Tuesday, July 14, 2009

Unemployment

Ten days ago, as you may have already surmised from previous posts, I filed for unemployment insurance from the state.

It was a detailed application, and took some serious organization of resources to complete. I didn't mind; I was doing this in an effort to take advantage of programs in place to defray the difficulty of unemployment and underemployment.

So yesterday I got my packet.

May I quote?

Claim Beginning Date: 6/28/2009
Claim Ending Date: 6/26/2010
Maximum Benefit Amount: $0
Weekly Benefit Amount: $0

Please note lines 3 and 4.

Do we notice a problem here?

California has granted me unemployment benefits in the amount of nothing. For a year. They even sent me a handbook entitled "A Guide to Benefits and Unemployment Services". Because apparently I need guidance and direction on how to collect zero dollars.

I'm seriously considering submitting a continuing claim every week for the next fifty-two weeks claiming my $0, and demanding a check be dispatched to my home for the sum of $0.00...but then I'd be wasting a stamp.

I'm not bitter. I just find it eye-rollingly bureaucratic that the state sent an entire benefit package to an applicant that was rejected.

But...even then...was I rejected? Or was I approved for nothing?

Maybe it's in the handbook.

2 comments:

  1. This just happened to me! Did you ever find an answer; I've tried looking this problem up and this is the only other mention I've come across. And of course, you know as well as I how impossible they are to get ahold of ...

    ReplyDelete
  2. I just gave up, honestly.

    ReplyDelete