I Need a Job NOW!

President Obama signed the Emergency Unemployment Benefits Extension Bill, HR 5618, into law  last Thursday after the bill was passed three hours earlier by the U.S House of Representatives on a vote of 272 to 152.  The bill, which would reestablish Tier 3 unemployment for 3 million Americans at an average weekly benefit amount if $306, was approved on Wednesday by the U.S Senate in a highly bipartisan vote. This is the eighteenth extension since the start of the recession in 2008. The bill has been opposed by Republican lawmakers since its introduction in February due to its projected $34 billion dollar price tag., and fears of the growing $13 trillion U.S deficit. The bill will allow those currently on unemployment to file for extension until November 30, 2010 five months later then the previous date of June 2, 2010. The new extension schedule is retroactive allowing those who are passed the deadline to have payments reestablished.  Benefit payments are expected to go out as early as next week as each state reviews claims based on the guidelines laid out by the bill. This news comes as monthly unemployment claims rose 37,000 to 464,000 up from the 445,000 expected by a Dow Jones economic survey. It is hoped that the continued purchasing power provided to the unemployed will help aid the shaky U.S economy.

Useful links and news around the web:

Some tips for the unemployed.

How to apply for unemployment.

More information about unemployment benefits extension.

Find out if you qualify for unemployment benefit extension.

Some future prediction for unemployment rates and the U.S job market

Senate Democrats have blocked the Republican filibuster on unemployment benefit extension bill H.R. 4213. The block was passed by house Democrats in a 60-40 vote at 2:30 PM on July 21, 2010 after West Virginia Senator Robert Bird’s replacement, Carte Goodwin, was sworn in. The bill, which will now go through a simple majority vote, is expected to pass within the next 24 hours before going to the House of Representatives for vote. The bill once passed will extend filling dead lines for unemployment benefits. This bill however is not the unemployment benefit extension many Americans have hoped for, however the bill would allow individuals in states with an unemployment rate above 8.5% to continuing to collect unemployment benefits for up to 99 weeks. The bill is retroactive meaning it would also allow payments to individuals who have failed to file on the previous deadline of June 2 to start receiving benefits again.  It’s thought that this will be helpful to 2.5 million Americans. Currently, 24 states and the District of Columbia qualify for the 99 week deadline. Many are concerned that the filling deadline extension will still leave millions of Americans without an income.  The 99 week unemployed are the most concern as no long term extensions will go into effect.

US unemployment at 9.5 appears to have lowered for now.

The effect bill H.R. 4213 will have on the upcoming elections.

Republicans try to stop unemployment extension.

Unemployment falls but part time jobs raise in the UK.

Unemployment rate has fallen in 39 states.

Recent unemployment stats in the US are all pointing towards a slow but steady economic growth pattern. Statistics issued from the Bureau of Labor indicate that the total number of unemployed Americans has gone down to 14.6 million, which represents a 9.5% proportion of the population. This is despite large exits from Government employment, with an estimated quarter of a million workers being released from temporary contracts now that the 2010 census has been completed. In amongst those finding new jobs, adult women seem to be picking up more work recently, with their unemployment rate falling to just 7.8%. The worst hit group in June were still teenagers, with over 25% of those wishing to work unable to find employment.

Source: http://www.bls.gov/news.release/empsit.nr0.htm

Our contest on “What is your Dream Job?” has successfully concluded.  Here are some of the highlighted entries and the winner announcement!  Subscribe to our blog for more contests in the future! Read More »

I Need A Job Now is running its first ever writing contest.  This week’s topic is:  “What is your dream job?”

Have you ever felt like you do not belong in your current position?  What do you really want to do in your life?  Submit a short description of at least 100 words what your dream job is for a chance to win $15 cash or a $15 Amazon gift certificate.    Here are the ways you can enter:

1) Submit your entry as a comment on this post.

2) Write your entry as a post on your own blog and link here.  Old blog posts on the  same topic are welcome.

3) Send your entry by email to ineedajobnownet@gmail.com with the subject “My dream job”

All entries are  due by 11:59PM Pacific Time on 12/27/2009 and one winner will be chosen on 12/30/2009

Happy writing!

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The pace of job loss has slowed, but the government is still the biggest employer out there.  Read on for some news on how the GOP plans to increase jobs, and other news. Read More »

The Obama Administration is looking to extend unemployment benefits into 2010 and spend $100 billion on the program.  Here are some details and other headlines around the country. Read More »

Unemployment is now supposedly at 10% in the United States.  This is undoubtedly propped up by the seasonal work around the Christmas season.    Here are the headlines for this week and a great series from the New York Times about unemployment benefits. Read More »

House Passes 13 week Unemployment Benefits Extension

This means that those states that now have more than 8.5% unemployment will extend benefits by 13 weeks.  States and territories affected are: Washington, D.C., and Puerto Rico. The states are: Alabama, Arizona, California, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Maine, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, Nevada, New Jersey, North Carolina, New York, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Washington, Wisconsin and West Virginia.

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Extended unemployment benefits do not come automatically.  You would need to apply in your specific state when your basic benefits run out.   States only offer extended unemployment benefits if there is high unemployment, so not every state has it.  Each state also extends their benefits a different amount.   Currently extended unemployment is available in many states.  The following states have unemployment rates above 10%, and they all have extended unemployment benefits:

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