What do you think about this (funny or not - see desc)?

Question

Okay, I am probably going to be the only person in history to Appeal Unemployments decision to GIVE me unemployment benefits. In other words, they approved me and I am going to fight it. I should not have been approved, because I am disabled and not able to work. See they signed an extension of benefits, a 13 week extension for people who had unemployment during a cetain period of time. I will probably have to pay it back anyway, once they realize I should not have been able to rec'v it due to my inablility to accept any kind of work for now until who knows when. It will throw me over the income guidelines for medical help that I am receiving due to my disability (I had brain surgrey and I may have to have some more surgery due to spinal damage - a lot of spinal damage). Anyway, my boyfriend laughed because he said I am probably the only one who has ever appealed the decision to give a person unemployment money. They already sent me money!

I am probably the only person who is mad about it. I rec'v child support and w/ the unemployment it will definitely throw me over the income guidelines (I get a good amount already bc back support is figured into the amount). What do you think? I guess it is kind of funny. I just know I need the medical help right now, until I have my disablity hearing and until I can work someday. Trust me I want to work, I am just not able to right now. It is driving me crazy being at home and not working. I miss the income and having something to do everyday like that. I loved working. I have worked for my entire adult hood and before I started having problems & before I had my child, I even worked 2 jobs.

Answer 1

I don't understand why you applied for it if you didn't want to get it...explain?

As for being tired of not working and having something to do...maybe I can suggest some ways you can have something to do that is not physical and can be done at home, but doesn't have to have an incoome because you don't want it to affect your benefits.

You obviously have a computer...how about some volunteer work you can do from home.   I don't know what your computer skills are, but you can contribute to the community in ways you might not have thought of.  

It could be as simple as being a pen pal to some shut in's or something like what I do which is making a monthly newsletter for a local non profit organization.  Maybe if you look up volunteer positions in your community you can find something that you can do by phone or computer or something creative ...something from home.

Hope that helps

Answer 2

There is a mildly amusing irony here. But I don't think it's that uncommon, perhaps it is in America, in Australia though people would definitely go the same way as you have because the consequences can be severe. I had a friend who had been interviewed, means tested gone through all the checks and balances and had been awarded a specific benefit payments that the Australian government awards students in specific circumstances. Over half way into his degree they told him that they had made a mistake and that in fact the amount they'd determined was too much after all and that he was going to have to pay it ALL back. The time they gave him to do it made it impossible for him to continue his studies and still afford to repay. He had to quit his degree and start work full time in a supermarket to pay it.

This was an occasion where they messed up and he had done nothing wrong because they even told him that was how much he should be getting so he couldn't have alerted them to any excess income and they STILL made him pay with no consideration made to his circumstances. So imagine if there were some way he could have known, like if they'd payed him more than they said they would, the penalties could well have been worse in fact at the time there were many television advertising campaigns warning people they would get criminal records if they failed to inform the government of any changes that might affect their benefit payments or of any potential errors made in their payments in their favour.

Answer 3

yeah i think you are the only person in the world that is doing that . at least the only one i heard of =)

i know how you feel about that work thing , i'm in a kind of a similar situation right now . but hey it's just a matter of time , a phase of your life that will be over soon , don't worry , and good luck with that apeal ;)

Answer 4

i couldnt be bothered to read all of that

Answer 5

No, it's not funny.  I'm not even sure what your question is.  Nothing about your situation makes me want to laugh at all.  Personally, I think the income guidelines are rubbish.  I mean, a woman/man living alone in his/her own apartment can barely support him/herself on $35,000 a year.  The guidelines say that you need to make under $20,000 to qualify for this or $15,000 for that.  It's a joke.  Then, if you make $20,005 a year, you no longer qualify?  

A friend of mine turned down a promotion at work because the raise would have pushed him into the next tax bracket and because of the tax taken out, he would actually take home LESS money with the raise!!!  So, he accepted $1,000 under the tax bracket as his raise.  Sad, huh?  Making $10,000 more would actually COST him money!!!  It's so silly.

Your frustration is understandable.  What I think you need to do is find yourself an advocate.  Someone at social services should be able to help you out and wade through all the government c**p.  We all know the government can hurt as well as help.

Answer 6

I applaud you for your integrity.  Contact them immediately and get this straightened out.  If they continue to send you checks after you have called, don't spend them, put the money in a savings account and when they finally get around to it you will have the money to send back.  I wish you well on your health issues.

Answer 7

Just because you have been approved does not mean that you have to claim it.

The way this works probably varies from state to state.  However, it seems like in most states they will only give you the money for any given week if you testify that you were ABLE to work.  Being able to work means "not disabled," obviously.

They probably arrived at the conclusion that you should be eligible for the benefit in the event that you came off disability and were STILL unable to find a job.

Good luck.

Answer 8

Write a letter to tell them that you are declining the unemployment because you are not physically able to work.  Or another way to do it is to mark the questions on your claim form that ask you if you looked for work and if you were physically able to work as "no."

Why did you apply to begin with?

Answer 9

Good for you. 9 times out of 10 the government ***** up the free money programs and you are a prime example, but you are doing what's right.

:)

Answer 10

I think that you are smart.  If they figure out that you are double dipping, they will want it back with interest.  It might also be harder for you to ever get benefits in the future if you need them.  Plus, you want the medical.  It sounds like that is important.  And, you have your conscience.  Weird situation, yes, but smart thing to do.