Some Georgia unemployed may get additional benefits
Thousands of long-term unemployed workers in Georgia who have exhausted their jobless benefits may be eligible for additional emergency unemployment.
The Georgia Department of Labor said that it is notifying by mail about 13,000 workers in the state to tell them they may be able to claim benefits under the Emergency Unemployment Compensation Tier 4 program.
The program provides extended benefits for individuals who have exhausted the first three tiers of emergency unemployment and are not eligible for regular unemployment insurance. Each tier of emergency unemployment provides additional weeks of unemployment benefits. Tier 4 provides up to 10 more weeks.
Emergency Unemployment Compensation is a federally funded program that was created in 2008 and has been modified several times. This year, the Middle Class Tax Relief and Job Creation Act of 2012 extended the expiration date of the program to January 2, 2013.
Georgia workers are once again eligible for benefits under the program because the state’s average unemployment rate rose above 9.0 percent for the June, July and August period. Federal law mandates that a state have a three-month seasonally adjusted unemployment average over 9.0 percent to qualify.
Unemployment in Georgia was 9.0 in June, 9.2 in July, and 9.2 in August.
The three-month unemployment average in Georgia for the March, April and May period was below 9.0 percent. It was 9.0 percent in March, but 8.9 percent in April and in May, so payments under the program were stopped.
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96 comments Add your comment
MANGLER
October 9th, 2012
2:54 pm
Call me crazy (but not Republican please), if you’ve exhausted 99 weeks of unemployment and have actually been looking, what the hell is the Government supposed to do with (for) you? A few months I understand – you live in a place and don’t want to uproot due to a mortgage or kids in school or medical reasons, etc. If after 90 days of a true job hunt you cannot find employment, you need to search abroad. The unemployment would be much more effectively used if it went to pay to move a family on occasion to where they can actually find work. At least then it went someplace productive for the family whereas now there’s 109 weeks spent and then what? Tier 5?
no clue
October 9th, 2012
3:19 pm
Mangler…move where?????? you’re not even talking about $5,000. Most ppl wouldn’t be able to uproot there lives in that time. In addition, there are mortgages and all kinds of other things being impacted here. The purpose here is to just help tie over an individual until they find employment.
YOUR AN IDIOT
October 9th, 2012
4:23 pm
Mangler = Super Idiot! Just where do you suppose these people move to? Detroit?!?!? Come on… just where are enough jobs to relocate them… then when they do move, who is going to occupy the vacant home on both sides of me? I’d prefer not to be a sitting target for thieves and vagrants that decide to move in because you had this SUPER idea to move the family next to me to somewhere else so they can go to work for McDonalds there!
Spouse Unemployed
October 9th, 2012
4:24 pm
Seriously Mangler! My spouse has been unemployed since May 2010 and cannot get a job, even at McDonalds. No one wants to employ an old white man. I have a good job with benefits so we are barely making it with our 3 kids. We cannot afford to uproot for a job elsewhere. He has looked and nothing that he is eligible for would make us enough money to risk my job too.
Mission Impossible
October 9th, 2012
4:39 pm
The key is employers want a person that is 20 years old with 20 years experience who has been doing the requested job as recently as yesterday, then you’re the ideal candidate.
Tag
October 9th, 2012
4:42 pm
Unemployment should last a lifetime.
How did America ever get by for 200 plus years without unemployment that lasted for years.
Needabailout,too!
October 9th, 2012
4:43 pm
Mangler obviously has never been unemployed. Thank-You State of Georgia for the compassion.
jaxon
October 9th, 2012
4:46 pm
I think Mangler is talking about taking the family to China and working in a shoe factory. The more kids you have the more money you can bring home.
This is how it is
October 9th, 2012
4:48 pm
I find it hard to believe zero jobs out there for people to find… I work in an office so I can say this… An unemployed office worker can surely get a job with a lawn care service they are just too scared to get their hands dirty or break a sweat… People think they are too good for the jobs out there… This is how it is signing off..
Mary
October 9th, 2012
4:49 pm
A job would be better. I have applied to hundreds of jobs, even retail. I got one interview with Macys-who waitlisted me.
Where are the jobs?
I am about ready to give up.
bruce
October 9th, 2012
4:50 pm
your an idiot
I wouldn’t be calling anyone that when you don’t know the difference between your and you’re. Talk about a moron!
just me
October 9th, 2012
4:52 pm
I’m in my 30s and have been paying income taxes for almost 20 years. No matter if these people continue to collect or not, the US GOVERNMENT is still going to take money out of my check each and every week. This didn’t start when the economy collapsed and this won’t stop when the economy recovers. I am not upset with people FINALLY benefiting from what we citizens have been paying into for years and years and years.
God bless ‘em and I hope I can get the same if I find myself out of work.
chest fever
October 9th, 2012
5:00 pm
Age discrimination is real – it’s just hard to prove.
just me
October 9th, 2012
5:01 pm
at This is how it is….
I’m not sure why you think you working in an office qualifies you to make that statement, but you might want to ask yourself why a lawn service firm would want to hire someone that has spent the last several years working in an office. Wouldn’t a lawn service firm prefer someone with professional experience in lawn care? You’re a fool.
Stuart
October 9th, 2012
5:05 pm
I am one of the people who got a letter on the fourth-tier. It will be good if I do qualify because I had to close my 401K to pay bills, rent and recently doctor appointments & medications. This will help me but it will be a bandaid until I am no longer part of the nine percent.
Fan
October 9th, 2012
5:07 pm
@Mangler – Fourth Tier is only for those who have exhausted the first 26 weeks, then 1,2 and 3rd tiers. That’s only 73 weeks, not 99. The full 99 weeks was stopped at 79 weeks by The Middle Class Tax Relief and Job Creation Act of 2012.
What jobs?
October 9th, 2012
5:08 pm
I hope all you people knocking the unemployed get to stand in our shoes one day. We have no medical, no cash, mortgages to pay, mouths to feed. Try to support your family on unemployment while you spend what little cash you have, looking for a non existent job. Companies and people in this country practice discrimination against older workers.
MANGLER
October 9th, 2012
5:10 pm
Hello again
The attacks on me weren’t as bad as I feared.
I know it can be tough and at times seemingly impossible to find employment in a particular area. I’ve gone through layoffs, downsizing, outsourcing, and company closures myself over the past 5 years. I had mortgages to keep up as well. But there came a point when I just couldn’t keep in 2009/10 what seemed natural to get in 2005/6. Many sleepless nights while watching the savings disappear and the credit dropping trying to hold on to a house in a certain city which, in the end, was less important than food on the table.
If you’ve made it 99 weeks with no prospects – I feel terrible for you, I truly do. But there are jobs somewhere for everyone – yes, there are. There are more unfilled job openings in the US than there are unemployed residents. They just might not be in your current city, might require that you take some classes to get up to par, may not pay what you used to make, may be considered beneath your station or education level, and yes I’m sure there are some HR people who are biased against the long term unemployed (but the administration recently passed laws making that illegal). But those are all excuses when it boils down to it.
I seem a little hard lined on this subject because I’ve moved several times, several time zones, several new beginnings. No, it wasn’t easy, but neither was being unemployed. Once the 99 then 109 weeks is gone, then what? I would prefer that the “system” be set up to focus directly on assisting in retraining or relocating as part of the benefit and not simply asking “are you looking for work?”
Billie
October 9th, 2012
5:13 pm
Mangler, I wasn’t going to post a comment on your asininity until I read your latest and now I AM mad. I moved out of my home in Milledgeville and rented it, trying to save it, after my position was eliminated, and moved 100 miles away to Atlanta to try to find work. Now I am doing babysitting and other low-wage work because I no longer occupy the home and therefore am not eligible for a loan modification. You suffered a little? BFD: With your kind of arrogant attitude, your suffering ain’t over yet. Have a nice day!
My Two Cents
October 9th, 2012
5:15 pm
Unless you have walked in someone’s shoes don’t throw stones. There are plenty of hardworking people who
cannot find jobs. They have emptied their savings, 401Ks, and some have been fortunate to have families
who have helped them out. I am glad there is another window available for people that might be the stepping stone to a different situation. The hardcore unemployed need this assistance. I am glad the GA. Dept. of Labor is providing a way for them to receive additional benefits.
Fan
October 9th, 2012
5:16 pm
@ Mangler – Here’s the break down for you, Unemployment 26 weeks, 1st Tier Extension – 20 weeks, 2nd Tier extension – 14 weeks, 3rd Tier extension – 13 weeks, 4th Tier extension – 6 weeks.SEB or State Extended Benefits added 20 weeks. The Middle Class Tax Relief and Job Creation Act of 2012. Changed this. The SEB was canceled, no more 20 weeks, so no more 99 total weeks and the Tiers changed and percentages changed. Read more and have a little compassion or you may be next on learning these facts first-hand.
JedClampit
October 9th, 2012
5:16 pm
Folks, its bad out here. Was unemployed since 2010, found a job part-time and many of my co-workers have had zero luck. Yes age discrimination is real, many people over 40 find it very tough. Employers do not like to hire the unemployed, they will not come out and say it but once they ask several times about why you are unemployed then you will get the message. You may want to volunteer but this is hard because of the expense of travel. I will continue to keep those in my prayers because its bad. 7.8% official unemployment rate is absolutely false.
Fan
October 9th, 2012
5:19 pm
@Mangler – and by the way, Unemployment for most is around $300 or less and possibly taxed. Try paying your bills and mortgage and rent and food on that. It ain’t easy so go easy on people.
fed up
October 9th, 2012
5:20 pm
Silly question here, but why are these people not just added to welfare instead of continuing to receive unemployment handouts. There is absolutely no incentive for them to look for employment. Of course thanks to the current administration’s anti-business policies, there is no reason for employers to add people to their staff.
Fan
October 9th, 2012
5:24 pm
@Mangler – Just to add a little more, it’s not as easy as you say to find a job even in different time zones. Most employers will not hire over the age of 50, even our Veterans are being overlooked. Between 3 of my friends, all in the computer industry with massive tech skills, we have applied to over 500 positions. Not one interview, 2 phone calls and 498 rejection letters/emails. And that’s Worldwide looking. So please think before you type.
Howard G.
October 9th, 2012
5:25 pm
I am one of the long term unemployed, I have been out of a decent paying job since February 2010. Sure I drew my unemployment and its exhuasted and its very hard to find any job out there. I have submitted application after application with resumes. I very seldom get called in for a job interview, for that matter I wonder how many applications are received before they just stop accepting them unknown to the unemployed who is looking. The other thing is job discrimincation is very real, I am 46 years old. I have the experience, I have the knowledge, however I am not the young person I once was. I gave it all to corporate America for the gold watch and all I got was screwed in the end. Something must be done to help the long term unemployed. Even jobs that are menial labor that many supposedly won’t take they won’t even give me the chance. I am willing to work at any job as long as it provides for my family and myself.
JedClampit
October 9th, 2012
5:26 pm
Fan, unemployment benefits (sic) are taxed, 10% federal and 5% state. Benefits depend on your prior income level, I received a whole $330 week.
Fan
October 9th, 2012
5:28 pm
@JedClampit – Thanks, I know but it’s optional, I chose the whole amount, no taxes. At least til the end of the year,lol.:)
lno one will hire over 50
October 9th, 2012
5:30 pm
Mangler put a sock in and a LID on it.
alphadog
October 9th, 2012
5:30 pm
You all realize that unemployment benefit payments end up in the hands of grocery stores, utility companies, landlords, mortgage companies, doctors and others that the jobless have to pay to survive while looking for work.
Fan
October 9th, 2012
5:34 pm
@Howard G. – I hear ya. I’ve helped several find work, some in their career path, others like you say more menial tasks. Best advice I can say is bombard the Internet job sites, I start with state then city and Snag-a-job, then monster jobs.com, then Home Depot, Universities or Colleges, the County or City government then schools. A lot of schools looking for custodians or clerical or food service. Also a lot of companies looking for part time work at Toy-R-Us or Kohls and other Christmas season type jobs
Pete
October 9th, 2012
5:39 pm
JedClampit, your Unemp tax % rates are incorrect. There is no fixed %; the $ is just added to whatever other earned income you had and taxed at the appropriate rate. For example if you had 6 months Unemp income of $8,580 (26 weeks @ $330/.week) and thats all the income you had, there would be no tax. But if you had $30,000 income from a job you lost and added the $8,580 to it, now there would be some tax to pay, depending on family size, deductions, etc. There is no way to tell the % rate until you do your taxes at year end, Fed and State.
Mary
October 9th, 2012
5:47 pm
Some jobs posted online are fake. I applied to an admin job on careerbuilder and later got an email from careerbuilder warning that that the position was fake.
Tracey
October 9th, 2012
5:47 pm
If they bring back the jobs from over seas then maybe the tier 1,2,3 or 4 wouldn’t be nessary. BRING BACK THE JOBS !!!!!! It don’t make sense to create jobs when they will send them over seas too…… BRING BACK THE JOBS !!!!! and all of this will be resolved. DAMN!
What jobs?
October 9th, 2012
5:53 pm
I’m not so sure that job creation is going to benefit older workers.
JedClampit
October 9th, 2012
5:56 pm
I did the same Fan, but got the royal IRS treatment during income tax time if you know what I mean. I had to use my 401K and really got it in my pockets.
Pete you are wrong and I know because I was on unemployment from Sept 2010 until May 2012. The dept of labor allows you to choose to have the taxes taken out, 10% Federal and I believe 5% state. You may still have to pay during income tax time but I know what I am talking about because I lived it. My rate maybe wrong but if I did allow the taxes the $330 wk would have been @$270 week. You want proof, call the Ga DOL, I know !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Because I LIVED IT BUDDY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Fan
October 9th, 2012
5:58 pm
@Mary – I agree. I stick to the secure job sites for local or state governments, colleges or universities and especially the local schools. Good jobs and benefits at most of these, (except for the over 50 category, sad to say) but you never know.
native atlantan
October 9th, 2012
6:02 pm
Do you folks want 4 more years of this misery. A change has to be made in the White House. The govt cant keep printing money to keep passing it around to all the folks in need. Starting to receive social security at 62 is a bad idea, but thats what some folks are having to do, and it will effect them the rest of their lives also. Of course folks get discouraged and quit looking for work, and anyone that believes the govt claims of 7.8% unemployment also believes in the Easter Bunny, tooth fairy and Santa Claus.
Pete
October 9th, 2012
6:05 pm
JedC I lived it also. Youre confusing the witholding % with the actual % paid at year end. In other words, you are not forced to have any withheld; I collected the full $330 weekly because I chose to not have any $ withheld. Again in my previous example if your only income was $8580 Unemp. and you chose to have 10% withheld, when you filed your taxes in April you would get all of the witholding back, for an effective rate of 0%. In other words if you and I both had 10% withheld, at year end our other income (if any) would determine the rate that we actually paid, as opposed to what was actually withheld. The actual % paid (not withheld) is different for everyone, unless of course 2 people had identical income, deductions, etc.
Fan
October 9th, 2012
6:10 pm
@native atlantan – I was wondering when the subject would come up and I agree, I don’t want 4 more years of this. Also, not just the WH, we need to replace some Senators and House of Reps too. Agree about the % of unemployment, it’s flat out wrong! The Middle Class Tax Relief and Job Creation Act of 2012, passed by Congress and signed by you know who, did not help. What it actually did was make the % numbers look better before the election by dropping people off Unemployment help, these people are still unemployed, their just not being helped or counted in the % numbers.
R
October 9th, 2012
6:14 pm
Here’s a thought for fun.
Unemployment is actually a tax paid by a worker on each paycheck. Yes the BUSINESS actually pays the state fee as part of its “cost”, but those are funds that would otherwise be available to pay the worker a wee bit more. Also to qualify at one point originally, you had to meet criteria as NOT every single person without a job qualifies for a claim.
So you work 25 – 30 years contributing into the kitty and then you get laid off due to No Fault of your own. (Trust me; businesses fight each claim tooth and nail to reduce their OWN insurance costs going forward)
So is it really a handout or is it a RETURN of your paid FEES? GA claims to now be in a pickle, but was it due to the leaders’ mismanagement at the time or misuse of the collected funds?
Sorta like the use of collected fuel taxes in the GENERAL state fund…
That’s an issue for another debate.
reluctant domestic goddess
October 9th, 2012
6:20 pm
JedClampet – I chose to get the full amount and I get $302.
I’ve worked 4 decades and thought I was safe. I had all the benefits so we didn’t worry when my husband’s company closed and it took several months for him to get re-employed. He did find a job 75+ miles away. Even with my lack of job it doesn’t make sense to move closer to his new job. Home is paid off; property value dropped more than 70% in 5 years,sick/elderly family to see after,family/friends/church/other support groups here, etc…..I’m still looking, but even with experience and flexibility it’s hard to compete in the market. (Age discrimiation at it’s finest.) At this point, forget the past supervisory positions – I’d take one of those “mommy hours” jobs at fast food just to get insurance again.
POPEYE
October 9th, 2012
6:23 pm
What did people do years ago before UI benefits? How did they survive in the cities? What was the social practices of that era? There’s too much game-playing in the workplace and in hiring practices. We also need to be more self-sufficient. The government needs to foster self-reliance in those who what to start businesses or expand businesses instead of taxing these people out of a business, or preventing them from creating jobs. And with the political climate, its even more difficult to start a business, or expand a business. There are many ways to step outside the box in order to support one’s self. Depending on others is a waste of time and energy.
Fan
October 9th, 2012
6:25 pm
@reluctant domestic goddess – I hear ya. Here’s an idea, maybe for the single unemployed, we can help each other. I’m looking for a sugar-mama to be a domestic goddess. lol
Fan
October 9th, 2012
6:28 pm
@POPEYE – agreed. Redistribution, aka Socialism, has NEVER worked. We need to stop taxing our corporations who make products so they will bring manufacturing back to the U.S. And don’t forget, if re-elected, obama plans to help the U.N. have a new tax on Americans. Watch out people.
gdfo
October 9th, 2012
6:33 pm
Some of us have been unemployeed for a while. I have. Many of us over aged 60 who have found it massively difficult to find work. That is a fact. Many younger workers and younger managers do not want to deal with someone who has years of work experience. Plus an older worker makes the overall cost of benefits more expensive.
What I find interesting is the Timing of this announcement.
I am not a Republican or a Democrat. I look at circumstances and issues and vote accordingly. There is no one political party in force now that has all the answers.
Why Tier 4 now?, and where was it when I needed it?
Why does it really cost so much for a Doctors visit or buying a new pair of glasses? Think about it.
Fan
October 9th, 2012
6:42 pm
@gdfo – the 4 Tiers have been around for awhile, at least several years or more. It wasn’t until the Middle Class Tax Relief and Job Creation Act of 2012 passed in Feb.2012 that the extensions started getting canceled or delayed.
AGE DISCRIMINATION
October 9th, 2012
6:43 pm
I have a friend who is just tops – she can do anything – wonderful background. Through no fault of her own, the company she worked for had a massive layoff. She has applied everywhere – to no avail. She had a great interview with a H. R. at a local hospital and it went great. They promised to call her within 2 days for the final round of interviews with the Director over this open position. They asked her to go on line and complete an application and the last page of the hospital’s application asked for date of birth!! She never heard from them again – yet has A+ credit, references, etc. THERE IS AGE DISCRIMINATION OUT THERE!! This woman could work “circles” around any 20-40 year old and then some!!
Shaye
October 9th, 2012
6:48 pm
I was laid off in 2008 and didn’t receive a permanent full-time job until this summer. For the first year of unemployment, I was only called for one interview and didn’t get the job. After not getting any hits on my resume, I started attending job networking events, career fairs, hiring events at the GA Department of Labor had my resume critiqued by professionals, etc, but no offers. The only job I could get were short-term or temporary positions, namely at Alorica, and the hourly rate depended on the assignment.
I had one really promising interview in December of last year, the salary was great, I had all of the qualifications, was called for a second interview with the team managers after being interviewed by the departmental managers, and thought I had it nailed, only to be told that they weren’t extending me an offer because I hadn’t done the job in 3 1/2 years, the amount of time I was unemployed,although I had over 10 years of experience doing the work, and the position only required someone with 5 years of experience! (Primerica Life is now the devil in my eyes) Now granted, during that time, I also obtained my MBA & got my professional license, but that was apparently irrelevant. Now I work for a company making $20K less per year doing the same type of job that I used to have other people doing for me in my old position, but at least its a job.
I never thought I would end up exhausting my unemployment benefits but I did. I was laid off back in 1997 but times were so much different the second time around. The first time I was laid off, I got a temp job before I left their office to fill out an application before I left to take a permanent position 5 months later. This time, I only got a call back from one temp company, for an assignment that lasted one month last year, and after that, they didn’t have anything else for me (although I did a great job on the assignment). I had applied with every major temp agency in Atlanta and when I would call regarding assignments, they would say they would have someone call me, which never happened.
It was definitely a financial struggle. My husband and I took money out of our 401K’s, liquidated stock portfolios & savings, cut out all non-essential spending, got rid of cable & long distance, and I started selling my magazine collection to try to tide us over. We also tried to modify our mortgage twice but got screwed over by Chase who only reduced our mortgage payments by $91 per month and then right after we made the 3rd trial payment, increased it again by another $60 to account for escrows and insurance!
I say reinstate the 4th tier. Believe me, nobody is getting rich from receiving these unemployment benefits. Most people are barely scraping by but these benefits are definitely better than nothing at all.
older1
October 9th, 2012
6:50 pm
I applied to pick cotton ,they said no thanks we have a machine for that.What about onions, no thanks you speak english. what about my old job at the mill, they said your are over 60 that’s why we shoved you out, don’t call us we’ll call you.
graphite
October 9th, 2012
6:55 pm
If you want to help the unemployment situation,vote for Mitt.
Pete
October 9th, 2012
7:07 pm
GDFO the news on Tier 4 came out only now because the unemployment #’s just came in last Friday, which made Ga eligible to pay Tier 4 again.
Pete
October 9th, 2012
7:10 pm
Meant to say made Ga workers eligible to receive the Tier 4
Dum-Bass
October 9th, 2012
7:16 pm
As one who’s “done there, been that”(prefer it that way) I see way too many people who are out of work limiting themselves to their hometown. As one guy told me, “I just don’t want to leave, been here a long time”. OK, have it your way, stay unemployed. Many years ago, after losing a good job with a company who went bankrupt, in an average-sized town, I tried for almost 3 months to find work. It finally dawned on me I was going to have to branch out and look in some larger towns within a couple hundred miles. Went online at the Labor Dept., saw a job that looked interesting in a town 100 miles away, which was borderline in my experience line, but submitted an app anyway. Got an interview and they hired me on the spot. Put my house, that we had just bought a year before up for sale, and traveled home on the weekends for about a month until it sold. It sold because we didn’t try to make much off it, just enough to help with moving expenses. We rented an apt. for 2 yrs. and it turned out to be the best job I could have landed. Ended up working with that company for 18 yrs, when they also went bankrupt(lost govt. contract), but I had moved up to a management position and had no problem getting another for a few yrs. until I retired. Sure we had to uproot our two kids who were 4 and 6 at the time, but at that age they adjust. We didn’t think we would be happy anywhere besides our hometown, but were wrong. We now claim the town we moved to as our hometown, as our kids graduated from HS there and that’s all they know. My point is, DO NOT limit yourselves to where you now sit thinking there is nothing else out there. There is. You just have to branch out and start searching. Even if one has a good job, they can find another if the main breadwinner has to move on. “Broaden your horizons” as most of the time it pays off.
NOT a welfare case!
October 9th, 2012
7:17 pm
Mangler is obviously employed, so your perspective is skewed. It’s easy to tell us what we ought to do, when you don’t have to consider those options yourself. I got laid off my first job after 18 years, and found a new one 2 years later, only to get laid off after 18 months. That was 9 months ago. If you are not competing for employment, you are really in no position to judge.
Frustrated
October 9th, 2012
7:41 pm
I did not read all the posts; however, if I had to push hamburgers, I would do it. My son recently had a brain injury which left him 100% diabled — incontinent and immobile – I use a Hoyer lift to get him from chair to bed, etc. I am 66 years old and cannot quit work because I need the money. The only help the Government gives us is $35/month food stamps and $435/mo. SSI. He was unemployed and not drawing anything prior to his accident. I think it is SICK that someone physically unable to function, much less work, gets nothing compared to those fully able and not working. Sad day in the USA.
Truth Teller
October 9th, 2012
7:58 pm
If you don’t like the economy…get rid of the person responsible – Barrak Obama. It really is that simple.
HMPlatt
October 9th, 2012
8:07 pm
Please for all of you folks who want to blame Our President for all of your problems, tell me how is he responsible for the bad economy and what is mitt romney going to do about it. Please somebody tell me.
chest fever
October 9th, 2012
8:27 pm
Mitt Romney sure as heck isn’t the answer. The same people who ran things for GW Bush are Romney’s advisors. We were losing 800,000 jobs a month by the time GWB was leaving office. Things are very bad – especially for people over 40 (and forget it if you’re over 60) – but things are a whole lot better than they were when Bush left office. If we had a few GOP members in Congress who cared about anything other than preventing a second Obama term, then we might have some sort of jobs bill passed by now. I wouldn’t be able to work on roads or build bridges, but a rising tide raises all ships. Unfortunately, Mitch McConnell set the tone for Congress when he made their number 1 priority getting rid of Obama.
Whatajoke
October 9th, 2012
8:28 pm
Mangler, I agree with some of your points. The bottom line is after 99 weeks you have to find a job. My brother-in-law, who has a Masters degree, searched for around 50 weeks to find a job in his field. He couldn’t, so he took a landscaping job, dishwashing job, and did door to door adv. hangings. This held him over until he found a well paying job. Get off your butts and make a paycheck, its that simple.
chest fever
October 9th, 2012
8:29 pm
Want to know who’s a Democrat? A Republican computer programmer who was replaced by a programmer in the Phillipines who will work for $10K/year.
!! I WANT TO WORK NOW !!
October 9th, 2012
8:33 pm
BOTTOM LINE PEOPLE!!! WE ALL WANT TO WORK, NO MATTER WHAT! WE ARE NOT LAZY and OVER AGED! WE ALL WANT TO WORK. I’M HUNGRY NOW! I had a phone interview today, and the interviewer questioned how many jobs have I applied for, I told them approx. 430 since 10/2011, they laughed. Also, another interviewer told me I have been out of work too long (1 year) in order for someone to review my resume for work. These comments really were very insulting. What am I to do?. Boo Hoo!! Somebody HELP…………I’m HUNGRY NOW! There are some people who like insulting others, but I’m a true believer in the adage………Hard times happen to everyone, and it may not be your job and/or finances, but other areas of your life. And, BE NICE TO EVERYONE, SINCE YOU DON’T KNOW WHO YOU MAY HAVE TO WORK FOR AND/OR NEED ON THIS JOURNEY CALLED, LIFE!! On a better and positive note, I’m STILL STANDING and I will continue to EAT, PRAY and LOVE!
Uzipolo-king of decatur
October 9th, 2012
8:41 pm
@Mangler you know I have to agree with you mangler it’s really a double inch sword in a since but let’s get to the real deal the real ason unemployment is what it is people don’t want to work for peanuts so they try to hop and dream put out resumes and try to land high paying jobs but since they get the unemployment checks comming in they can keep doing it because they have a cash cow so I don’t want to hear there are no jobs out there it’s just that they don’t want to make low or /and they miss the type of jobs they had or lifestyle they are used to which is 20.00 per hour or so so that’s that… Now as far as unemployment checks getting 99 weeks 22 weeks…any weeks is amazing you have to give it up to Obama for that if it went for that a lot of thanks giving and Xmas would be shattered but then it’s crazy for this too. If things giving falls on a Thursday and you get your direct deposit on Friday that means you either have to borrow money for that week because you are going to be a day late to feed your family or in the month of nov you are going to save those first two checks and pray you hold on to them to feed your family for thanksgiving. I haven’t got to the Xmas dilemma yet
Laurie
October 9th, 2012
8:44 pm
I was layed off from a job in 2002. There was no tier 1,2,3, etc… unemployment back then. After 3+ months looking in my area, I took a job that paid 15,000 less a year and required me to move half way across country (no small deed for a single mother of a 4 year old, moving away from all my family). I had to start from scratch, and completely re-invent myself and my career. Given my experience, I don’t have much sympathy for people taking 99+ weeks government assistance, and still unemployed. Any job is better than no job.
ugab
October 9th, 2012
8:50 pm
My company puts me on unemployment about 2 times a year now. I take a big pay cut drawing unemployment. Some of the jobs I looked at don’t pay what Unemployment Pays. If my company gets work we will go back to work. Some people need unemployment benefits. I know there are people that are not looking for a job while they are unemployment. I hope the economy get better. No one has a secure job right now. Gas prices are way to high. I believe lower gas prices would help the economy. The illegal immagrants are sending the money they make illegally back to their home country. Its not helping us. Everyone coming into this country and buying up everything because they can get they can get a low interest loan. I couldnt get the same loans. God bless this country. Can I even say that???
Uzipolo-king of decatur
October 9th, 2012
8:50 pm
Also here is another thing to look at why the unemployment rate is high especially around Xmas time and thanksgiving…now people like Walmart want you to work on the actually day of the holiday and the day before and sometimes the day after in order for you to get paid the next week…are you kidding me this will detur anyone from working which will keep the unemployment alive I mean you know the cliche got to do what I got to do but man…come on it came to this…… Now I come to this I think the first or second comment…yes it’s true 5,000.00 you may get from all this unemployment..welp what ya gonna go…I know some people who got they own start ups. Got they own business and paid off debts/ credit report which is good…let me tell you what is not good. I was in Publix in line and I saw a lady in red bottom still tons with blonde weave gold teeth with a corporate Amerca wall mart outfit on paying for 8.99 a pound crab legs sushi 3.00 potato chips, 4.00 orange juice with a food stamp card….a food stamp card…are you kidding me …a food stamp card that I as a tax payer am paying for..I thought that was a slap in the face and actually I am making a DVD of this called a food stamp card at Publix because this is ridicioulous…how much flexing can one do….pt.3 coming soon Uzipolo-king of decatur
once was a mangler
October 9th, 2012
9:04 pm
My favorite line used to be ” get a job “! Now I’ve been unemployed for 4 months and since have had high blood pressure and a stroke. Stress is about to kill me. My wife has been unemployed for 1 1/2 years. We both are in our 50″s and since I am a 1099 employee I can’t even draw unemployment. I don’t wish this on anyone, but this has made me a better person. Praying for all you guys unemployed. Keep your head up, it’s the economy bad, not you.
!! I WANT TO WORK NOW !!
October 9th, 2012
9:40 pm
Dear Once a Mangler,
Thank you! Thank you for having a heart. Blessings on a speedy recover and a job for you wife.
GOOD NIGHT EVERYONE, PLEASE REMEMBER TO BE NICE TO EVERYONE, SINCE YOU DON’T KNOW WHO YOU MAY HAVE TO WORK FOR AND/OR NEED ON THIS JOURNEY CALLED, LIFE!!
Again, thank Once a Mangler!!
!! I WANT TO WORK NOW !!
October 9th, 2012
9:41 pm
Dear Once Was a Mangler,
Thank you! Thank you for having a heart. Blessings on a speedy recover and a job for your wife.
GOOD NIGHT EVERYONE, PLEASE REMEMBER TO BE NICE TO EVERYONE, SINCE YOU DON’T KNOW WHO YOU MAY HAVE TO WORK FOR AND/OR NEED ON THIS JOURNEY CALLED, LIFE!!
Again, thank Once Was a Mangler!!
A Small Business Owner
October 9th, 2012
9:50 pm
My expertise has been providing marketing for small businesses. I was laid off Jan’10. My “niche” small businesses can’t afford me full time, and in reality, there wouldn’t be enough for me to do. I’ve continued to look/interview but I’m too qualified, the positions are straight-commission for some pretty ineffective products or thinly-veiled MLM shams. Most recruiters/HR folks figure marketing is the same as sales. (I suck at sales!)
I set up my own company but more than 40% of my clients failed to pay me. Or wanted work far beyond scope of work & made unrealistic demands for my availability. (And then there was the “divorced” client who kept hitting on me, his wife started calling me threatening me…) I got burnt out on being approached for dead-end sales jobs that with gas, I’d be losing money “working”. Many of my old clients say they are waiting for things to turn around.
So, I quit looking for work. I quit taking clients except for a couple of “passion projects” where I’m appreciated, making a difference & doing it for free. And I’m spending a lot of time backpacking. Fortunately, I live frugally & have savings to allow me to do it. If I had a car payment or motgage or a family, things would suck.
I’d like to thank Obama for his healthcare which has the majority of my former medical clients saying they will be closing down. And the other small businesses that say tax inxreases will make them lay off more employees & it may not be worth it to continue.
Steve
October 9th, 2012
10:08 pm
I was laid off in August and am now employed, because I got out there and NETWORKED, got my resume in good shape, and l used LinkedIn to connect with everyone I know. I’m now about to hire two talented IT folks for my team and I have to tell you , it’s going to be hard finding someone with these skills who won’t demand more than we can pay them, that’s how hot the IT market is right now.
75-80% of jobs are found via networking. Otherwise, go and learn new skills.
I feel for anyone who’s unemployed, but being unemployed means you need to treat this as a full time job – your job search.
Yes times are tough. We deregulated the banks and mortgage industry in the early 2000s and collapsed our economy while overspending via two failed wars while dramatically lowering the taxes on the wealthy. Lowering taxes on the rich HAS NOT CREATED JOBS.
And I blame this do-nothing Congress for stopping the jobs bill that Obama tried to push through last year. All the money is going up to the very wealthy who are doing fantastically well right now. And you cannot, cannot blame the Democrats for this shift in power.
Chris
October 9th, 2012
10:11 pm
Roaster’s Rottiserie is hiring for cooks. I saw the ad posted on the door yesterday.
2770 Lenox Road Northeast
Atlanta
(404) 237-1122
Steve
October 9th, 2012
10:13 pm
Presidents don’t create jobs, people. Congress can help, but it’s your local and state governments that do this. We have a republican state (Georgia) that has a high unemployment rate and we’ve cut taxes left and right, but where are the jobs? From cutting taxes for businesses here? Really?
Fan
October 9th, 2012
10:35 pm
@Steve – Not one of obama’s bills that DID get pushed thru has helped either. So I wouldn’t go down the path on the ones that didn’t pass.
bluecoat
October 9th, 2012
10:35 pm
In an economy like this you can’t pick your jobs.The longer you are out of work,longer time to recover.Some progress has been made.When the elected block every attempt to better the country in the name of politics the whole country hurts.
Fan
October 9th, 2012
10:38 pm
@steve – and by the way, the democrats control the Senate
JW
October 9th, 2012
10:57 pm
The only job any government can create is more government jobs. I haven’t had a job since I left the military in 1989. Never drew unemployment a single day in my life. Found a niche that needed to be filled, started a business that filled it and never looked back. But I realize not everyone is constructive, responsible, and self sustaining. Keep drawing checks, looking for a job you’ll hate and soon lose… or start your own business, quit relying on others, be your own boss, and most importantly, do something constructive, not destructive to the rest of society like living off the government. Sorry if this makes you angry, but apparently your mom and dad didn’t have the balls to lay it out like this, so I will. Get off your ass and improve America, quit feeding off it. The rest of the humans will appreciate it.
Georgia, The " New Mississippi"
October 9th, 2012
11:07 pm
Times are harder in Georgia than they are in most places because of the Johnny Rebs that have been elected to run our state. People love to blame Obama’s 4 years in office for all of their problems . Team GOP has been running Georgia for 10 years. We lead the nation in bank failures, top 5 in home foreclosures, school cheating scandals, organized state corruption. Georgia has to rely on Unemployment handouts and loans from the federal government because it decided to stop collecting taxes that funded the program from businesses and is now in the postion of trying to pay it back. You ain’t seen nothing yet. Wait till Deal’s second term in office.
Bob Walters
October 10th, 2012
2:27 am
This is just another one of Obama’s desperate attempts to get votes.
The Ryan plan will eliminate unemployment as we know it and get this country back to work. The vast majority of the unemployed are just too preoccupied growing the size of their butt as they lounge in front of the TV watching game shows all day.
Romney and Ryan will turn this country into one lean high productivity machine. And for those that can’t keep up, think about relocating to Kenya. I hear Obama’s fallback plan after his electorial defeat is to return to the homeland and run for office.
Romney & Ryan – Tea Party 2012 – Love it or get the hell out!
meridwen
October 10th, 2012
3:09 am
99 weeks? I was unfortunate enough to have to file for unemployment at the beginning of this year. Thanks to shortened time periods for each tier, I will have exhausted all 4 tiers (if I qualify for more), before 1 year is up. Depending on if they shorten the time I am allowed benefits for each tier or not, I may end up with as few as 40 to 42 weeks. I am grateful for them, but I’ve been searching diligently, every day. I’ve only had 2 interviews in the past year, and then was only called for part-time positions at minimum wage. 99 weeks? I wish!
lazy butt
October 10th, 2012
3:23 am
love getting all dat free money for over 2 years! yeah! gimme some mo!
Nomore Freeloadin
October 10th, 2012
3:28 am
Time to CUT OFF THE MOOCHES!
Nomore Freeloadin
October 10th, 2012
3:28 am
Get off your lazy rears AND WORK! Note I said WORK, not get a job. If you cannot get a job, you CAN STILL WORK! Get a lawnmower and mow lawns, or some cleaning supplies and start cleaning houses.
HootyGoot
October 10th, 2012
5:58 am
Don’t worry! After the upcoming election there’s gonna be all these new jobs. THEY PROMISED………….. YEAH RIGHT !
The Sounds of Silence
October 10th, 2012
6:27 am
@!!I Want to Work Now!!–
I feel your pain. Like you, I have also sent out hundreds of applications (including Wal-Mart, McD’s, you name it), since I was laid off from my last job 3-1/2 years ago. The silence of prospective employers is deafening and exceeded only by the incessant ringing of the phone with calls from debt collectors who do not comprehend the simple fact that if I HAD the money, their “Clients” would have been paid long ago. That said, I no longer answer the phone or respond to their “demand” letters, weary of repeating myself. If they want to sue me, fine. That’s what the courts are for. In the meantime all I have left to hope for is social security, as I am approaching retiremement age.
ihorizon
October 10th, 2012
6:51 am
Thought I could throw in my two-cents….I was laid off after a merger by a major telecom company Thanksgiving 2008 after working over a decade. We were told by bigger fishes that our jobs were safe but soon after we were told..oops we should not have merged with you so we are letting you all go. After my first lay off, I immediately filed for unemployment benefits. After being told to wait for the call from Dept. of GA Labor, it was Christmas Eve afternoon, a month later, when the call came. I was told even though I was approved to collect the benefits, I will not receive ANY unemployment benefits because I accepted severance from my previous company. I was told to reapply in two years and the call was disconnected. I managed about two years on the severance while all that time looking for work and gotten interviews but no job offers. I reapplied for benefits and was told I waited too long and will not get the benefits for which I was owed. It was upsetting to hear but I figure surely someone will see my potential and hire me soon. I even applied at my old company but no one was hiring me despite my experience and qualifications. Remembering that although I had worked for a decade at the old corporation, each time there was an upcoming election, we always had hiring freezes until after New Years. Same with other major companies. It is almost four years next month since the lay-off and I realized that it is almost election again and jobs will be more scarce due to hiring freezes because of the upcoming elections. In the meantime, I decided to enroll in free online courses to add to resume in hopes that this might create or make a job after next election.
native atlantan
October 10th, 2012
8:28 am
Just to remind folks that even many of us that have jobs have felt the pain too. I am a commissioned sales rep and have been with my company over 30 years. My customers are living in a world of insecurity for them, and thus they buy less with less employees. The last 2-3 years my income has been half of what it had been. Just because most of us have a job, that doesnt mean we are immune to whats going on either.
zeke
October 10th, 2012
9:30 am
FEDERALLY FUNDED?? YOU BELIEVE THAT, I HAVE SOME GREAT OCEAN FRONT PROPERTY FOR YOU IN SOUTH DAKOTA!
Quentric
October 10th, 2012
12:33 pm
“Each tier of emergency unemployment provides additional weeks of unemployment benefits. Tier 4 provides up to 10 more weeks.”
Let’s see how many more tiers get tacked on. You have to wonder at what point does never ending unemployment compensation become lifetime welfare.
traveler
October 10th, 2012
1:15 pm
I see all you unemployed still have your email accounts – and I’m sure, cell phones, etc, etc
SMASKJ
October 10th, 2012
2:22 pm
Mangler you are really clueless. When you were reading this information touting all of these available jobs, did you miss the part that stated they do not have “QUALIFIED” individuals to fill them. If employers would go back to on the job training, many of the unemployed can become employed. But these employer do not want to do that. As somone previously stated, employers want 20 year olds with 20 years of experience who have done the job within the past 6 months.
There was a time that if you had a degree in a biological or chemical science, you could move into at least 15 different disciplines ranging from research to teaching to medical testing to med school, etc. That is not the case now. Employers are hiring by niches, not by knowledge. this is another challenged faced by the unemployed.
pickme!
October 10th, 2012
2:25 pm
HA! Poor Mangler. I support his right to his opinion and thank God we can all “communicate” hiding behind our keyboards now.
However, I moved from Michigan to Atlanta 5 years ago. You know WHY. Since moving here, I DID find a new career and advancement therein. However, since being ousted from my last emplower (not a typo), I am approaching one one full year of desperate attempts to find even part-time work that I am “over-qualified” for. Although I don’t believe I’m over-qualified for anything! And I can’t stand not working. It’s depressing.
I don’t care how you vote. Capitalism is designed to consume itself. And we’re all alive to witness the feasting. We’re bust. I don’t have any answers, only a commitment to keep looking for a damn job. Another move you say, Mangler? Please contact me and I will gladly accept your check to make it so.
I wish you all the best and I’m trying like hell to get in line for any interview. This doesn’t suck as bad as a starving kid in the streets of a third world country. I want to remind myself of that. I still have a roof over my head today. Tomorrow it may change. Hopefully I will adapt.
Peace.
Susan
October 10th, 2012
7:36 pm
Unemployment is NOT a handout, morons. You pay for half of UI and Social Security as a payroll deduction. Your employer pays the other half as a cost of employing you. So I paid into the system for 35 years- roughly $150,000. And received less than a $33,000 “handout” over two years, MINUS TAXES.
Ask your banker whether they are lending to developers and you’ll have your answer why architects, engineers, contractors and interior designers are out of work. Oh, and I have been offered work at $20/hr. , no benefits. Not even a living wage if you plan to keep driving a car. You can pick up a day laborer on a corner in Chamblee for $10/hr. By the time you figure my $20/hr. Offer minus 33% in taxes because I’m contract I am making $13.32 an hour. 35 years of experience is worth $3.32 an hour more than unskilled day labor, by the way untaxed, provided their transportation to and from the job, and fed lunch. Understand now?
Morning Reads for Thursday, Oct 11 — Peach Pundit
October 11th, 2012
8:02 am
[...] Some Georgia unemployed may get additional benefits. [...]
Morning Reads for Thursday, Oct 11
October 12th, 2012
5:38 am
[...] Some Georgia unemployed may get additional benefits. [...]
native atlantan
October 12th, 2012
9:04 am
Lets get this year over and continue to pray next year will be better for us all. btw, I have been saying that for 3 years now.