I am experienceing a terrible saga concerning unemployment benefits.
During 2008 I had wages in three states and lived in two states. When my job ended in December 2008 I filed for and received unemployment benefits in my current state.
In November 2008, after the election, the Bush administration changed the unemployment rules such that anyone who has income in more than one state has to file a separate claim in each state. This rule went into effect in January.
Now my six months of benefits are coming to an end. I called the extension phone number and they said that within two weeks of the expiration date, I would get a renewal application and it would take a few days to process. What I got, instead, was a form saying I had to start a new claim in the state where I formerly lived. That state has a 10 day delay and a different year for assessing the benefits...
During that year I had 1099 wages and W-2 wages. One employer refused to pay me as W-2. Since he set it up as 1099 I was not supervised, until towards the end of the project when he demanded daily reporting and I said no because 1099 means being an indep-endent vendor, and he cancelled the contract. So part of the problem is what happens when I claim benefits in another state, another is what happens about the 1099 help. As usual I would have to incur $250 for a legal consultation, which I can't afford.
If anyone out there has experience with such claim problems for wages in multiple states, please write about it.
I have been calling my Congressional office for months about trying to get this changed. Finally they are agreeing to look into it to see whether they agree or diagree with the rule. I had also called the Labor Committee of the House and several other offices of Senators and Representatives, as well as Solis' office and it seems nobody has done anything about this lame duck Bush admin. rule.
Jobs: I have a tentative job offer pending receipt of grant money, but the federal gov't hasn't given out the stimulus money, so people like me are still waiting for the jobs to be created...