Unemployment bonus

[Bay Kid]

There is talk of extending the $600. payment over the normal unemployment. I know this is hard times for workers, but in our area businesses can't find workers. They aren't willing to work while the govern pays them better not to work.

[davem4616]

There is talk of extending the $600. payment over the normal unemployment. I know this is hard times for workers, but in our area businesses can't find workers. They aren't willing to work while the govern pays them better not to work.



yes there are certainly some that are taking advantage of this...hopefully they are the exception

good help is hard to find...and TV has outgrown the local labor pool...think about it people now come from Ocala and beyond for minimum wage jobs

the larger question however is the sky rocketing national debt that congress is just unwilling to do anything about....they just spend, spend, spend and kick the can down the road

at some point the the piper has to be paid

[Debfrommaine]

There is talk of extending the $600. payment over the normal unemployment. I know this is hard times for workers, but in our area businesses can't find workers. They aren't willing to work while the govern pays them better not to work.

Agree in most cases. I am sure we all know people who are having hard times and this amount certainly helps. Have friends who say the "cleaned up" with the monies and are enjoying the time off. It is my understanding, though, that if employees don't go back to work when required, they lose the bonus funds, who knows. Meanwhile, all the front line workers (hospital, emergency, grocery etc) who have endured through these times get no extra funds and hours cut. Either use your PTO or go without pay......and remember smile under your mask and pray you don't catch the virus, get to work now.........gurrrr.

[retiredguy123]

I knew this was a stupid idea when it first started. People are not going to work when the Government pays them more money to not work.

[dewilson58]

With all broad-brush programs, there will be minority situations which are head scratchers.

[Stu from NYC]

Not to mention the money sent to dead people.

If only they would actually run a surplus when times are good.

[OrangeBlossomBaby]

There are businesses all over the country including Florida that are shut down, and other companies who have closed departments because they don't want their employees inside climate-controlled buildings infecting each other (look up "sick building syndrome - it's a thing, and has been for years). These employees are not being paid by their companies. They are laid off, until the companies either open up again, or close down for good - making those lay-offs now "terminated" former employees.

Millions of people not getting paid but still out of work, as a direct result of the pandemic. Combine that with all the other people who lose their jobs for the usual reasons when there isn't any pandemic, who now have fewer jobs they can even apply for because of all those company shut-downs.

[billethkid]

The concept of being paid for being unemployed has gone from a once upon a time bridge of modest payment while one seeks another job.

Today's version is becoming a continuing source of income with bonus add ons that make being unemployed more beneficial than working. It has become an incentive to not return to work.

It makes absolutely no sense at all to be paying ANYBODY more than their job did......... to stay home.

[Martian]

I have advocated from before the virus that we should do away with unemployment, and all forms of "welfare" and SNAP, etc.

In my not so humble opinion, we should be working on Universal Basic Income. It is being tried in many places around the world and a few here in the States.

At first, the concept of "giving" money to everyone whether they need it or not seems like an inherently bad idea. But, when you look into the details, it makes a lot of sense. (Assuming you don't believe in letting unemployed die of starvation).

The idea is that "welfare" (any form of payment requiring qualifications) at a national level is doomed to have a significant about of fraud and waste and will encourage people to not go back to work - as has been mentioned in this thread. And the cost of administering a national "safety net" is enormous.

Instead, simply sending a check (or credit a debit card account is better) has a very low cost. And it is much easier to audit. There is very little motivation for individuals to "game the system" since everyone (whether they need it or not) is going to receive the same amount every month.

So far, where this has been tried it is proving to be much less expensive than our current massive bureaucracy.

[Vikingjunior]

The problem isn’t the federal help the problem is it’s just to dam much money. Maybe cut it down to $300 which still helps but also gives people the incentive to go back to work. This isn’t rocket science.

[karostay]

When was last time you didn't see a help wanted sign
This income benefit is creating a hardship on employers
Should be when you receive a notice to return back to work your benefits should be discontinued in a week
Not return when they run out at your convenience

[Debfrommaine]

The problem isn’t the federal help the problem is it’s just to dam much money. Maybe cut it down to $300 which still helps but also gives people the incentive to go back to work. This isn’t rocket science.

And people getting the $600 get their state unemployment. One friend is bringing in $1400 a week. I can only dream of that in about a months pay sitting in the covid petri dish.

[Stu from NYC]

When was last time you didn't see a help wanted sign
This income benefit is creating a hardship on employers
Should be when you receive a notice to return back to work your benefits should be discontinued in a week
Not return when they run out at your convenience

That would work for me.

[Martian]

When was last time you didn't see a help wanted sign
This income benefit is creating a hardship on employers
Should be when you receive a notice to return back to work your benefits should be discontinued in a week
Not return when they run out at your convenience

Okay, and what about people that can no longer return to work, or in their area there is no work, or they got COVID-19 and now have respiratory problems and can't work, or, ...

Your idea is good and reasonable, but you stop short of how to handle all the exceptions.

The cost of administering all that verification and qualifications and the bad press from even a few exceptions make it a very hard policy to implement - unless you are willing to just let Americans die because some bureaucrat didn't approve them.

[shut the front door]

What bothers me is the millions taken in the payroll protection plan by businesses in The Villages. These restaurants took this money and DID NOT pay their employees. I hope the gov catches them when they notice all the employees who were taking unemployment!

"The purpose of the taxpayer-funded PPP is to help small businesses avoid layoffs or salary reductions, hence loan forgiveness is therefore contingent on these conditions being met."

Any why did T&D need to take money? They were working the whole time!

[JoelJohnson]

Maybe in the Villages jobs go unfilled, but elsewhere in the country, people are not spending money at restaurants, movies, and things like that. If these places aren't getting the money in, that can't pay for employees. Meanwhile the employees have the same fixed expenses. I think that if the majority of employees had a choice, they would prefer to have a job a long term job.

[Nick B]

There is talk of extending the $600. payment over the normal unemployment. I know this is hard times for workers, but in our area businesses can't find workers. They aren't willing to work while the govern pays them better not to work.

Don't spread that BS in Florida if your job becomes available you must go back. You can't choose to stay home. Also only a fraction of those that should have gotten it actually did. But at least a very successful financial business and others with political ties got a nice chunk.

[Eg_cruz]

There is talk of extending the $600. payment over the normal unemployment. I know this is hard times for workers, but in our area businesses can't find workers. They aren't willing to work while the govern pays them better not to work.
They have to reply every two weeks showing they don’t have a job, working less hours or have applied for jobs

[Davelinda91]

The system is broke and has been for some time. I heard from a relative that they were getting paid with federal PPP funds, Was called back to work, went on a planned vacation and had to self quarantine for 2 weeks, the quarantine time was paid fro PPP funds. The husband’s employer did not qualify for the PPP funds and he was able to collect unemployment.
You leave the state knowing you will have to self quarantine for 2 weeks, should the government pay you for extra time off?
Guess what, not only did they not quarantine, they planned another out of state vacation, they like being paid to unpack and relax after a vacation.

[Girlcopper]

The concept of being paid for being unemployed has gone from a once upon a time bridge of modest payment while one seeks another job.

Today's version is becoming a continuing source of income with bonus add ons that make being unemployed more beneficial than working. It has become an incentive to not return to work.

It makes absolutely no sense at all to be paying ANYBODY more than their job did......... to stay home.
I agree. Many people work minimum wage jobs and are barely scraping by but they have integrity and dont put their hand out for every freebie available. People should not be paid more than a minimum wage job and they shouldnt be compensated for having 6 kids either. No money? No job? Then NO kids that the taxpayers have to support. The system definitely needs fixing

[matandch]

Job supply is far below the demand nationwide. Anecdotal evidence in TV isn’t representative of the country as a whole.

[Bay Kid]

Getting ready to be paid again not to work again. The money printed will devalue every dollar.

[ffresh]

The concept of being paid for being unemployed has gone from a once upon a time bridge of modest payment while one seeks another job.

Today's version is becoming a continuing source of income with bonus add ons that make being unemployed more beneficial than working. It has become an incentive to not return to work.

It makes absolutely no sense at all to be paying ANYBODY more than their job did......... to stay home.


Government, like any business, LOVES as many "clients/customers" as it can get. And, in the case of government, when the money is coming out of another's pocket = THE MORE THE MERRIER! :shocked:

Fred

[Mendy]

And people getting the $600 get their state unemployment. One friend is bringing in $1400 a week. I can only dream of that in about a months pay sitting in the covid petri dish.

Unemployment benefits in Florida are $275/week, one of the lowest in the nation. They also last for up to 12 weeks, also one of the shortest. Not many can survive on $1000/month. There are always exceptions, but I would hope most are motivated to find a job (the health benefits are as valuable as the income in many cases which get overlooked when considering the extra short term $600 stimulus). I am currently unemployed and pay $800/month in premiums just for me.

Florida Unemployment Benefits | Reemployment Assistance (https://www.stateofflorida.com/articles/florida-unemployment/)

How Much Will My Florida Unemployment Benefits Pay?
The weekly payment amount you receive during unemployment will vary from person to person. The only way to be sure of your benefit amount is to submit a claim.

The state determines your weekly benefit payments based on your previous earnings during employment. In 2020, you can receive a maximum of $275 per week for 12 weeks. You are entitled to a maximum benefit amount of $3,300.

You will continue to receive Reemployment Assistance weekly for up to 12 weeks. When you secure a job, the payments will stop. However, working part-time or temporarily does not necessarily end the benefits.

Benefits Extensions
No benefit extension programs are available at this time. Once you receive 12 weeks of unemployment benefits or reach the maximum total benefit amount of $3,300, your Reemployment Assistance payments will end.

[Marine1974]

I guess the government should take
$600 away from social security and see how people who say it’s too much for the poor unemployed in this country , will sing the same tune .

[dewilson58]

I guess the government should take
$600 away from social security and see how people who say it’s too much for the poor unemployed in this country , will sing the same tune .


:what:

[Marine1974]

I guess the government should take
$600 away from social security and see how people who say it’s too much for the poor unemployed in this country , will sing the same tune .

[Debfrommaine]

Unemployment benefits in Florida are $275/week, one of the lowest in the nation. They also last for up to 12 weeks, also one of the shortest. Not many can survive on $1000/month. There are always exceptions, but I would hope most are motivated to find a job (the health benefits are as valuable as the income in many cases which get overlooked when considering the extra short term $600 stimulus). I am currently unemployed and pay $800/month in premiums just for me.

Florida Unemployment Benefits | Reemployment Assistance (https://www.stateofflorida.com/articles/florida-unemployment/)

How Much Will My Florida Unemployment Benefits Pay?
The weekly payment amount you receive during unemployment will vary from person to person. The only way to be sure of your benefit amount is to submit a claim.

The state determines your weekly benefit payments based on your previous earnings during employment. In 2020, you can receive a maximum of $275 per week for 12 weeks. You are entitled to a maximum benefit amount of $3,300.

You will continue to receive Reemployment Assistance weekly for up to 12 weeks. When you secure a job, the payments will stop. However, working part-time or temporarily does not necessarily end the benefits.

Benefits Extensions
No benefit extension programs are available at this time. Once you receive 12 weeks of unemployment benefits or reach the maximum total benefit amount of $3,300, your Reemployment Assistance payments will end.

Understand. That $1400 a WK combines the 600 plus state unemployment, not here in Florida.

[BeauJangles]

[QUOTE=Bay Kid;1806228]There is talk of extending the $600. payment over the normal unemployment. I know this is hard times for workers, but in our area businesses can't find workers. They aren't willing to work while the govern pays them better not to work.[/QUOTE
A friend was laid off for 4 weeks and although it took 3 months, she received her benefits. She told them she returned to work, but the checks keep coming; there is no way to stop them. She is putting them away until someone asks for the money to be returned. No wonder the state is running out of money!

[BeauJangles]

They have to reply every two weeks showing they don’t have a job, working less hours or have applied for jobs

Checks keep coming.

[kanoa1kale2]

There is talk of extending the $600. payment over the normal unemployment. I know this is hard times for workers, but in our area businesses can't find workers. They aren't willing to work while the govern pays them better not to work.

That was the absolute most destructive thing they could have done. It should never be repeated. I don't think you will see that happen again.

[Mendy]

That was the absolute most destructive thing they could have done. It should never be repeated. I don't think you will see that happen again.

I believe the President’s proposed payroll tax reduction would be worse. The unemployed need more help than the employed. Agree $600 is too much but $200 would go a long way.

[rustyp]

Why not give out the unemployment stimulus similar to the way many pension are determine. Suggestion - Max total (regular unemployment plus stimulus) = 80% of the average of the last three years income based upon tax returns. Still leaves incentive for people to want to go back to work. If a family of two is collecting the max today is it not $300 regular plus $600 stimulus per week. That works out to on yearly basis of $93600 annual income. Many of the unemployed (that I have great sympathy for) were not making any where near that amount. Why would they want to go back to work?

[sallybowron]

yes there are certainly some that are taking advantage of this...hopefully they are the exception

good help is hard to find...and TV has outgrown the local labor pool...think about it people now come from Ocala and beyond for minimum wage jobs

the larger question however is the sky rocketing national debt that congress is just unwilling to do anything about....they just spend, spend, spend and kick the can down the road

at some point the the piper has to be paid

I believe that unemployment should not be paid unless a person shows that they have applied fora job in the last seven days.

[ffresh]

I guess the government should take
$600 away from social security and see how people who say it’s too much for the poor unemployed in this country , will sing the same tune .

The government forcibly deducted social security from a worker's check, for years, whether one thought it was a good idea or not. How do you make such a comparison to "free" money?

Fred

[72lions]

And people getting the $600 get their state unemployment. One friend is bringing in $1400 a week. I can only dream of that in about a months pay sitting in the covid petri dish.

Do you know what the maximum FL unemployment benefit is? $275. And thr is fir Thursday with significant earnings who list their job. So. Please quit with the BS.

[Topspinmo]

What bothers me is the millions taken in the payroll protection plan by businesses in The Villages. These restaurants took this money and DID NOT pay their employees. I hope the gov catches them when they notice all the employees who were taking unemployment!

"The purpose of the taxpayer-funded PPP is to help small businesses avoid layoffs or salary reductions, hence loan forgiveness is therefore contingent on these conditions being met."

Any why did T&D need to take money? They were working the whole time!


Greed, somebody giving it away, somebody going to take it.

[oneclickplus]

yes there are certainly some that are taking advantage of this...hopefully they are the exception

good help is hard to find...and TV has outgrown the local labor pool...think about it people now come from Ocala and beyond for minimum wage jobs

the larger question however is the sky rocketing national debt that congress is just unwilling to do anything about....they just spend, spend, spend and kick the can down the road

at some point the the piper has to be paid

My grandfather / grandmother took their toddler son (my dad) and got on a boat out of Germany in 1924. Due to money printing and the resulting hyper-inflation, a loaf of bread was more expensive by the hour. Wage earners RAN to the stores to buy what they could as quickly as they could. Eventually, the entire system collapsed and the money became worthless ... yes worthless.

A copy of the front cover of an excellent book titled "When Money Dies" by Adam Fergusson is attached. Those are bank notes (trash) blowing in the street and being swept up.

This is all coming to a country near you very soon.

[Dgizzi]

There is talk of extending the $600. payment over the normal unemployment. I know this is hard times for workers, but in our area businesses can't find workers. They aren't willing to work while the govern pays them better not to work.
I work from home doing medical billing. Believe it or not I was laid off for two weeks because the hospitals stopped procedures surgeries. Now we are still taking a hit. I have worked for this company 5 yrs I worked for a Hospital in Ohio for 15 until the outsourced our office. I have done this occupation since I was 20, 57 now. If I lose my job, mine will not be easy to come by and my pay. I know some take advantage of it, but some might not. I have never ever had to apply for unemployment and I hope I don’t have too! I want my job and to keep working. I am old school and brought up to work. And I would hate to have to go “out” there right now to work in the public with this virus! Very worried about my job!

[waterlily]

The concept of being paid for being unemployed has gone from a once upon a time bridge of modest payment while one seeks another job.

Today's version is becoming a continuing source of income with bonus add ons that make being unemployed more beneficial than working. It has become an incentive to not return to work.

It makes absolutely no sense at all to be paying ANYBODY more than their job did......... to stay home.


Someone who gets it.

[richard cammerron]

Your right about that.

[Debfrommaine]

I work from home doing medical billing. Believe it or not I was laid off for two weeks because the hospitals stopped procedures surgeries. Now we are still taking a hit. I have worked for this company 5 yrs I worked for a Hospital in Ohio for 15 until the outsourced our office. I have done this occupation since I was 20, 57 now. If I lose my job, mine will not be easy to come by and my pay. I know some take advantage of it, but some might not. I have never ever had to apply for unemployment and I hope I don’t have too! I want my job and to keep working. I am old school and brought up to work. And I would hate to have to go “out” there right now to work in the public with this virus! Very worried about my job! Many good points and it is tough for us out here in the public working!

[Debfrommaine]

Do you know what the maximum FL unemployment benefit is? $275. And thr is fir Thursday with significant earnings who list their job. So. Please quit with the BS. I do know and that with the 600 is a nice chunk of change to get weekly for the past several months. Hoping people don't suffer and they were able to save some, no BS!

[Aloha1]

Do you know what the maximum FL unemployment benefit is? $275. And thr is fir Thursday with significant earnings who list their job. So. Please quit with the BS.

I'm sorry but I cannot understand your post. If you are saying people in FL only get $275/wk, you are wrong. You need to add the $600/wk of CARES Act $$ for a total of $875/wk. If you use the 30 hour work week as an average, that's $29/hr. I guarantee that's a LOT more than many recipients were making before this handout and is a big reason why people won't go back to work. It is not just about "looking for work" as one can keep getting checks if they say they "fear" getting covid.

[Bay Kid]

I work from home doing medical billing. Believe it or not I was laid off for two weeks because the hospitals stopped procedures surgeries. Now we are still taking a hit. I have worked for this company 5 yrs I worked for a Hospital in Ohio for 15 until the outsourced our office. I have done this occupation since I was 20, 57 now. If I lose my job, mine will not be easy to come by and my pay. I know some take advantage of it, but some might not. I have never ever had to apply for unemployment and I hope I don’t have too! I want my job and to keep working. I am old school and brought up to work. And I would hate to have to go “out” there right now to work in the public with this virus! Very worried about my job!

Hopefully you will find another job. Good luck.