Stand Up For Reform, New York-Unemployment

Hi everyone! My name is Maryann Ciszek. I am an unemployed LPN fed up with the unemployment insurance benefits system as it is. I don't want to get angry because laws are passed seemingly to be fair to everyone. I understand this. However, some aspects of  the unemployment laws here in New York State are very vague and confusing. I would like to propose a grassroots effort to affect a change. It seems to me that unemployment insurance benefits while somewhat helpful are doing more to keep the jobless poor than to help get us on our feet and become productive once again.

I will give you a quick overview of unemployment insurance as I understand it. It is a federal-state program jointly financed through federal and state employer payroll taxes.  State law determines individual state unemployment tax rates. The individual states and territories determine their own contributions and run their own programs.
New York State does not deduct unemployment taxes from an employee's paycheck. Employers pay a tax that funds Unemployment Insurance (UI).  The federal government lends money to the states for UI when the states run short of funds.

I lost my job in February. I began receiving UI from that employer. It does not pay very much especially when my rent is equal to a little more that 50% of what my monthly income is from UI. I chose not to have any federal or state taxes deducted from my unemployment checks because I need every penny of that money to survive. I have no health insurance and do not qualify for Medicaid or Food Stamps because my gross income exceeds the parameters of the aid. Cost of living and rent is not taken into consideration. I can't even afford the NYS health insurance programs because of my expenses and low income.

In June of this year, I acquired a part time job on the midnight shift. I accepted the position because I was assured that I would be able to pick up extra time in order to increase my income. It felt so good to finally have a job and make my own money. I was honest in reporting my work every week when I claimed my benefits. Eventually the midnight shift began to take a toll on me. I could not sleep on the days I worked although I made sure my bedroom was kept totally dark (by taping black garbage bags to the windows), I wore a sleep mask, and used a small fan to keep my room cool and to block out noise. I was told during my orientation that in order to qualify for benefits and health insurance, I had to work at least 24hrs per week. I was hired to work 16 hrs per wk plus any extra time. I was working 24 hrs almost every week. I asked to have my status officially increased so that I may be able to get the health insurance. I was told there were no positions available. Eventually, the lack of sleep expanded to the nights that I didn't work. There was a time when I worked a few years on that shift on a full time basis. I couldn't handle it then either. It was nearly impossible for me to function on a daily basis let alone stay up all night at work and be a safe nurse. I quit that job in September. The New York State Dept of Labor decided to withhold my UI pending a determination. I read the booklet from the DOL regarding unemployment benefits and there is nothing that states that a claiment cannot quit a part time job while receiving UI from the employer from which the employee was qualified to receive the UI. Now I have no money and my children are helping me pay my bills. Thank God for my wonderful kids! I do not know if I will get my unemployment back.While I am waiting for the decision, I will start a part time job in a couple of weeks. I am hoping to work at some staffing agencies to supplement my income.

Now that my story is told, I would like to see some reform in  unemployment insurance benefits. These are the changes that I feel would be beneficial to everyone:

• Make the rules absolutely clear in the DOL handbook-what should and should not be done while collecting UI and the consequences. 

•  A part time job acquired while receiving unemployment may be terminated at will for any reason as long as no laws were broken.

• A full time job may be terminated within 4 months for any reason providing no laws were broken.
• Unemployment should not be taxed.
• All those receiving unemployment should automatically receive food stamps, medicaid, and rent/mortgage assistance for the duration of unemployment insurance benefits.
• All assistance should be obtained with NET income taken into consideration, not GROSS income.

These are the changes I feel are necessary to maintain a decent quality of life while we are receiving temporary unemployment insurance.