The unemployment office makes me want to vomit with rage.

[angrycarpenter]

4-6 weeks to get money.
Getting denied based on a paperwork error.
Appeals must be filed by fax only.
6-8 weeks for appeal to be heard!

I am dying out here. There is no excuse for this. There were only five jobs listed in the paper this week and I am not a truck driver or a nurse. There are not even burger flipping jobs to be had, I have checked.

Living with my parents sucks so bad. Gone is the pride I had in making my own way in the world. I have 75 cents in my pocket and 5 dollars in the bank and a sick feeling in my belly that will not go away.

Republicans did this to us, to me. When they stand in the way of helping us get back to work I take it personally. I have written and emailed and called my senators in Washington telling them to HURRY UP! I do not know what else to do.

Feeling helpless and abandoned.

[ogneopasno]

1. Are you a carpenter by trade?

[angrycarpenter]

2. yes it is all I have ever done. nt

[ogneopasno]

9. Commercial? Residential? Can you travel?

[angrycarpenter]

20. Any

mostly residential. My car is a junker and if something doesn't happen soon I will not even be able to pay insurance on it.

[ogneopasno]

22. Can you get a loan from your folks and travel to where a job is?

Do you have friends in union-friendly towns where you could get into an apprenticeship program? Some places still have openings and a need for union carpenters.

[Warpy]

3. I'm so sorry. Been there done that.

Likely things will get worse and you'll have a lot of company among your old high school friends who also had to move in with Mom and Dad until things improve at all. Other than going door to door from business to business all day every day, there's not much you can do about it right now. The jobs just aren't out there right now and won't be for some time.

Just remember that this isn't your fault and you are allowed to be angry.

[stillcool]

4. I'm going to email your Senators...

can you tell me who your representative is? Is it Alabama?
http://www.capwiz.com/sjhs/dbq/officials/directory/statedel.dbq?state=al&print=yes

[angrycarpenter]

8. Robert Aderholt.

I haven't written him but I have written Shelby and Sessions.

[stillcool]

21. Not that it will help...

but it can't hurt. I emailed all of them.

Good Afternoon. I do not live in Alabama, but I am contacting you on behalf of a friend of mine who lives in your district. He is a carpenter, and like so many has been laid off. He was denied unemployment because of a paperwork error, and now has to wait 6-8 weeks just for his appeal to be heard. He has been looking for work, any work, and so far has not found a thing. He has contacted your office, and has gotten no help. I don't know how you expect him to survive for 2 months without any unemployment benefits. He is 'entitled' to receive the insurance he has paid into for years, and the State appears to be making it as hard as possible for him to claim what is rightly his. There must be a way for the State of Alabama to streamline this process so that he can survive. Please help him.

[angrycarpenter]

40. I guess I should have said that I had to move from Florida after the lay-off.

It is their office I am having a problem with. Thanks for the effort. I see the R next to their names and despair. They are the ones wanting to help me by getting more tax breaks for rich people.

[stillcool]

41. ah well..I'm sure someone in Alabama..

is having similar problems.

[emilyg]

5. Let me tell you

the one time in my life I applied for unemployment - was getting treatment for breast cancer. Had to adhere to my radiation schedule. Was told by clerk at unemployment office that job search comes before my radiation treatments.

[Greyhound]

11. Georgia? n/t

[emilyg]

13. Yes.

[Greyhound]

17. I'm sorry. It's like that most places anymore.

In my recent case the company just flat out lied, I demonstrated the lie in the hearing and showed how this is a pattern (the company dumped the whole department and instead of laying us off, forced us to quit or failing that, such as in my case, they just made shit up and fired us), and they still denied my claim.

[earthboundmisfit]

39. I was lucky. My supervisor made a point of telling me that it was NOT my fault

In fact, he said that twice when he broke the news to me - and when I filled out the unemp. paperwork I referred verbatim to what he told me. He was a fairly new hire himself, and frankly too good of a guy to work for the assholey upper management of that company.

[emilyg]

43. Sad. We work for that money.

[noiretextatique]

62. unfuckingbelievable...and should be criminal

:mad: truly sickening.

[Hydra]

6. I know what you mean

I wanted to kill the person through the phone yesterday who was mad that I was calling to verify paperwork received and wanting to know when my case would be sorted out.

Mind you, the calls on hold and wait times suggest that they are dealing with record numbers of claims, but it isn't my fault the Republicans want to kill us all.

[aikoaiko]

7. Can you travel?

http://hotjobs.yahoo.com/job-J6J8K0EEN8Q

I'd be happy to hear a DUer get some contractor money.

[angrycarpenter]

12. Best laugh I have had all day.

My uncle is returning from Iraq in a week and he was just outraged at the shoddy work KBR does for our troops in Iraq. Thank God he made it back alive.

[Greyhound]

10. Oregon is automatically denying claims now to delay payment and eliminate claims

through attrition.
:kick:

[prolesunited]

15. Just like they do with Social Security disability

They hope you give up or die before they have to pay out.

[Aloha Spirit]

14. Hey angrycarpenter, maybe try contacting your city council members.

Try going to meetings
just google your city and state and "city clerk" or "city council"
My city council is pretty responsive and anxious to help people.
Maybe you can get some work with your city or at least make some connections that way.
Or at least have something to keep busy?

Also, have you tried craigslist.org?

Sometimes it's hard to solve problems on your own.
Hopefully you have someone to talk through your situation with, give you some ideas.


:pals:

[Fire1]

16. Maybe you've thought of this already and for whatever reason

can't follow through, but here goes. If you're a licensed carpenter with a truck, you're half way there. Contact all of the lending institutions in your area and ask for information re: maintenance and alteration contractors. These mortgage lenders need contractors to board up foreclosures. Many are out of state and need contractors to maintain these properties until they sell. It's good work right now. Try it, you never know. I'm doing it here in Michigan.

[angrycarpenter]

18. I am just a guy with a tool belt.

I sold my truck three years ago and got a small car, gas was killing me. I had to sell many of my tools last year during a lay-off to pay rent and lights. I have been sliding down hill for about four years and all the government will do is give me more grease.

[blues90]

24. That really sucks.

I went through that selling tools to pay for necessity. In the 80's all you needed was a tool belt and hammer and a level and square and a circular saw and pencle, you could toss it in the trunk and get a job as a carpenter.

I looked at many sites and job searches for carpenter work and one of the first things they place is you must have all the latest tools and nail guns and a van or truck or don't bother applying.

[Fire1]

31. It's cliche, but true. Listen to Peace. It could be worse. He even

made me feel better. Our self worth cannot be defined by what we do for a living. Our pride may be bruised but we will survive.

[Peace Patriot]

19. Sorry you are having such difficulty.

My first thought was: Try the U.S. Census. Are they hiring in your area? There is a preliminary survey being done this year, and they are hiring in California, for work in the spring. You have to go take a test--but it's not hard. You can get a sample test on-line. Simple application. Find out the testing schedule/locations in your area.

Second thought: Your anger is certainly justified--at the general situation, and at being denied benefits for a paper work error--and the time frame for appeal. But don't let your anger consume your energy or your creativity. Don't go negative on yourself. It's easy to do when you're unemployed. I know. Remember there are zillions of people in your spot--you are not alone. It's nothing to do with your worth as a person. And, heck, a lot of them don't have parents they can live with. They're out of hearth and home--their circumstances are even worse; they may have kids; they may be sick. Love and appreciate what you have. It'll revive your spirit and help turn your fortunes around. Maybe find a Food Bank where you can supplement your parents' cupboard with some staple food supplies.

Third thought: Don't neglect that appeal process! Do it. Bureaucracies are often designed to make you give up. Don't give up. Make them pay you the unemployment insurance that is due to you. Do the paper work. Fax it. Whatever. Don't think about it. Just do it.

Fourth thought: Network! Talk to people. You don't know what jobs are out there unless you ask--for instance, temporary jobs. Maybe there are people in your neighborhood or nearby areas who need a fix-it man--someone handy with a hammer or a screwdriver. Elderly people, professional people--who don't have the skills or the time to fix things around the house. Line up odd jobs. Get some income coming in. Get to know your neighbors.

Fifth thought: On the trucker job--why not?

Again, my sympathies! What you're going through is the shits. The worst part of it is psychological--it eats at your normal self-confidence. Work on building that back up. Let yourself be angry--don't deny it--but leave room for creative thoughts and for positive directions to open up.

[nichomachus]

23. Can you hire yourself out as a handyman?

I don't know about your area, but they are in great demand here -- and you can make some good money doing simple things.

I know I have a couple of jobs around my house that I can't handle and would pay someone a few bucks to do them. The trouble here is finding someone who can fit you into their schedule.

[angrycarpenter]

29. Already done, I put some flyers in a couple of local stores

No callers yet. I have to be careful, I am not licensed in Alabama and I have no idea how much they go after unlicensed handy men.

[nichomachus]

37. Yeah -- you need to move to where there are a lot of well-off retired people

The women next door told me she paid her handyman $79 to fix her toilet. All he did was replace the flapper valve. I didn't tell her I could have done the same thing for a beer. No wonder the guy works only when he wants to. Handymen around here can make a lot. I've heard the same in some areas of FL. Sounds like your area isn't such a hot market.

Maybe you also need to look into some barter situations. You know, I'll fix that sign of yours for a tank of gas -- or a case of beer -- something like that.

Boy, it's getting tough out there. I really don't envy you.

[sandnsea]

48. No jobs here either

The wealthy retired people aren't spending anything, either because they're scared or because they lost half their retirement.

[Elwood P Dowd]

50. $79.00 to replace a $3.00 flapper? Takes 5 minutes at most.

I should be a handyman.

[bertman]

49. If Alabama is anything like Mississippi they just got around to licensing contractors.

I doubt they require licenses for someone doing small repairs/handyman work.

I'm sorry to hear about your situation.

[Blue_Tires]

25. damn...4-6 weeks?

it took about 3 for mine to come (Va.)...

you're really going to blow your top when you see how little it is....

[angrycarpenter]

30. $256 dollars a week.

Florida. It is what everyone gets no matter what you used to do.

[SoCalDem]

45. Can you build dog houses or cat climbing towers?

If so, try swap meets.. My friend fed his family building birdhouses and dog houses from scrap lumber, and then painting them in wild designs..

It;s a thought :)

Hang in there:hug:

edit.. He got $95 for a small purple polka dotted dog house..cost him virtually nothing to build.. he scrounged the shingles & lumber..and used a plush throw rug for "carpeting"

[Amelie]

26. Willing to come to New Orleans?

I have a porch that's falling apart, a fence that needs repair and a plank in my garage door that has split. I called a carpenter last November, and I'm still waiting on him. Each time I call, he's trying to clear up his back-log. Seems there's lots of carpentry work here in these parts.

[Fire1]

28. I'm sure he would if he could.n/t

[backscatter712]

27. At least Colorado has the good sense of letting you do most unemployment-related stuff on the web.

Granted, some things (like dealing with paperwork screw-ups) you have to deal with them over the phone, and their phone lines are insanely slammed. Last time I had to call them, I had to start calling at 6:30 in the morning (otherwise I'd get nothing but busy signals and phone-company "We are unable to complete your call" messages) and even then, I had to wait for an hour and a half on hold before I could talk to a human and get things straightened out.

And they've been fairly prompt with direct-depositing unemployment benefits as long as I've been doing my biweekly refilings over the web on time.

Some states just go out of their way to be a pain in the ass. :mad:

[Redstone]

32. You have every right to be enraged. Here you are, a person who BUILDS things;

contributing to the American economy (if only you could get a job doing so), and you have to watch all the federal money going to the parasitic fucking vampires on Wall Street who make millions and contribute NOTHING to society or the economy while doing so.

Good luck to you with your job search. I hope things get better for you.

Redstone

[NNN0LHI]

33. Have you contacted your union local?

I am thinking they may be able to help? Our local used to have one person that is all he did was help people with their unemployment claims. He was very efficient too. He used to have a direct line to someone at the unemployment office.

Actually the union used to arrange to have the state workers come to the union hall to sign everyone up for our initial claims.

Don

[Wiley50]

42. He's in Florida. It's a Right To Work For Next To Nothing state

Tn is the same way. Most of the deep south is.

It's a Repuke thing that should be illegal.

But you saw the diff in how they treated the auto companies as opposed to Wall Street re: a bailout

[Hugabear]

51. Right to work = Right to be fired for no good fucking reason!

I agree, it is a travesty and a shame.

[ribrepin]

55. My son is an electrician who was laid off after working for rip off artist employers

He finally signed up with the union and had to wait for about two months, but he finally got a job. It's 300 miles away from his family, but he makes 30.00 an hour plus overtime and a per diem.

He doesn't like being so far away from family, but they are making the mortgage.

[Politicalboi]

34. That's too bad for you

I have been unemplyoed since July 08. I was lucky and I got unemployment from Pa and they do everything online. They even give you a debit card and they just add the money every two weeks. You just answer the 5 or so questions and your done. They didn't even ask where I looked for a job. Now I am collecting from Ca and I get a third of what I got in Pa and they have paper instead of online. And you have to cash the checks and if you don't have a bank account they charge you to cash it. And they want to know where you looked for a job. I wish you luck.

[graywarrior]

35. Took me five weeks to get $75 per week

I have to do a work search-4 contacts a week....there are no jobs. Businesses are overwhelmed with people coming in asking for jobs so they can keep collecting unemployment. It's insane.

[WI_DEM]

36. They sure don't make it easy.

[Ikonoklast]

38. Hate to tell you this, those truck driving ads are a scam.

The trucking companies running those ads run government-subsidized truck driving schools, and get paid to train new drivers. They don't care if there is a job or not for them when they graduate.

They are then on the hook for their half of the schooling, usually around $3500-4000 dollars with NO JOB to be had, but they promise the moon just to fill the class with chumps.

Trucking right now is in a steep decline as freight is in a free-fall. Just an FYI for anyone thinking they might try trucking right now.



A friend has had the exact same experience with Employment Services here in Ohio. Laid off in November, and hasn't seen a nickel. He is getting close to losing his house, and no one seems to care at the state if he gets his unemployment or not. It is all done on-line, and he can't get a live human to talk to to find out just exactly what's going on.

[raccoon]

61. Thanks for the heads up, Ikon.

You might consider starting a thread about this.

It's better for people to know, than to be fooled and lose their money.

[applegrove]

44. Vibes.

[DollyM]

46. Wisconsin UI sucks worse than anyone!

Try waiting 6 weeks for unempoyment, going through it, taking a part time job at Walmart to survive, paying 600 a month rent and making $800.00 a month from Wal-mart, quiting and moving back home, and getting a letter from Wisconsin UI saying we have to pay them back $3000.00 because they gave my husband additional unemployment when they shouldn't have. It's their fault but they will never admit to that. Since they are out of money in Wisconsin, they are just going around and trying to shake people down for every penny they can. Good luck, we are still both unemployed and living off credit cards and living without heat and basic neccessities and somehow they think they are going to get $3000.00 out of us!!! We don't have $3.00 much less $3000.00. The state UI systems are getting bailed out too, they need to back off and start treating people decent. They have jobs because the rest of us ARE unemployed!!

[sarcasmo]

47. They are making it as tough as Social Security Disability.

[chill_wind]

52. Can you get listed on some place like Service Magic for local referrals in your area?

When we moved from out of state a few months ago to our fixer-upper, we needed new flooring laid, carpeting and partial kitchen renovation. We knew nobody. We signed up on Angie's list, but we liked this one more and searched and hired great local guys exclusively from this site. Lots of handyman independants too.

It's pretty good. Give it a look:

http://www.servicemagic.com/?link_id=6808

If nothing else, to see who else is local for networking.

sitemap:

http://www.servicemagic.com/hs-sitemap/sitemap.html

[Ladyhawk]

53. Sorry, man. :( It sucks.

If things get to the point where I have to move back in with my mother, I don't know what I'll do. We would drive each other insane.

[defendandprotect]

54. It looks like unemployment is still "Bushed" --- !!!

Obama should be making changes quick, I hope ---

GOP certainly didn't want common sense --- and certainly not compassion nor caring!!!

They are the destroyers!

[Fumesucker]

56. Not to be flippant..

But if you think moving in with your parents is humiliating, you ought to try moving in with your kids..

That's the situation I'm in right now and I'm trying hard to maintain a good attitude.

I guess I'm just lucky that my daughter and son in law are pretty successful, without college I might add.

[northofdenali]

57. Sending karma and good thoughts -

I, too, am unemployed and looking. Our economy here isn't awful; we have a lot of military spending locally on construction and new projects, and the Fed & State are the largest employers in the non-military sectory (this includes the University statewide system).

We have an extra room if you need it, and a pretty fair bus system to get around.

In case it helps, here's a link: http://www.ubcalaska.org/1243_Fairbanks.html Our construction trades here are valued, well-paid, and needed. I have several friends who are union members (IBEW, mostly) and those who are non-union in the trades are usually finding work. Slower in winter, of course, but most of the time now the work is ongoing, even in the cold, due to newer heating technology.

I don't just wish you luck. You'll have that. I do send my support and many hugs.

[eilen]

58. You are not alone

My brother and brother in law are subcontractors (carpenters) and don't qualify for unemployment. They are barely getting by month to month in Tennessee. My brother in law is in worse shape as they have higher overhead and less savings. My brother says something is coming up but it is very hard to compete with undocumented labor teams.

My husband has been working out of state for the last four months (IBEW)--( we saw him at Christmas last). He is staying in a hotel room by himself but it is a job. He is frustrated that it is straight forty (no OT). I've applied for three nursing jobs and haven't heard a thing (I call every week) which is very unusual. Every time I call I hear that the jobs are still open. I don't understand why-- the first one I applied for was in November, they are lagging the hiring and won't admit it.

You have a valuable skill. Try to keep yourself busy, see if your parents need any work on their house, they will be so grateful. The neighbors will see you and may ask you for some small jobs. Even if it puts gas in your car so you can get out for a few hours, it will make you feel better, less rusty (I'm feeling rusty now).

I'm in Syracuse, there is a mall project going on (Destiny USA) and they finally seem to have some of it closed in. I expect that the weather as well as the economy has slowed some things down but they do have to complete the first phase. Our local carpenter's union (it kind of sucks, you have to find your own jobs there but I think they have a referral service) might have some information. Just to warn, they were hard hit by the Madoff Ponzi scheme -- their pension funds were lost. Here's the website http://www.local747.com/ez/">Local 747 This area is not expensive/high rent.

[Reader Rabbit]

59. I know it won't help your immediate situation, but...

Your words are very powerful. You should send them in a letter to the editor of your local paper.

[whistler162]

60. Do a search using

http://www.indeed.com/ or http://www.americasjobexchange.com

and there is http://kossacksnetworking.ning.com/ if you are a DailyKOS member.

[Recursion]

63. Don't forget craigslist

You can find small under-the-table stuff (especially for skilled trades) that can tide you over. Good luck out there...