how bad are the "lines" at unemployment? 6-weeks

[radfringe]

My partner was laid off this week. She opened her unemployment claim today.


how bad are the "lines" at unemployment? She was told it would take up to 6 WEEKS to process the claim and get the first check to her.

first check will be retroactive to opening claim date...but still
6 WEEKS?????

This is in Pennsylvania

[Avalux]

1. It's different here in Texas.

I have done everything online - opened my claim the day after I was laid off; got my paperwork a few days later. Made my payment request online on the designated date and received a debit card 5 days later. The debit card is filled every time I make a payment request. No checks; no visiting the office.

I have to keep track of 5 job contacts per week just in case they request them.


:hi:

[radfringe]

2. essentially the same in PA

you can open the claim by calling or doing it "on-line", you have the option of a paper check or a direct deposit

thereafter you have to either call-in or go on-line to "report in"

Normally it doesn't take 6-weeks, however it was explained the offices are overloaded with new claims and understaffed.
Sounds like the unemployment offices need to do some employing

[Orrex]

3. Check your PM!

[Political Tiger]

4. I'm not sure that is unusual

In 1992 I was (falsely) fired from the Post office (more on that in a minute) and applied for unemployment. I was approved and it took, if I remember right, about 5 weeks before I received my first check. I live in Florida and I imagine it's different in each state, but many states have a waiting period of up to 4 to 6 weeks before you receive your first check.

As for being falsely fired from the Post Office....I had a supervisor that hated me, and he trumped up some charges against me claiming I lied on my application for some 7 years earlier, so he was able to fire me for "falsification." Well, thankfully postal workers are covered by a union (American Postal Workers Union) so I filed an appeal with their help and eventually got my job back, with full back pay! I bring this up only to illustrate why American workers NEED unions! Without the assistance of my union, and the rights guaranteed to me as fought for by the union, I would never of had the chance to prove my innocence much less ever get my job back, with full back pay! Unions, baby, yeah!

[Orrex]

5. How did you get unemployment after only working there for seven weeks?

AFAIK, the eligibility determinations are made based on earnings in prior quarters. Or did you claim against a job prior to the postal job?

For that matter, FL might be different from PA, of course!



And Unions are definitely vital to the American worker. Anyone who says otherwise is no Progressive. Every single good thing about today's workplace is due entirely to the efforts of Unions. Every time someone says "that's just how corporations are" or "you should just be thankful to have any job at all," they're dishonoring the struggles (and in some cases the deaths) of brave Union members in decades past.

[Political Tiger]

8. You misread...it was seven years.

:)

[Orrex]

19. No way! You edited it, and somehow you avoided the red 'Edited by' tag

You're a crafty one!

:hide:

[SheilaT]

9. I believe the poster had worked there

seven years.

And I am under the vague impression that it doesn't matter so much how long you've worked at a given job, but how long you've been continuously in the work force, at least in that state. But I could be wrong about that.

[Political Tiger]

10. I was surprised I was approved for unemployment

since technically I was fired for "wrong doing." And even though it's been many moons since that happened, I do remember what a hard time it was. As a postal worker I was making decent money, but unemployment only paid me something like a third of what I was making, which was better than nothing, but still, a huge pay cut in what I was used to making.

[radfringe]

6. actually it is unusual

when I was laid off about two years ago - it only took a week or so to get first check.

when my partner was laid off last year, same thing - only took a week or so to get first check

the woman at the unemployment office told her the reason that it can take up to 6-weeks is they are overloaded with new claims and understaffed

[Political Tiger]

11. It probably varies state by state

plus it was quite a few years ago when that happened to me, so things may have changed.

Regardless, with all the extra unemployment going on now now doubt it is putting a huge strain on the system.

[snappyturtle]

7. Good for you! My daughter is in a similar situation and we are absolutely

dumbfounded by what is going on. She was 'suspended' Feb. 17th.....her supervisor and human resources are looking for a reason to fire her because her supervisor hates her even though she is one of their most productive workers....it's plain as can be on the spread sheet and her clients love her but the supervisor doesn't. Two days ago they told her they were going to run another criminal check, that was done two years ago on her initial hiring, and they are going through her computer for her e-mails and sites visited! She has little free time because she takes 70-100 phone calls a day and has nothing to worry about on either front but it's just the idea of it that ticks me off! She will lose her home if she doesn't get back there...is actively job hunting, of course, but so panicked. I hate these people. She works for Pearson Assessments. She isn't working but not 'officially' out of a job so I wonder if she can apply for unemployment? She sure could use a union, there is none, or an advocate in human resources but in her case HR is in the bag with management.

[Political Tiger]

13. I was suspended first and advised I was under "investigation"

as they looked for a reason to fire me. They wanted me out bad but had no legit reason to fire me so they went fishing, and found some silly technicality to use to fire me. It's a long story so I won't go into details, but needless to say it was all bogus, but if I didn't have the union to fight for me I would have been shit out of luck!

I hope your daughter makes out okay! Even if she is fired she should still probably go ahead and file for unemployment as all they can do is say no, but here's hoping it won't come to that!

[snappyturtle]

17. Thank you. I'm on the phone with her now....she is so-o upset. nt

[BlooInBloo]

12. Wow - shitty. In WA there's 1 "waiting week", then benefits start...

Think they have direct deposit now, as well.

[RebelOne]

14. I think it's about the same wait here in Georgia.

My neighbor was laid off and it took over 6 weeks for her to start receiving checks.

[mwooldri]

15. Checks? Not in NC...

they've gone debit card... new claimants get a stored value debit card now.

NC apparently have got their stuff together and from those I hear they're not waiting too long... a month at most, and of this 1 week is the so-called waiting week.

Mark.

[radfringe]

16. in PA it's either paper check or direct deposit... n/t

[NightWatcher]

18. at least they are eligible for benefits. My SO and me are subcontractors

and small business owners, so we are shit out of lucky, money, and time.