A Squeeze reader, currently collecting unemployment, wonders when she might see the extra $25 per week promised in the federal stimulus package President Obama signed in February.
The answer: As early as this week, N.C. Employment Security Commission spokesman Larry Parker tells the Squeeze.
"If not this week, then certainly next week," says Parker, who notes that the payments will show up on debit cards or direct deposit accounts.
The payments also will be retroactive to the week of Feb. 28, when the extra stimulus payments went into effect. That means that if you were collecting unemployment on that date, you'll receive an extra $100 with next week's payment.
Parker says the delay in payments comes from his department coding U.S. Department of Labor guidelines into a 25-year-old system. He notes that many other states also haven't started paying the extra $25 yet.
But he knows how important that cash will be.
"I get a lot of phone calls from folks," he says. "Everyone's been really nice, but they're like 'Even $25 a week can mean two or three days of food.' "
Many economists also believe the extra $25 per week will be an effective stimulus for the economy because it lessens - at least a little - the reduction in spending that job loss causes.
Tuesday, March 31, 2009
Extra N.C. unemployment payments coming soon
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24 comments:
So, if you work, you get $13 a week, but unemployment gets an extra $25.
Every little bit helps but I'd much rather be working. Speaking of, you should look into some of the bogus job postings that are up on Monster, Indeed, etc. There are a few Charlotte area companies that have had listings since I've been looking in mid-January. There's no way they're hiring that many people and there's no way, in this ecomony they can't find good people to hire. I think they're door-to-door or cold call sales job but they masquerade them as something more stable.
the stimulus has done nothing but raise the rates for a short time and increase future state budget deficits.three years from now all of the raises will have to be paid by the state.i just hope that the ones receiving the benefits now realize why the state taxes are going to go up when they start working again.
Hey anonymous 4:22pm I'll trade places with you!
Anonymous said...
So, if you work, you get $13 a week, but unemployment gets an extra $25.
Must be nice to sit in your ivory employed tower and throws snide remarks at people in dire times...
Here's hoping your ivory tower tuns into a glass house and you find out what it is like to lose your income as your house shatters.
Are you serious? I have been out of work since October and barely make it wach week. And you want to know how I will spent it! Let me see, I'll pay my mortgage, car payment, power bill, property taxes, put food on the table, buy gas. If you are stupid enough to not understand I am trying to tell you this is not a windfall.
As for the previous poster regarding bogus postings on Monster, they are correct. How about Aerotek has been listing a "Inside Sales" position for the last three months. These staffing agencies are very bad about pulling bait and switch.
With that said I find your question offensive and insensitive. Why not ask The Observer employyes that were recently laid off how they plan to sepnf their money. And you wonder why people go off the cliff!
Too bad I'm drawing unemployment from S.C. All we're getting is the additional $25 a week. Thanks to that ba$$$rd Sanford and him putting his personal political goals before the people of his state, it looks like I along with tens of thousands of other unemployed SC workers we won't get anything else out of the stimulus (like no taxes on a large portion of the money, not to mention extended benefits).
What's up with "Yodle"? How many job postings are they going to put up per week? By now they could have brought the unemployment rate down a few basis points if they actually hired all of the people they say they're looking for. They're preying on umployed people. Special place in hell...
Anon, 4:49: The question was intended for people in circumstances different than yours. I apologize.
Good luck to you.
Peter
Thank you for this information. I couldn't bear another 45 - 60 minute wait when calling the NCESC to find where my 'raise' is.
Now then. What will be solved by being unpleasant? Will this make you feel better? If so, I am sorry for you.
For some this prolongs the PAID vacation.There are jobs out there just not many for presidents and CEOS.
Anon 4:49 says thank you Peter. I was so upset my post had numerous typos.
It is frustrating out here. Many employers these days are requiring pre-employment credit checks. My credit is beginning to suffer. I am also middle-aged, which has been another obstacle with some potential employers. While they did not outright say so, I could certainly get the "vibe".
I really do wish and Investigate Reporter would look into some of the postings on career websites.
Once again, I apologige for my hostility. In the past when I have seen somone on the roadside asking for money I thought, why not take a job anywhere. I am seeing firsthand that anywhere is few and far between. I may be joing those roadside folks within a few months.
I am posting anonymous, and am both amused and insulted by this diatribe. One other "ano" poster needs to get off the pipe and look at what is sent prior to posting. I get the Bill Gates inspired red squiggly when I hit a typo - red mist or not clean up your language prior to posting. Your communication would inspire me to shove your resume in the rectangular bin.
We are at a major crossroad as a nation - the President reached into the private sector and ordered a hit on a CEO. That, boys and girls, is not democracy nor is it a capitalist economy. I am fearful of the president it sends. We, as an American nation, survived The Depression. Companies folded, people lost jobs, and we picked our collective selves up and set about building the most awesome nation on Earth. Time to buckle down again boys and girls. I could go live in France tomorrow, and have been there for extended periods. I still choose to live in relatively rural NC for a reason.
Unemployed since Dec. 1st. Been in sales for 25 years. Been number 1 or top 10 in the country with several companies in the past. I've had 1 interview and 3 phone calls in 4 months. I keep seeing the same companies with the same ads for jobs that I keep apply to and nothing! I'm on about 10 different .com job postings and no phone call or emails. This is getting ridiculous. Only 100% commission jobs are available and they suck too. So I'm sorry about getting an extra $25 a week. First time in 46 years I've filed for benefits so I think I'm due to $25. The employment rate is hardly 10.6%. I bet its at least 15-18%
Well, maybe if the rich feel some of the pain this will be a little different from The Great Depression.
I'd like to see some serious investigations into employment scams and these BS "job fairs" that are springing up like weeds.
You can be sure that if crooked dealing got us into this economic mess, the crooks haven't all left town.
They've just changed their game.
I for one didn't ask to be laid off but i wasn't given an option I was the new guy with and education but I worked with two high school drop outs, who were butt kissers so I got the ax. as far as I'm concerned i'm gonna ride it as long as they let me. I got my house refinanced thanks to all those who made 23k and wanted a house that cost 200k! Morons. i've also got a room for rent! so good luck to all my unemployed brethern out there, may gods love be with you.If you'd like to read about lousy job postings go to the NCESC.
The question is can any of us really trust the next employer
Thanks for the info, P Stonge! When I couldn't get any info on the web, I looked more thoroughly at NC ESC's web site and found the e-mail address of the 2nd in command. I e-mailed him, it was very late on a Sunday evening, and within 5 minutes his reply popped up in my Inbox. He has a BlackBerry ... and was very kind to give me detailed answer to my question. $25 extra a week does indeed mean groceries - it helps reduce the bleeding from my now almost empty savings.
I can't believe some of these anonymous postings. Like all of us on unemployment are waiting for jobs as C.E.O.'s and Presidents. I've been looking actively for months and can't find anything. I have a family to support and would love to have a job instead of relying on unemployment to scrape by, but I thank God that I do have unemployment to help me out when I need it. This is the first time I've ever been unemployed since I was fifteen years old.
man someone ANYONE tell me how long it takes to actually get unemployment in NC? I lost my job unexpectedly on March 20th after fifteen years when I registered I thought I would get the three weeks vacation I was entitled to so that is the figure I put on the form. My former employer told me to file immediately, the first day I was unemployed so I did. The company only paid me one week and NC is claiming a paperwork discrepency and I had initially gotten a letter in teh mail saying I was entitled to 26 weeks of $$ now when I go online to certify it says there is an issue but it notes my filing for the week. I cant last much longer without falling behind on all my bills-how long can this take to fix???The woman at unemp. siad a decision has to come down from Raleigh and I will get something in the mail...this is horrible, I am 51 and disabled and the chances of me finding a job that will come even close to what I made are slim at best
I was with the same company for 12 yrs.And was laid april 2008 I had planned to retire from there.Trying to find a job is a lot different than the last time I had to look.My unemployment is afar cry from what I was bringing home every week and I can't seem to find a job.I'm either to old or have to much experience.But the light bill house payment etc still comes in every month plus my family still likes to eat.So the $25.00 extra every week won't do much BUT It's more than what I started with.I would rather be working than beating the pavement looking for work.If your still working walk a mile in our shoes.Good luck to all my fellow friends that are looking for work cause god knows we all need it NOW.
No, there are no jobs thanks to the sorry politicians from the near past and the present. All the jobs are going overseas, the muslims and asians are getting the benefits, the projects are getting new nicer housing, and me, a college grad, have been out of work for well over a year, and cannot find work. Next time America wants change...vote for mickey mouse...you will get better results.
Im on NC's unemployment and I use to get my extra 25 but this past week I didn't get it I called them they had me on hold for 6 hours then connected me to someone who couldn't even help me I have a family to take care of bills ect. so I need that extra 25 has anyone else had this problem with they're unemployment? Hell even with the extra 25 its hard to live off it.
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