freedom2]

It's really tough out there these days Ive been out of work since Oct 08 I'm still setting unemployment
At the employment office they told us If we were offered a part time job to take it whatever it is and you can still claim on unemployment under 30 hrs and they pay the rest. So Ive been looking everywhere .Its hard The lady said she didnt see it getting any better for at least a year Good luck to you and your family We'll keep you in out prayers ok

[7 Wishes]

Originally Posted by weroses

It's really tough out there these days Ive been out of work since Oct 08 I'm still setting unemployment
At the employment office they told us If we were offered a part time job to take it whatever it is and you can still claim on unemployment under 30 hrs and they pay the rest. So Ive been looking everywhere .Its hard The lady said she didnt see it getting any better for at least a year Good luck to you and your family We'll keep you in out prayers ok

That is not true in every state, though it is true in yours. I know it's also true in NY (speaking of NY, regarding another poster, NY at least gives $405 vs. Arizona's $275 (which is what I think Florida gives too)......yes, you could be fired from a six-figure job and all you get is $275/week).

[shiphead]

Originally Posted by 7 Wishes

That is not true in every state, though it is true in yours. I know it's also true in NY (speaking of NY, regarding another poster, NY at least gives $405 vs. Arizona's $275 (which is what I think Florida gives too)......yes, you could be fired from a six-figure job and all you get is $275/week).

I would hope someone that made 6 figures had the smarts enough to save for a rainy year or two. It's silly to make that much and rely on unemployment alone.

[Bummer]

Unemployment is anything but fun and Unemployment Compensation was never intended to replace a job for an extended period.

Unfortunately and especially now, far too many individuals in need of financial help are frustrated with the paperwork and hoops primarily caused by the gaggle of abusers of the system.