So, I'm on my way home after working overtime at the unemployment office and read on CNN's mobile website that West West Virginia State Delegate Craig Blair wants to do random drug tests for people on unemployment.
As somebody whose job it is to help people get their benefits, I wanted to point out the huge impracticality of this idea.
- We're in the middle of a huge recession - which means that almost all unemployment offices are much much busier.
- Unemployment isn't a hand-out it's an insurance program
annnnd 3) The unintended consequence of such a law would mean more delays and more headaches at the unemployment office
First some clarification/disclaimers - I work for my state's unemployment office. The busiest office in the state to be precise. A state that's seeing the worst jobless numbers since 1991. Now, every state is slightly different, but there are similarities with all the states.
One of those similarities is that unemployment benefits are not a government handout. It's insurance! It works like this
George Jetson has worked at Spacely Space Sprocket's for many many years. The recession hits Spacely Space Sprocket's pretty hard and he's laid off.
The good news is that Mr. Spacely has been paying into his state's unemployment insurance program. (And has been reporting George's wages - so the state knows he's eligible) So, when George shows up at the unemployment office - the state has the money to give George a little bit of money every other week to tide him over till he finds another job. It's not a handout in the least bit. If he doesn't look for work - he doesn't get benefits. It's insurance - not a handout.
Now - normally, it takes about 5 - 10 days for an office to process a claim assuming that everything is normal about the claim. If you've changed states in the last 18 months, applied for social security, or if your employer didn't report your wages then it could take a little longer. (sometimes weeks longer)
Anytime something happens that isn't normal - you make a mistake on the phone system you use to report your unemployment, there's a mistake on the application, your wages wern't reported by your employer - it can take a while to fix. Meanwhile, the person who just lost his job and has no income, has to wait for unemployment to kick in.
Now, imagine if we throw drug tests into the mix. We would have to change the system to random select people to drug tests. Then they have to stop looking for work to come into the office - wait in line - then wait for the drug test to process - just so he or she can continue getting benefits. This process takes away valuable time from offices who are already understaffed not to mention taking time away from people who should be out looking for work. And if the system stops their benefits until they test - it's going to really be a bad break for people who have no income.
This is just a bad idea. I don't question that the Mr. Blair has good intentions - but this is NOT the way to go about getting people off drugs.
Further Info:
Craig Blair's Website
NotWithMyTaxDollars.com - The website promoting the bill
CNN Story about the bill
Post is just the opinion of poster and is not representative of any state agency