LAist: State Of California To Add Insult, Injury To List Of Unemployment Benefits

Ross A. Lincoln

Tue, 15 Apr 2008 10:56:36 -0800

Well to be fair, whenever future perfect is around, Are You Smarter Than A 5th Grader is harder than I am.

April Smear

Sat, 12 Apr 2008 19:26:47 -0800

Buuurrrnnn!

futureperfect

Sat, 12 Apr 2008 13:50:34 -0800

i don't even like being in the same zip code as ross's weiner.

Schimonie

Fri, 11 Apr 2008 16:37:57 -0800

Woah... Perhaps futureperfect is actually some anonymous scorned former lover, Ross?

Donna Lethal

Fri, 11 Apr 2008 11:33:35 -0800

GG2 - As a freelancer (sounds relaxing, doesn't it? It actually means "frequently unemployed") I know this system well and yes - do all of your filing online. I usually do it that Friday evening when my job ends and I've never had a problem. In fact, I tend to get my paperwork faster than my coworkers who have filed by phone. Also, you can save a copy of everything so if you have to file again in the future, you have it all right there.

Ross A. Lincoln

Thu, 10 Apr 2008 18:48:18 -0800

Future Perfect, you're back! And here I thought we were getting along. I mean, and here I will have thought we would have been getting along.

futureperfect

Thu, 10 Apr 2008 17:37:10 -0800

do you ever make a post with something positive to say? everything you write is filled with complaints, whining, bitching, and none of it is written concisely, i might add. it's just getting really old reading about how government/corporations are only out to screw over people like you. speaking of people like you, your writing is so fucking narcissistic and self-righteous. don't forget about your long-windedness and inability to create cohesive points. with that said i think you should take your obama poster, hop in your mini coop, and drive out of the eastside and into canada, where the socialist attitudes might be more accepting of your annoying elitism and enormous hipster ego.

Ross A. Lincoln

Thu, 10 Apr 2008 17:06:45 -0800

That's cool kristinester - though not every company will be so cool to their soon-to-be-laid-off employees. Some, like the company I worked for many years ago, opted for a surprise layoff session instead. One payday, they basically selected who was out in a kind of lotto system, behind closed doors. Your name gets pulled and then you mysteriously get called into the CFO's office for a sit down explanation, after which you were walked briskly to the elevator, where a security guard handed the stuff from your office to you in a hastily pulled together box. No "here's what you do next," or anything. What's worse is that not two weeks before I was laid off, we were pulled into a big company meeting where we were told, wait for it, that despite the rumors we may have heard, there would be no layoffs. Hooray! I suspect most people being laid off will experience that. My feeling is that most companies want to squeeze as much work as possible out of their employees right up until the moment they walk them to the elevator with a box full of office doo-dads. They know that if they give any advance warning of the screwing-over to come, their employees will most likely slack off and some may even decide to take some parting gifts home. Like, say, a stray printer. In some cases, they might fear violent reprisals. There's a bank that shares the same building with my employer. Said bank recently laid off about 20 people. The very next day, an extremely expensive security system was suddenly installed in the lobby. I'm willing to bet that the security system cost at least as much as those 20 people did in a month. Anyway, my long winded point is that most people aren't given any assistance when they're cut loose and kind of have to navigate this stuff alone. Compounding this, recall older workers might not be as web comfortable as we generally are and don't know where to start. So they call asking for help.

kristinester

Thu, 10 Apr 2008 16:31:06 -0800

Since the startup I was working for imploded into great big fiery "we ran out of funding!" chunks, I've been on unemployment. Since the beginning of December actually. (Anyone need an actionscript developer?) I applied online. I got a check a couple of weeks later. And I continue to get checks whenever I remember to send the forms in. Ridiculously easy to do. And, if you send the form back with priority mail (2-3 days) they usually get it next day, which means you get a check either 3 or 4 days later. Yes, the phone system is such a royal pain in the ass. But the automated system is nice. Tells me exactly when the check was paid. It would be much easier if it was computerized and the checks were direct deposited (not to mention saving the state a crapton of money on postage and paper), but it's not, and it seems to work sufficiently well for me. @ b3rti3 my company had like 5 EDD reps come in and talk to us, and help us fill out the forms. Incredibly helpful to have a question and just wave over the EDD guy to come answer it.

greatgatsby2

Thu, 10 Apr 2008 13:12:01 -0800

Very helpful post and comments, since I am on the verge of possibly being laid off. Thanks, LAist! That said, I wanted to tell gurugirl37 that your employer pays the tax on unemployment, not you, the employee. (If we don't keep our facts straight, then our valid complaints lose credibility.)

PinLA

Thu, 10 Apr 2008 12:40:31 -0800

If one is not working then one has plenty of time for 45 calls, which takes less than ten minutes, one after the other.

gurugirl37

Thu, 10 Apr 2008 12:27:17 -0800

It is true that you can't get through. I needed to make some changes and couldn't do it online and had to call. For three weeks I called everyday ten or more times a day at different times throughout the day and never got through. I think it's really unconscionable that they make you go through this when you are just trying to survive and follow their rules. Also, I think it's an atrocity that you are taxed on money that was taken out of your paycheck to begin with as tax. That's double taxation!!!!

discarted

Thu, 10 Apr 2008 12:07:39 -0800

b3rtl3- "You will still have to go to one of the EDD offices (inconvenient locations) to prove you are who you are - Driver's Lic, SS#, etc. - otherwise they will withhold your benefits." this is not true apply online and in about weeks you'll have your first check.

b3rti3

Thu, 10 Apr 2008 11:42:24 -0800

as Tottenham stated you can apply directly online for unemployment, I had to do this late last year. You will still have to go to one of the EDD offices (inconvenient locations) to prove you are who you are - Driver's Lic, SS#, etc. - otherwise they will withhold your benefits. The way I was able to still get unemployment benefits while attending school is that I attend evening classes. Since I was working FT and attending school PT it worked out. I had a phone interview with EDD & the woman said they would re-evaluate my case once I started my new semester, which they never did and is almost over. One note on TAXES, there is a box you can check off to have them withheld on your bi-weekly unemployment form. You have to remember to check that off each time you mail it in by Sunday night/early Monday morning. I wish they had that form online as well, I have almost forgotten to mail it in a couple times. If you do forget to mail it in your unemployment benefits will be delayed. While the whole process is frustrating I was lucky because my company did provide a good severance package, resume workshops, and they also had a rep from EDD walk us through the unemployment forms. Unfortunately, not all companies provide the same opportunities when they lay off people.

Josh Tate

Thu, 10 Apr 2008 11:35:16 -0800

A few points-- You can choose to withhold 10% of your unemployment check. Also, you can collect benefits in California for 36 consecutive weeks (up to a year if you get a part-time job to supplement your income/off-set your unemployment benefits). I hate to pour cold water on a good old jeremiad, but my experience with unemployment was a breeze. I applied online, checks started arriving shortly there after, they were always correct and all I had to do was place a few checkmarks on the form before sending it back in.

Markland

Thu, 10 Apr 2008 11:29:16 -0800

I haven't tried the online service in a few years, but I remember when I did try it the process was convoluted, and even after filling everything out it directed me to call the number. When I was using unemployment benefits, calling in was pretty bad. Not 45 dropped calls bad, but really bad. For better or worse, I haven't used unemployment benefits in years. But I must say, going without food for days is more appetizing than dealing with those people.

Tottenham

Thu, 10 Apr 2008 11:17:35 -0800

You can do the ENTIRE process of applying for Unemployment online. There is no need to call at all, initially. This article is pointless really without pointing this fact out.