RutlandHerald.com - We Are Vermont

Unemployment Dept. unhelpful



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Published: February 2, 2009

I am tired of hearing the Department of Unemployment patting themselves on the back for the job they are doing.

As one of many recently unemployed Vermonters, let me tell you that they have been anything but helpful. I have waited over a month for a single payment from them. The delay being their inability to place a phone call to confirm my being laid off.

It took them three weeks to place a phone call. Then I discover I have been penalized four weeks because my employers issued me three additional checks while I searched for work. This after being told for a month that I would receive backpay.

I did not hear of the penalty in writing. No, I had to call for three hours to get through and be put on hold for 40 minutes in order to be told of this.

Unemployment is so helpful they can't even tell you anything in writing. So now my rent is a month overdue and the next is due on top of it. Couple that with college loans, phone, electric, and oh yes, maybe a meal every other week and the $200 a week is already gone before it's in my pocket.

As unemployment rates reach new highs is this really the best they have to offer? My life is worse due to Unemployment. When they should be helping us out, they are dragging their feet and kicking us further down. So don't believe the spin. Unemployment is doing at best an inadequate job, and at worst an incompetent one.

GARY SLOAN

Middlebury








READER COMMENTS


Oooo, VTis, do you kiss your mother with that potty mouth?

Tell you what, VTis, when the tax cheats rise to the level of Constitution-busting, treasury-robbing, military-murdering torturers you won't be able to shut me up. In the meantime I'm content to watch them do the right thing and drop out of the running and for the President to admit he made mistakes in his appointments. That's pretty refreshing after 8 years of "mistake-free" misrule by neocons who believe they talk to God. Problem was the god they worship looks a lot like the evil and disgusting shotgun-shooting menace known as former VP Richard Cheney.
-- Posted by Notta Bushman on Wed, Feb 4, 2009, 2:13 pm EST

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The UI rules are all on line and sent to everyone who files. They are pretty clear and easy to understand. After the initial snag of trying to get through in December with so many folks applying (UE has doubled from the same time last year)I thought the process was simple and the staff kind, competent and helpful. This is an unusual crisis and these folks should be cut some slack under the circumstances.
For those needing extral help, the problem is that the threshold for receiving supplementatl help beyond unemployment is set so low that many of us in the middle class just don't qualify. One of the provisions in the stimulus package (that some are balking about) would make those on UE more eligible for Green Mtn Care, food stamps and extended benefits. (And surely we are going to need these).

The UI systems isn't run by a private insurance company. It is employers contributing to a government fund based on anticipated needs using past experience. We shouldn't be surprised that the needs surpass the fund balance (or soon will) because THIS IS NOT THE RUN OF THE MILL RECESSION.

The longer and deeper it is, more and more of our fellow ciizens will need help. Keep in mind that every dime of that assistance is pumped back in to the economy, because no one is banking that help. Let's not demonize the victims. We need to show more empathy for one another. To quote the new governor of Illinois, "One day your a peacock, the next day you may be a feather duster."
-- Posted by Juliet Chien on Tue, Feb 3, 2009, 10:28 pm EST

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HAHAHAHAHA,,,well said Vermontis. Great, just what we need, Notta having more time on his hands to enlighten us about the gloriousness of Obama and all the things in this world that are President Bush's fault. Lord help us!
-- Posted by David Randall on Tue, Feb 3, 2009, 7:02 pm EST

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"And VTis, when have you EVER heard me defend either of those two tax cheats? I've never "forgotten" to pay my taxes; why would you think I'd defend anyone else who claims he has? Find some other way to attack a reasonable and honest person, VTis. You're way out of line here."

Didnt say you defended them...just making the point that after listening to you blame Bush from everything from hurricanes to your hemmoroids for the last couple of years, its surprising to see all these Obama tax cheats get a pass from you, thought you might want to give a working man the same benefit of the doubt.

Got that straight now, you mealymouthed friggin hypocrite???
-- Posted by None None on Tue, Feb 3, 2009, 4:52 pm EST

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April and VTis, a little lesson in "open mouth, insert foot" here:

First, if you've been following along with the headlines in this troubled post-Bushian era you know that the Vermont Department of Employment and Training is overwhelmed with new applicants for benefits so they certainly can't be making phone calls for people who should have the common sense (and morals) to know that they can't collect benefits while they are still being paid by their companies as this guy was.

Second, I know far too well how all of this affects people as I am one of those who were let go in December along with the other members of my department.

Third, I know I'm not eligible for unemployment benefits right now because I'm still being paid a small severance benefit. (Sound familiar?) I haven't bothered to try to defraud the DET nor do I think anyone else should.

Fourth, when those severance checks stop coming I'll most likely be applying for Social Security at the reduced rate required because I'll still be shy of my full retirement age.

And VTis, when have you EVER heard me defend either of those two tax cheats? I've never "forgotten" to pay my taxes; why would you think I'd defend anyone else who claims he has? Find some other way to attack a reasonable and honest person, VTis. You're way out of line here.
-- Posted by Notta Bushman on Tue, Feb 3, 2009, 9:11 am EST

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This would be a non-issue if "Jim means Jobs" actually did something to bring jobs into the state.

I think a better characterization would be Jim does Nothing.
-- Posted by Dave None on Tue, Feb 3, 2009, 9:02 am EST

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BTW- just wanting to remind people that those who receive Social Security PAID into the system far more than they will ever receive, unless they are in perfect health and live into their 90's without having to go into nursing home care.

April, since your last name is the same as the man who wrote the letter, I can assume that you are a couple. Of course you are going to stick up for him. But opening up a case of fraud in a public venue is not that good an idea, especially when attempted fraud is usually a hefty fine- And I am not getting my panties in a bunch- I wear a thong....

(I am feeling less sorry for this couple as the conversation continues, and am understanding a little more why their phone calls may not have been returned)
-- Posted by Colleen Wright on Tue, Feb 3, 2009, 8:56 am EST

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"And you call that "a penalty?" I call it an attempt to defraud the State of Vermont! Anyone out there know where I can report this guy?
-- Posted by Notta Bushman on Mon, Feb 2, 2009, 10:16 am EST "

Another gem from Notta, who hates working people and REAL Vermonters. Hey Notta, would you be more favorably inclined to this guy, or at least give him the benefit of the doubt, if he "accidentally" forgot to pay his taxes and got appointed to Obama's cabinet???

Why your on the phone reporting this poor jobless schnook, ring somebody and report Daschle and Geithner.
-- Posted by None None on Tue, Feb 3, 2009, 6:57 am EST

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I agree, not everyone can make ends meet with the SS. I never said that SS was a fantastic benefit. I never said that anyone was reaping the so-called rewards of SS. HOWEVER, I was simply stating that if someone was to be living off SS, then they were less likely AT THIS POINT in the economy we live in to have their entire life just sucked down the drain as those who lose jobs without warning. At this point, people are getting fired from jobs, not SS benefits. I also agree with you that money should NOT be taken from SS, as for many elderly folk, it's all they have.
So don't get your undies in a bunch, I was just making a point.
-- Posted by April Sloan on Mon, Feb 2, 2009, 11:02 pm EST

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Sorry to disagree with you April- "old" people are not living off the social security benefit- they are starving on it. Social security was raped to provide benefits to fatherless children- and then there became so many "fatherless" children that it is nearly bankrupt. It is also the social program that is commonly used and abused when congress needs to find a few billion dollars fo porkbarrel some idea in a district where its going to be a close vote...Those "old" folks paid in many years to enjoy the meager amount they receive. So, unless you do not receive food stamps, welfare benefits, unemployment benefits, Dr Dinosaur, Medicaid, free public schooling for you or your children, drive on roads that the taxpayer built and maintain, put money in a bank that is federally insured, or use day care/elder care/a food shelf/commodities, or enjoy satellite, cable or antennae reception tv, and of course, if you refuse your tax refund, I would stop b*tching about those "old" people who are making a living off social security. Believe me, they earned it.
-- Posted by Colleen Wright on Mon, Feb 2, 2009, 11:44 am EST

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Notta, apparently you either work for Unemployment, or know someone who does for you to be so cold about this situation. (And who cares WHAT he calls it?! It's still the Unemployment Department!) You know nothing. He was NOT trying to "defraud the State of Vermont" as you put it. He simply wanted answers, which he was not getting. Was it so hard for the Unemployment Department to tell him from the beginning, "I'm sorry sir, but you cannot receive benefits until your company stops paying you." instead of making him run in circles getting no where?
Put yourself in these people's shoes who are hard working individuals trying their hardest to make a good life for their families, only to have that ripped out from underneath them. You're probably one of the few people who still has a nice paying job and a nice home. (either that, or your an old person living off the social security benefit) How would you like to lose ALL of that? open up your eyes and look around you. Maybe we should report you for being so blind to the world around you.
-- Posted by April Sloan on Mon, Feb 2, 2009, 10:59 am EST

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So, Gary, you're upset because this fictional "Unemployment Department" (perhaps you mean the Department of Employment and Training?) wouldn't pay you benefits while your company was paying you? Why would you expect to collect two paychecks for the same time period and you weren't working anywhere at all?

And you call that "a penalty?" I call it an attempt to defraud the State of Vermont! Anyone out there know where I can report this guy?
-- Posted by Notta Bushman on Mon, Feb 2, 2009, 10:16 am EST

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THis is when we have to start looking out for each other. If you know your neighbor is cold and hungry, you have a responsibility to feed them. We will have to develop our own tribes- finding people who can cook, repair roofs, cars, clean, build, grow. We can no longer rely on the gov't for help- that system has fostered isolation. We are not our own island. We need each other. But we can't rely on the gov't to help us. State workers, for the most part, is a oxymoron.....(there are notable excpetions, but the general rule .....)
-- Posted by Colleen Wright on Mon, Feb 2, 2009, 9:40 am EST

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you want a real joke i have three small children and have worked forever but i,ve been out of work since jan 9 for some major surgery and let me say its happening everywhere. i figured i might be eligible for food staamps or something u know what i got was a letter sayin no more health ins. and 22 measly dollars a month i have no freakin income how the hell did they figure that out but anyways just to say it happening everyplace not just unemployment i am per diem so no medical pay not eligible for unemployment so what is their
-- Posted by Chantelle Dewey on Mon, Feb 2, 2009, 9:32 am EST

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Don't forget that unemployment is insurance. The primary activities that insurance companies engage in are: a) selling insurance
b) finding reasons to not pay out on claims.
On top of this, so many new people are joining the rolls each week that they are overwhelmed. They probably do need to hire some more people. At least it will create some nice, union jobs.
-- Posted by Comfy Anon on Mon, Feb 2, 2009, 9:02 am EST

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This is why they have the high paid UNION JOBS WITH ALL THE BENEFITS.. And the state wants to hire more of these UNION workers to help you more as the demand for employment increases...
We need people employed to pay the State Employee UNION wages. However, with jobs leaving, they will also be standing in line someplace......
-- Posted by None None on Mon, Feb 2, 2009, 7:53 am EST

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You are not the only one this has happened to! If you want another kick to the head from the State of VT, check out the Career Resource Centers. They will throw you around like a stick of hot lead, especially if you start inquiring about availability of training for new careers or help with furthering your education so that you can even have a shot at a job that IS seeking employees, but which requires skills you may not possess. The state of Vermont is becoming a joke, no wonder so many continue to leave it.
-- Posted by None None on Mon, Feb 2, 2009, 7:09 am EST

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