From OpenCongress Wiki

Revision as of 02:57, October 1, 2009

To All: This is a summary of what has been said up to 9-29-09.

1. Call,email,fax,twitter,mail all Governors, Senators and the President.
   1. http://www.nelp.org/page/speakout/FedBensNow
   2. http://www.whitehouse.gov/contact/
2. Write letters to local newspaper regarding the need for unemployment support.
3. Possible ideas if Senators and the President refuses to listen to us such as one term limit, etc.

Updated News

Latest news, the week of September 28th:

9/29/09 3:30PM - No definite date yet for a vote, but latest posts on OC and "insider info" and notices on CSPAN seem to indicate Senate will vote on this bill sometime this week, with some sources saying most likely Wednesday or Thursday.

The current bill is EUC and not is retroactive. It starts after the bill is signed.

Individuals can qualify if they have exhausted all EUC and EB benefits.

Help for the unemployed

General support for the unemployed

(specific support for each state is listed below)

(Some may be out of funds).

• Salvation Army
• Goodwill.org
  • Faith based stimulus package
  • Community Action
• Angel Food Ministries
• Charities and organizations that can help with paying bills.

Health care-related organizations

• Free Clinics (free health services)
• Free Flu shots at CVS stores

Housing and rental information

Check in your individual states if you're a renter (or will soon be!) for the "Homelessness Prevention and Rapid Re-Housing" program. These ARRA funds are apparently just now (September) trickling out to the states and may be used up pretty quickly. Looks like only the hardest hit counties, in Florida for example^[1], are giving out the rent money, but it's $300 million going out nationwide. ^[2]

Credit goes to Hope in cali!!

Helpful unemployment support specific to each state

Alabama:

Alaska:

Arizona:

Arkansas:

California:

Unemployment office -  http://www.edd.ca.gov/default.htm

Training while collecting unemployment - http://www.edd.ca.gov/UIBDG/Able_and_Available_-_Table_of_Contents.htm

 Calfornia qualifies for tiers one and two of EUC and 20 weeks of EB until approximately the end of December, 2009. California's current three month average TUR is 11.9% meaning that the state will qualify  for the extension as currently proposed under H.R. 3548/ S 1699. EUC claims are normally automatically filed after you file online for the basic 26 weeks of benefits. The EB program requires that you file every two weeks as normal plus filling out the back of the claim form showing proof of three job contacts per week min. are required. Check EDD website as the rules can change at any time. 

Colorado:

http://www.coworkforce.com/

Colorado qualifies for teirs one and two of EUC but only qualified for 13 of the 20 weeks of EB.  Colorado's current three month average TUR is 7.6% meaning that the state will not qualify for the extension as currently proposed under 3548/1699.  EUC  claims are filed the same as for normal benefits.  The EB program requires that you file every two weeks as nornal plus paper records showing proof of seven job contacts per week are required, in addition  a two hour in person meeting with unemployment counslers is required every two weeks at a workforce development center.                      

Connecticut:

Delaware:

Florida:

Unemployment office:
Main page: http://www.floridajobs.org/index.htmlApply for new benefits and online claims links: http://www.floridajobs.org/unemployment/uc_emp_claims.html

Volunteer forum created for the unemployed, especially for those on EB, but now tackles any questions about Florida unemployment:
http://unemployed-florida.topdiscussion.com/login.forum (This forum also has threads for employment networking, training, help from agencies and organizations, and other issues.)

Georgia:

Hawaii:

Idaho:

Illinois:

Indiana:

Iowa:

Kansas:

Kentucky:

Louisiana:

Maine:

Maryland:

Massachusetts:

For people in MA, here is a link to a page at the Massachusetts Unemployment site that lists available resources for people who have exhausted their benefits.

http://www.mass.gov/?pageID=elwdterminal&L=4&L0=Home&L1=Claimants&L2=Unemployment+Insurance+(UI)&L3=Information+on+Unemployment+Insurance+Extensions&sid=Elwd&b=terminalcontent&f=dua_understanding_ui_extension_lastcheck&csid=Elwd

Michigan:

Unemployment Agency:

http://www.michigan.gov/uia

Michigan Talent Bank/Job Search:

https://www.michworks.org/mtb/user/MTB_EMPL.EntryMainPage

Michigan Bridges: Food Assistance/Food Stamps
https://www.mibridges.michigan.gov/access/

Help source for unemployed in Michigan

http://www.michigan.gov/helpinghand

Minnesota:

Mississippi:

Missouri:

Montana:

Nebraska:

Nevada:

New Hampsire:

New Jersey:

Program gives some unemployed tuition waiver for N.J. colleges
http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2009/09/program_gives_some_unemployed.html

Corzine announces jobs plan for unemployed, draws Christie criticism
http://www.newjerseynewsroom.com/state/corzine-announces-jobs-plan-for-unemployed-draws-christie-criticism

Eligible unemployed in New Jersey can apply for grant to take Rutgers Mini-MBA™ programs
http://www.prlog.org/10287048-eligible-unemployed-in-new-jersey-can-apply-for-grant-to-take-rutgers-minimba-programs.html
http://web.njcu.edu/sites/controller/Content/default.asp

NJ Officials Work to Help the Unemployed Without Benefits
 http://www.kyw1060.com/pages/5203503.php?

Free Flu Shots Info
http://www.state.nj.us/health/flu/index.shtml

Food Stamp Offices
http://maps.google.com/maps?sourceid=navclient&um=1&ie=UTF-8&q=food+stamp+offices+in+nj&fb=1&gl=us&hq=food+stamp+offices&hnear=nj&view=text&ei=gRbEStuwEoee8AaSpKQ5&sa=X&oi=local_group&ct=more-results&resnum=1

How to apply for medicaid
http://www.lsnjlaw.org/english/healthcare/medicaid/applyingmedicaid/

Free or discounted health in insurance
http://www.njfamilycare.org/
http://www.state.nj.us/health/senior/ship.shtml

Red Cross of Central NJ
http://www.njredcross.org/

NJ FoodBanks
http://www.njfoodbank.org/site/PageServer?pagename=Main_index

NJ Legislature
http://www.visi.com/juan/congress/cgi-bin/newseek.cgi?site=ctc&state=nj

New York:

Department of Labor
http://www.labor.state.ny.us/
http://readme.readmedia.com/news/show/Governor-Paterson-Announces-4-5-Million-in-Federal-Funds-to-Help-Unemployed-Workers-Find-Jobs/949527

Companies Hiring:
http://www.cablevision.com/careers/index.jsp
http://www.timewarner.com/corp/careers/index.html
https://ups.managehr.com/Home.htm

NYC Food Stamp Offices
http://maps.google.com/maps?sourceid=navclient&um=1&ie=UTF-8&q=nyc+food+stamp+offices&fb=1&gl=us&hq=food+stamp+offices&hnear=nyc&view=text&ei=VBfEStjoJcLT8AbI0Zg1&sa=X&oi=local_group&ct=more-results&resnum=1

FLU Shot Offices
http://www.nyc.gov/html/doh/html/imm/fluhome.shtml

North Carolina:

North Dakota:

Ohio:

Okaholma:

Oregon:

Pennsylvania:

Kmart is offering a 20% to the unemployed....
http://www.kmart.com/shc/s/dap_10151_10101_DAP_Unemployment%20Program?adCell=W4

Pennsylvania Gov. Rendell: $22 Million in Recovery Funds Will Help Fight Homelessness, Provide Stable Housing
http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/show/pennsylvania-gov-rendell-22-million,964927.shtml

Rhode Island:

South Carolina:

South Daota:

Tennesee:

Texas:

Utah:

Vermount:

Virgina:

Washington:

West Virgina:

Wisconsin:

Wyoming:

Articles and resources

Sources

1. ↑ http://www.orlandosentinel.com/business/realestate/orl-money-stops-evictions-091909,0,5766334.storyfckLR
2. ↑ http://rhodeisland.realestaterama.com/2009/09/25/hud-announces-31-million-in-recovery-act-funding-to-prevent-homelessness-in-rhode-island-ID072.html

OpenCongress resources

• Unemployment benefits
• Emergency unemployment compensation

External resources

• Federal information on unemployment insurance
• Emergency Unemployment Compensation program
• State unemployment offices