Not All Unemployed Are Eligible for Unemployment

According to The Seattle Times:

Only 37 percent of workers who lose their jobs typically collect unemployment benefits, according to U.S. Labor Department statistics.

They often miss out because they didn’t earn enough while working, or their work history was not continuous enough to make them eligible under state unemployment laws — usually written in the pre-computer era, when tracking payrolls was much slower.

Alright. So what are the other 63 percent of workers who can’t collect unemployment supposed to do? Become prostitutes? Take up drug dealing? Commit suicide? I know it sounds harsh, but when there aren’t really many jobs out there to begin with, and there’s no money coming in, what do you do if you weren’t born with wealthy parents?

Just Twist the Knife a Little More

So it’s bad enough that I am paying $450/month for COBRA health coverage. (Unfortunately since I have on-going medical issues I don’t have the option of just going without.)

Anyways, so I get this letter in the mail that was really UN-necessary. Here it goes:

January 9, 2009

Subject: COBRA premium underpayment

Dear Bridget,

Due to an administrative error, you have been billed an incorrect premium for your Medical Plan. You will be receiving a coupon from ADP indicating the premium amount owed to date…

If you fail to pay the invoiced amount by the grace date indicated, your COBRA coverage will be terminated retroactively, back to the paid through date that is on file.

We apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused.

Ummmmmmm, what the F? And to add fuel to the fire burning in my mind, those cheap bastards (at my old company) couldn’t even sign the letter! How rude. Just their “corporate logo” on top. I have no other words.

21,000 Jobs Cut in a Day

Friday, to be exact.

Clear Channel Announces Revamp

Which of course means layoffs are in store!  I never liked them anyway; all they did was corporatize radio and music tours and all that other fun stuff, turning the industries into cookie cutter money making schemes.  Maybe the laid off employees can come up with something better!