Pennsylvania Unemployment Benefits Extension: Senate approves bill

A bill to add seven more weeks of unemployment benefits in Pennsylvania is a step closer to final approval.

[Common Sense]

Unbelievable...the transition from unemployment to welfare continues. This means that there will now be 79 weeks of state benefits, which I believe is on top of federal unemployment that runs from 3-6 months. We're now at almost two years of benefits! Also, keep in mind that it doesn't matter who is "paying" for the benefits - in every case listed in the article, it will ultimately be the taxpayer!

Yes, the job market sucks, and it's a difficult time to be unemployed. However, we have entirely too many people turning down quality job offers because of the safety net of benefits. Many people don't even seriously begin looking for work or thinking about their future until their benefits almost have run out. This extension will just extend this process even longer.

If you find yourself unemployed (as I have been), you should begin looking for work immediately but, more importantly, also be doing the following:

1) Looking at your current profession...is it expanding or declining? If it is declining, decide if it's time to change professions. If you are unskilled labor, recognize that you are the "bottom of the barrel" and will be last to be employed. Take steps to educate or train yourself in a specific area with growth potential.

2) If you are staying in your current profession, decide whether you need to refresh or upgrade your skills to become more marketable. If you are changing careers, get the basic training necessary to find an entry level position in that career. There are many programs under unemployment to allow you to improve your skills.

3) Readjust your finances in such a way as to allow you to take a reasonable decrease in salary if you are restarting in your current profession at another job, or a large decrease in salary if you are starting at entry-level in another profession. Companies don't "owe" you a certain wage just because you've made it before, or because it's what you need to make. Realize that it took time to get where you were with your old company, and will take time to get to where you want to be with your new one.

Again, being Unemployed sucks...but the answer is not to allow people to make it a permanent way of life by avoiding the difficult process I have outlined above. I made a difficult decision several years ago to go from a career where I was making almost 45K/year in a dead-end job to a $9/hour entry-level position in my current field (refusing to take Unemployment benefits during the transition). This position became a salaried 35K/year position within 6 months, once I showed what I was capable of, and I was back to my old salary (with many less hours worked and much bettter working conditions) within three years. When I was again laid off 5 years later from that job due to consolidation, I was immediately able to find another job in my new field, and have continued to increase my salary and am now reaping the rewards of my previous sacrifice. However, I always keep in mind that I could be laid off tomorrow and have to take another step back (but not quite as dramatic, as my current field has good long-term employment prospects). For that reason, I live well within my means and constantly take steps to keep my knowledge fresh within my field.

I'm not going through this whole story to pat myself on the back, but to illustrate my point that becoming too comfortable relying on government assistance, rather than yourself, is something to be avoided at all costs.

[WOW]

Hey common sense you are AWESOME don't hurt yourself trying o fit your head through a door...

[Ray Sist]

WOW wrote:

Hey common sense you are AWESOME don't hurt yourself trying o fit your head through a door...

lmao

[Geez]

Wow, Mr. Common Sense! Why don't all the unemployed people out there just take your advice? The unemployment rate would be zero!

Do you REALLY think the majority of people out there are turning down job offers left and right? Do you REALLY think people enjoy living on half their pay (or less)? With no benefits? Really???

As a former unemployed person - though I very much doubt you were unemployed in this recession, from your comments - your holier-than-thou tone is doubly offensive.

My company laid off 200 people earlier this year. I am friends with about two dozen of them. Every one of them has been pounding the pavement, literally and online, to look for work. And not just in their preferred field. Some have gone back to school on their own dime while working part-time jobs at McDonald's. I have applied for 10 jobs a week on average. Some weeks I make enough at my part-time job not to qualify for unemployment, and I am THANKFUL for it.

So get off your high horse, and understand that you are stereotyping for a large group of people, some of whom would give anything not to be in this situation. G-d forbid, if I need those seven extra weeks to feed my family, I am taking them, and I will be eternally thankful that the politicians in this state have a modicum more sense than you do.(And no, I can't believe I just typed that!)

[Common Sense]

WOW wrote:

Hey common sense you are AWESOME don't hurt yourself trying o fit your head through a door...

Thanks!

And sorry for the double post above...stupid computer!

All kidding aside...the point of my story was not to puff myself up, but to illustrate something I feel very strongly about and give a human side to it. When people oppose extensitions of unemployment, they are often considered to be heartless. Based on my experience and what I see in my position, I would argue that those advocating extended benefits are actually creating more problems for the individuals involved than they are solving.

[Political Guy]

One moron writes a book on the blog and it goes to hell. Had Harrisburg not taken the Obama stimulus money and made it disappear, it could have been used to create NEW jobs for UNEMPLOYED AMERICANS as it was intended. SEE the Dems didn't hold anyone accountable either. Isn't Rendell driving a Teslas now?

[Political Guy]

Oh, and then another moron hits post twice!

[Common Sense]

Geez wrote:

Wow, Mr. Common Sense! Why don't all the unemployed people out there just take your advice? The unemployment rate would be zero!
Do you REALLY think the majority of people out there are turning down job offers left and right? Do you REALLY think people enjoy living on half their pay (or less)? With no benefits? Really???
As a former unemployed person - though I very much doubt you were unemployed in this recession, from your comments - your holier-than-thou tone is doubly offensive.
My company laid off 200 people earlier this year. I am friends with about two dozen of them. Every one of them has been pounding the pavement, literally and online, to look for work. And not just in their preferred field. Some have gone back to school on their own dime while working part-time jobs at McDonald's. I have applied for 10 jobs a week on average. Some weeks I make enough at my part-time job not to qualify for unemployment, and I am THANKFUL for it.
So get off your high horse, and understand that you are stereotyping for a large group of people, some of whom would give anything not to be in this situation. G-d forbid, if I need those seven extra weeks to feed my family, I am taking them, and I will be eternally thankful that the politicians in this state have a modicum more sense than you do.(And no, I can't believe I just typed that!)

I'm not sterotyping anyone, and I don't presume to know your situation. You sound like a hard worker, and I'll give you credit for working a PT job, and not "gaming the system" as so many do. You can take my advice and my background above as condescending if you will, but I just don't see any way somebody can collect unemployment benefits for almost two years, and not come away from it entirely too comfortable with being on the government dole.

As a hiring manager in a company that is hiring specialized employees I have dealt with entirely too many unemployed individuals are turning down good paying jobs because of unrealistic expectations. Far too many expect to make what they made at their last job (or even more) right away, despite the fact that many of their skills are non-transferable and they will require a lot of training. I've also had way too many people tell me that they might consider the job offer a year from now, when their benefits run out, but that they would just collect for now.

My life experience and my work experience lead me to believe that this extension is not in the best interest of our country, even if it is not popular to say so right now.

[Frankie Lovemuscle]

Common Sense wrote:

<quoted text>
Thanks!
And sorry for the double post above...stupid computer!
All kidding aside...the point of my story was not to puff myself up, but to illustrate something I feel very strongly about and give a human side to it. When people oppose extensitions of unemployment, they are often considered to be heartless. Based on my experience and what I see in my position, I would argue that those advocating extended benefits are actually creating more problems for the individuals involved than they are solving.

Hey Common Sense--Why don't you do some volunteer work in your spare time to refurbish your over-flated ego.--Like, who gives a poop!

[Common Sense in PA]

Hey Mr. Common Sense, you truly are awesome in your own mind. I, for one, am unemployed in this wonderful job market. Prior to this, I worked for 34 years without ever being laid off or unemployed. Until now, I never collected a single unemployment check. I've have been looking for employment and can tell you there isn't much out there. I don't know how long it will be till I find something, but I don't feel guilty taking unemployment benefits. I certainly paid into the system long enough to be able to use it while I need it!

[joe schmoe]

fyi everyone, there are jobs out there, maybe it's not what you want to do, or you might want to get paid more, but hey, life sucks...get off your lazy asses

[RonMania]

Common Sense in PA wrote:

Hey Mr. Common Sense, you truly are awesome in your own mind. I, for one, am unemployed in this wonderful job market. Prior to this, I worked for 34 years without ever being laid off or unemployed. Until now, I never collected a single unemployment check. I've have been looking for employment and can tell you there isn't much out there. I don't know how long it will be till I find something, but I don't feel guilty taking unemployment benefits. I certainly paid into the system long enough to be able to use it while I need it!

You paid pennies per paycheck. Over 34 years maybe enough for 2 months worth, then you are feeding off us taxpayers. But good luck looking, you will find.

[Taxpayer]

I agree with "Common Sense" on the subject of many unemployed not looking for work until their unemployment benefits are close to running out. Maybe not the majority of the unemployed but it is very common.

Geez wrote:

Wow, Mr. Common Sense! Why don't all the unemployed people out there just take your advice? The unemployment rate would be zero!
Do you REALLY think the majority of people out there are turning down job offers left and right? Do you REALLY think people enjoy living on half their pay (or less)? With no benefits? Really???
As a former unemployed person - though I very much doubt you were unemployed in this recession, from your comments - your holier-than-thou tone is doubly offensive.
My company laid off 200 people earlier this year. I am friends with about two dozen of them. Every one of them has been pounding the pavement, literally and online, to look for work. And not just in their preferred field. Some have gone back to school on their own dime while working part-time jobs at McDonald's. I have applied for 10 jobs a week on average. Some weeks I make enough at my part-time job not to qualify for unemployment, and I am THANKFUL for it.
So get off your high horse, and understand that you are stereotyping for a large group of people, some of whom would give anything not to be in this situation. G-d forbid, if I need those seven extra weeks to feed my family, I am taking them, and I will be eternally thankful that the politicians in this state have a modicum more sense than you do.(And no, I can't believe I just typed that!)

[WeAreStuck]

Fact is I know of 20 some people who took an early buy out (early retirement) and now have (just short of a year) re-qualified for another 79 weeks.. oh great! Not only that these 20 some people are going to receive an extra $50 a check from federal funds in their checks. Now they will be receiving approx $530 every two weeks.(VERIFIED)

So that's nearly 3 years! And all perfectly legal.

And you think that's right!!! Wonder why we're going down the crapp-er no more.

Be realistic, who's going stir their conscious to get off that gravy train in retirement. I'm sure there's 10,000's more that hit it just right.

And don't go off saying I don't know what I'm talking about.. IT IS FACT!

[WeAreStuck]

Fact is I know of 20 some people who took an early buy out (early retirement) and now have (just short of a year) re-qualified for another 79 weeks.. oh great! Not only that... these 20 some people are going to receive an extra $50 a check from federal funds in their checks. Now they will be receiving approx $530 every two weeks.(VERIFIED)

So that's nearly 3 years! And all perfectly legal.

And you think that's right!!! Wonder why we're going down the dumper no more.

Be realistic, who's going stir their conscious to get off that gravy train in retirement. I'm sure there's 10,000's more that hit it just right.

And don't go off saying I don't know what I'm talking about.. IT IS FACT!

[Drew]

RonMania wrote:

<quoted text>You paid pennies per paycheck. Over 34 years maybe enough for 2 months worth, then you are feeding off us taxpayers. But good luck looking, you will find.

How dare you imply that someone save their money! Don't you know the American way is to save nothing and expect others to bail us out!

[Butt Wipe]

Just remember that everyone that is collecting unemployment is still "PAYING TAXES" not just you Mr. Common Sense. And don't forget that the Employers paid into it also. NOT JUST YOU!!!

[ATP]

I drew for a little while ten years ago, after getting layed off from a government job. I'll never forget: The guy running the show said "Now all of you will wait until the last week before looking for a job."

[steve]

The fact is we cant afford a lot of things anymore as a state and country. Pretty much its gonna be every man for himself. Save your money, learn to do without, have food storage, etc.

[rush limbaugh]

at least these people will get a check