Re: Unemployment

Since I'm currently collecting, I can comment .

In the US it's delivered at the state level. From what I can tell the
amounts vary by the state programs, however unemployment is not welfare in
the traditional sense, since while you are employed your employer must pay
into it in case you become unemployed (think insurance). I used to work for
a firm out of Bellevue, WA which had me traveling throughout the east coast
of the US and sometimes overseas. When they went belly up, I was eligible
to file in Florida alone, since that is my home state. It currently gets me
$494 (About 20%) every two weeks, which of course doesn't go very far. I've
pretty much used the money for certification purposes and have been living
off savings as well. They come up with that figure by looking at your
income and taking a percentage, however they set a top limit. Without the
limit I would get over twice as much. I have to file online every other
Monday to recieve benefits, and keep a record of all the jobs I've applied
for. Benefits run for a total of 6 months, then you are cut off.

Welfare is completely different and is administered in a different way.
Having children and being poor is the golden way to make money in the US, as
you get a tax credit. Even if you don't pay any taxes, you'll get money
back from Uncle Sam for having children (indeed, I saw a news report a while
back about a woman who had 10 children and was making upwards of 80k a year
from this ridiculous scheme). Then there are food stamps, for buying
groceries, free medical care through medicaid and whatever other
programs--oh yeah, housing subsidies.. (Interestingly, these same people
are the ones who complain that they didn't get a tax cut last round--not
paying taxes kind of prevents it, but most people are too stupid to realize
that.)

Also, you can't just collect unemployment if you're not working. You have
to have been working, and then lose your job through no fault of your own.
Quiting and other similar things disqualify you.

"Marko" <> wrote in message
news:90B49CDE-2DA8-49F8-AEEE-...
> Just wondering if anybody would care to tell me how unemployment
> works in their country? Basic rules. I'm curious, because I have been
> told that Australia has quite an attractive social welfare system.
> People immigrate here to get benefits.
>
> Over here, you receive about AU$300 (about US$240) per fortnight
> if you are an unemployed single. This amount is pretty much
> doubled if your spouse is also unemployed. What makes it variable
> is that you can also claim rent assistance if you are not living in your
> own home. Curiously, you can rent your home out at the same time.
> Benefits are means tested, but you would have to be quite wealthy
> not to qualify (some millionaire farmers, rich in assetts but cash
> poor, get benefits). The Government does not expect you to sell
> your home before being eligible for benefits but does expect you
> to spend any savings you have. If you have children, you qualify
> for even more money. So much so that at around 3-4 children,
> you will likely get more benefits in real terms than working a
> non-professional, full time job. Six or more children can be the
> same as a professional income.
>
> Most put in a form every two weeks. You have to show that you
> are actively engaged in looking for work, or training for new skills.
> We do have chronic unemployed, who measure their welfare time
> in decades.
>
> I would be interested to find out what welfare is like for Americans,
> those in Europe and the UK.
>
> It is my understanding that there is no such things as unemployment
> benefits in India, most of Asia and some other well developed
> countries, even if you have been working and find yourself
> unemployed after loyal service.

James Martin

"James Martin" <martin 426 AT yahoo> wrote in
news::

> Since I'm currently collecting, I can comment .
>
> In the US it's delivered at the state level. From what I can tell the
> amounts vary by the state programs, however unemployment is not
> welfare in the traditional sense, since while you are employed your
> employer must pay into it in case you become unemployed (think
> insurance). I used to work for a firm out of Bellevue, WA which had
> me traveling throughout the east coast of the US and sometimes
> overseas. When they went belly up, I was eligible to file in Florida
> alone, since that is my home state. It currently gets me $494 (About
> 20%) every two weeks, which of course doesn't go very far. I've
> pretty much used the money for certification purposes and have been
> living off savings as well. They come up with that figure by looking
> at your income and taking a percentage, however they set a top limit.
> Without the limit I would get over twice as much. I have to file
> online every other Monday to recieve benefits, and keep a record of
> all the jobs I've applied for. Benefits run for a total of 6 months,
> then you are cut off.

Thats kind of how UI works up here. It lasts for more than 6 months. So
you live in Washington state but you collect from Florida? Wierd. I never
worked anywhere else, so maybe thats how it works here as well.

Question for you, do you think spending your UI on certification is(was)
a wise investment? I am not trying to be funny or rude. I am just
interested in your honest gut feeling & opinion, now that you have
started(completed) certification process.

> Welfare is completely different and is administered in a different
> way. Having children and being poor is the golden way to make money in
> the US, as you get a tax credit. Even if you don't pay any taxes,
> you'll get money back from Uncle Sam for having children (indeed, I
> saw a news report a while back about a woman who had 10 children and
> was making upwards of 80k a year from this ridiculous scheme). Then
> there are food stamps, for buying groceries, free medical care through
> medicaid and whatever other programs--oh yeah, housing subsidies..
> (Interestingly, these same people are the ones who complain that they
> didn't get a tax cut last round--not paying taxes kind of prevents it,
> but most people are too stupid to realize that.)

yeah. it's unfortunate when one hears of these schemes. still, there is
no way 80K is going to make me take care of 10 screaming kids. screw that
deal, buddy.


> Also, you can't just collect unemployment if you're not working. You
> have to have been working, and then lose your job through no fault of
> your own. Quiting and other similar things disqualify you.

thats pretty much how it works up here. you can't tell your boss to f*-
off and then turn around and collect money. they have to tell you to f*-
off first.

which I think is a little unfair because UI gets deducted from my
paycheque as well. i should have the right dump on them first, damn it!

--
Rowdy Yates
Things I learnt in the army:
-------------------------------
Rule #1 -
When they say, "We are going to ambush the enemy".
It really means, "We are heavily outnumbered and no one wants to help
us."
-------------------------------
I am Against-TCPA
http://www.againsttcpa.com

Rowdy Yates

No, I never lived in Washington (or even visited while working for this
company.) I got the job through an ad in Boston when I went up there
looking for work. Since it was 100% travel, I kept Florida as my domicile
to a) avoid state income taxes and b) Get flown home to sunshine every
weekend. As far as investing in certification being a wise choice, sure, I
suppose. I've been working in IT for a long time, it's what I'm good at and
what I studied in college (from a business perspective mostly--Management of
IT). I haven't spent that much really, just books and the tests + equipment
I've already got. Right now I have my A+, Linux+ & MCSA, but employers
haven't been coming out of the woodwork to hire me if that's what you mean.
It's all cyclical... I just would rather be doing something productive
while unemployed rather than nothing . I've made the most of it, as
before actually starting my search and applying for unemployment I took off
3 months for a 15,000 mile roadtrip all around the US with an [also
unemployed] friend from college. Having a job where all your expenses are
covered allowed me to save a lot more than normal, so I'm not desparate
yet...

"Rowdy Yates" <> wrote in message
news:Xns948E967847F17rowdyyatesnospamlyco@207.46.2 48.16...
> "James Martin" <martin 426 AT yahoo> wrote in
> news::
>
> Thats kind of how UI works up here. It lasts for more than 6 months. So
> you live in Washington state but you collect from Florida? Wierd. I never
> worked anywhere else, so maybe thats how it works here as well.
>
> Question for you, do you think spending your UI on certification is(was)
> a wise investment? I am not trying to be funny or rude. I am just
> interested in your honest gut feeling & opinion, now that you have
> started(completed) certification process.

> yeah. it's unfortunate when one hears of these schemes. still, there is
> no way 80K is going to make me take care of 10 screaming kids. screw that
> deal, buddy.
>
> Rowdy Yates
> Things I learnt in the army:
> -------------------------------
> Rule #1 -
> When they say, "We are going to ambush the enemy".
> It really means, "We are heavily outnumbered and no one wants to help
> us."
> -------------------------------
> I am Against-TCPA
> http://www.againsttcpa.com

James Martin

"James Martin" <martin 426 AT yahoo> wrote in
news::

> No, I never lived in Washington (or even visited while working for
> this company.) I got the job through an ad in Boston when I went up
> there looking for work. Since it was 100% travel, I kept Florida as
> my domicile to a) avoid state income taxes and b) Get flown home to
> sunshine every weekend. As far as investing in certification being a
> wise choice, sure, I suppose. I've been working in IT for a long
> time, it's what I'm good at and what I studied in college (from a
> business perspective mostly--Management of IT). I haven't spent that
> much really, just books and the tests + equipment I've already got.
> Right now I have my A+, Linux+ & MCSA, but employers haven't been
> coming out of the woodwork to hire me if that's what you mean. It's
> all cyclical... I just would rather be doing something productive
> while unemployed rather than nothing . I've made the most of it, as
> before actually starting my search and applying for unemployment I
> took off 3 months for a 15,000 mile roadtrip all around the US with an
> [also unemployed] friend from college. Having a job where all your
> expenses are covered allowed me to save a lot more than normal, so I'm
> not desparate yet...
>

Hey, you had it good. My entire IT career has been working in one roddent
hole after another. The company is stable, so I didn't get affected by the
dot com crazyness, but i think i will pay for it later in life with health
problems, thanks to all the servers around me and no natural light for so
many years.

I decided to get some certs, then all my other roddent buddies got ****ed
at me 'cause they are too lazy to get certs. that's human nature for you.

I really like the sound of roadtrip you did. I think I will start saving
up.

i would defiatly finish up to MCSE status. if you don't have cisco, i would
get the CCNA or CCDA. I wouldn't bother with anything else. it's not really
worth it.



--
Rowdy Yates
Things I learnt in the army:
-------------------------------
Rule #1 -
When they say, "We are going to ambush the enemy".
It really means, "We are heavily outnumbered and no one wants to help us."
-------------------------------
I am Against-TCPA
http://www.againsttcpa.com

Rowdy Yates