The First UC Letter: What a Joke

If you've been blessed, or maybe I should say spoiled, as I have and never had to ask the government for unemployment, perhaps you too are unaware of how difficult, messed up and confusing the entire system is. Only a week in, I've already decided this entire system could use an overhaul.

Since I'm unemployed now, maybe I'll ask Pennsylvania if they'd like me to take a look at the process. I, for one, feel it could use some improvements. Let's start at, well, the beginning. 

You must first file an initial claim. To do so, I popped online. The basic formed seemed easy enough, and then you are told to hurry up and wait. You'll wait at least one week, which the state so lovingly calls a "Wait Week."

As you ship out resumes, call your networks, and scour the earth for a job, you also get to wait. About a week later, you'll get your letter. This letter will confirm or deny your availability to an Unemployment Check.

Thankfully, I suppose, though it is getting harder and harder to find a silver lining, I was approved. The bad news? I'll only get less than a THIRD of my actual salary. 

I don't know why I bothered to listen to others, but most of the folks that seemed to be in the "know" were pretty far off base. I am middle class. I don't even make six figures, or some crazy salary. But, apparently the government feels that benefits max out is a weekly rate that equates to about a $30,000 annual salary.

Of course, I only get it for six months (though rumor has it you can reapply for longer). Friends tell me the average time a professional is unemployeed is 12 to 18 months. Tell me how that is fair?

In my case, at least, the lay off was a decision NOT based on performance. In other words, I did nothing wrong. I was a strong employee, hitting all goals, but when times are tough, they are tough, and my organization seemed to have no choice.

Despite no wrong-doing, I'm not forced to figure out how to support a family of four with the state's "max" cap weekly rate of $573. Don't worry, the Commonwealth swears they took that into consideration. The most laughing I've done since I was unceremoniously let go was reading this graph.

"You will recieve an additional $8 dependent's allownce for each week. The Allowance is for two dependents."

You are so, so funny Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry. Apparently, no one in that department has ever had children. Each child is alloted $4 per week? Ha, right. Please outline for me how one would even FEED a child for seven days on $4. Forget those damn offspring seem to want to be clothed, bathed, have electricity (heat/A/C). 

Don't get me wrong. We've eliminated absolutely ANY unnecessary spending. We've figured out a budget to drop cable, sell a car if necessary, but there are some basics we need. And I'm not seeing how the four of us will learn to live on so little.

I think the ratio or percent of Unemployment ought to be based on your salary. No one seems to cap my taxes, yet when it comes time for me to actually need the government, you cap what I can "earn" from the state? How is this fair? I pay more, why would I not get more?

Regardless, they seem not to care. The state has said its piece, and I'm left in the lurches trying to figure out a new budget.

For every single person that ever though folks lounged around, living it up, while collecting unemployment ... well, you were sadly mistaken. No one wants to go through this. The shame, the paperwork, the chaos, the state... just in general. It is entirely too frustrating to want to do for any long term basis. 

For now, I have no choice, but the letter certainly did keep me motivated to find a new job. The search continues. Meanwhile, if someone knows how to keep a kid alive for $4 per week, I'm all ears.