A Cautionary Tale

I gave thought to sharing this information; I did not want to bring potential bad news to those of us struggling to find gainful employment in this horrific job market. But I always do feel better after I write things out…so please bear with me as I ramble on.

Intellectually, I was aware that this might happen; in fact, if I followed this to its logical conclusion, I would been conscious of this fact before I called up the Department of Labor this week. My Benefit Year had ended, and though I still had several weeks left of Emergency Unemployment Compensation benefits left — which would then segue into the 13 weeks of Extended Benefits just signed into law in Albany — one has to establish a new claim once your year is up.

Frankly, I never seriously entertained any of this. I never expected to still be unemployed after a full year. Of course, I had never faced down an economy like this. Anyway, calling DOL once your benefit year has expired is usually a seamless process, I was told; they reset your claim and you continue to receive your emergency benefits uninterrupted.

Unless, that is, you have ventured out and worked — I freelanced for several days, over a period of several weeks, back in September and October.

The work paid well, and I was hoping that it would lead to something permanent. But, it dried up in October and I was back to unemployment once again.

And — those earnings, while great at the time, triggered a whole new claim for me…and, those same earnings, when averaged in with the last quarter and salary of the job I was laid off from last May…put me back at Square One. And — might I add — at a weekly benefit rate that is $41 less than what I had been receiving.

I am no stranger to reinventing myself. But reinvention is best facilitated when one is not stressed out about — oh, just small things, like a roof over one’s head and working electricity and hot water (and heat in the winter). Food, too, — yes, that is the kind of pampered princess I am…I am rather fond of shelter and food in my tummy.

Okay: this is not the end of the world; I have lived long enough to know this. But scraping along on what I was receiving to begin with…this new, even-lower standard of living, coupled with a brand-new unpaid waiting week…well, it kind of s****, you know?!

I have vented and shared and now feel better. I do have faith that things will get better (they have to, don’t they?!) But I do hope it will be sooner rather than later!

I am very grateful for all of you here at The 405 Club. There is so much talent and energy on this site … it is palpable!!! Here’s to a great weekend for us all!

-By Kathi Foster, Guest Blogger