Unemployed Life Week 4: Stupid is as stupid does

The second realization of the unspoken facts of unemployment is:  Dealing with the government is much like dealing with computers, they are very, very stupid and only do exactly what they are told to do.   Just like it is impossible for a computer to do anything other than what it is programed to too, it is impossible for a government employee to have one ounce of free thinking while on the clock, or for an agency to do what it is set up to do.  You see, the real purpose of government agencies is not to help people whether in the form of charity, education, policing etc…, the real purpose of government agencies is to process redundant systems of questions and hoops to jump through.  And if you don’t fit the square peg through the square hole precisely the way the policy of the agency says you should, or get the funny bone out without setting the buzzer off because you touched the side, you fail.  Do not pass Go and do not collect $200.

1)      One Office Doesn’t Talk To The Other

Now here is when you really find out just how screwed you are.  So you have filed for unemployment and are even collecting it.  You are approved and have received money for unemployment.  So the Florida Department for Economic Opportunity has already contacted your previous employer to verify your loss of employment so you don’t have to endure the embarrassment or anxiety of dealing again with the person who just fired you.

Next you decide to apply for Medicaid and food stamps since the unemployment you are receiving pays less than minimum wage and doesn’t amount to much.  You go to the Department ofChildren and Families to apply.  You fill out the most confusing form you have ever seen, asking for more information than even you know off the top of you head.  One of the questions being about if you are currently receiving unemployment benefits.  It even asks how much you receive from unemployment.  Now the logical assumption would be that they could verify this because they have your social security number and can cross reference with their employer, the State of Florida and see that this is true.  NO, NO, NO.  They make you give your former employer fill out a verification of loss of income form!  So you have to go face your former employer again.  Of course by the time I had to do this my pride was already gone so  que sera sera.

2)      Government Agencies Don’t Even Read Their Own Forms

Weeks ago I finally got a real live person on the phone down at the DCF office to find out what the holdup was for my assistance.  Remember my daughter has a serious medical condition and I am desperate to get her on Medicare.  The brain-dead moron on the other side of the phone insulted me.  He literally called me stupid, and reprimanded me for not turning in forms in time.  Forms I knew nothing about.  Then told me to get a lawyer!  In the end he said there was only two things missing to complete my assistance.

Within a few days I had those forms filled out and sent with proof of receipt to the idiot at DCF.  And I waited.  And waited.  And waited.  Finally I am told that they are missing a form.  One I was never told about by the jackass that berated me previously, and this one is the best.  I need a loss of income verification form for my minor daughter that has never had a job to lose in the first place!  If they would have looked at the original application they would had known this.  But now, the policy says they have to have this form for everyone.  So instead of seeing her age and using common sense the redundant system of stupidity of the system takes over.

So now yet another month passes and I don’t have assistance because if there is one thing you can guaranty in life is that if you trust it to the government to deal with it the not only can but they will mess it up.  They don’t have a choice because they only navigate according to policies and not business common sense.

Week Three: Navigating the Flotsam

By the third week of my new found unemployment I have succumb to the realization of numerous unspoken facts.  The first realization thrust upon me is that the system is set up to keep you from lying, however, built inherently into the situation is the mounting pressure to lie.

1)      The Truth Takes Time.

Now, I know this doesn’t sound quite right but hear me out.  The first thing unemployment requires is that you look for at least 5 jobs a week.  Easy enough, right?  Not, really.  Because to enable you to do this properly I keep a journal of what jobs, when, where and all that stuff.  This is because you are actually 2-3 weeks behind when filling out you claim information.  I don’t know about anyone else but I know I can’t remember all the information that well weeks later.  I mean what if the State actually checks up on me then I am guilty of fraud. 

Here in lies the problem, the State doesn’t ask for much info.  So you could pretty much say anything and save allot of time not searching and writing it down, writing all the cover letters and following up on the longshot job you are applying for because you are still hopeful.

2)      The Truth Hurts Your Chances.

This again goes against my ethics.  I was raised and still believe that telling the truth is the best thing you can do.  The truth will set you free.  Of course it also can make you overqualified to be underemployed.  And this is the real problem you start to find about the third week of looking for a job.  If you have a good resume, good references and an overall good job record you are inherently screwed in the present economy, short of having an “in” on a job.  This is because you start applying for jobs that pay more than unemployment does but do not cover you monthly bills.  You are seeking to be underemployed just to keep the mortgage and car payments a float.

The truth is that by seeking to be underemployed you are actually overqualified and thus your chances are dramatically hurt.  Employers know that you can get something better and will most likely leave; it’s just a matter of time.  So the situation pressures you to lie on your resume or application.  The only reason you are seeking to be underemployed is the people more qualified for higher positions are taking the job that you are actually perfectly qualified for.  And thus the vicious circle perpetuates cycle of carnage against the human psyche.

3)      The Truth Will Be Rejected.

By the third week I have started to actually receive my unemployment check.  WOW!  I have never found myself so excited to make lower than minimum wage before.   Now if only the other assistance would kick in.  Oh ya, I sent it all in and they don’t believe me and want more verification.  If I would have lied I would already be eating steak every night with free health care.  But of course I didn’t lie, and I only want the assistance actually really help my family temporarily. 

Somewhere around the 20^th day the depression/frustration set in.   The lie/truth of the situation being that I cannot provide for my family.  The longer I am unemployed, the stronger the feeling grows inside.  Festering, causing a caustic attitude to everything I do and say.  It comes out sometimes at when I least expect it.  I am so very grateful that my wife has been very understanding.  Lately she is the one who takes the brunt of the emotions since we are both home together so much now.

Thanksgiving came and went.  And while I had a good time with all the family being together I still felt like a hypocrite for I am not very thankful this year.  Christmas came and went, and even watching my granddaughter and her happiness of the magic of Christmas for one of her age does not overcome the disease growing inside of me caused by the brokenness of the situation.  I know people who use the system and are doing better than I who have no intention of getting a job.  But I won’t lie on the application and the gov’t tends not to reward people for the truth.  I guess that has always been my problem.  I tell people what they need to hear and not what they want to hear.  I just don’t have it in me to follow the impulse of the system.

Unemployed Life: Day 15 Applying For Benefits

By the beginning of the third week I decided to apply for gov’t programs.  We had cashed in my wife’s retirement, what little there was of it at our age.  Between my severance and her retirement we figured we could at least make it through to January. 

I have always worked, always refused handouts my entire life.  On principle I did not apply for food stamps in collage even though I knew several people that did.  Because a student income isn’t much.  Instead I worked full time while taking a full class load in college.  It is this same reasoning for why it took till the third week of being unemployed until I applied for food stamps.

Now don’t misunderstand me, I applied for unemployment the same day I was laid off.  But I didn’t think I needed to be on welfare.  That is until we got the letter from the insurance company telling us that we were going to lose our insurance.  We could paid monthly to keep it, but since unemployment pays less than minimum wage in Florida that did not seem likely.  Under normal circumstances I would not be worried about losing insurance for a short time.  But our youngest daughter has a brain tumor and her medical treatment is absolutely imperative.

As luck would have it her specialist takes Medicaid.  One year into her treatment I did not want to have to find another doctor for her.  Besides we actually really like this doctor. 

So I go to the “my access Florida” website to fill out my application.  It says it should take roughly 20-30 minutes.  Now, I have a Master’s Degree and I needed help to understand the application.  2 hours later I think I have the application filled out properly and send it off. 

By this time I can finally begin to claim my weeks for unemployment.  I log on to the site to file, take out my notebook that I keep track of every job I apply for and the info that goes with it.  O.K. I get to the part where you have to submit 5 jobs you apply for that week.  (Why only 5 I don’t know I apply for at least that many a day lately.)  To my surprise they don’t want the information.  Oh, sure there is a place to put it if you want, but the only required thing is the name of the place and the date.  Now I know how people rip off the system.  But who would do that considering unemployment barely even covers my mortgage let alone pay any of bills with it.

Then I get the phone interview with DCF.  I am told I need to go down and talk to my former boss and have him fill out a 2 page form to verify my loss of work.  I tell them that is stupid since one I hate, and I mean that most sincerely, the man for what he is putting my family through and beside the point I am currently collecting unemployment so they already have verification of loss of income.  Apparently stupidity and redundancy is inherent in every government system.  So I am forced to try and get the form filled out.

This was three months ago, I my application is still pending.  The only income we have now is unemployment.  The bills are mounting.  And still no Medicaid for my minor daughter who has a very serious medical condition.  And, after finally trying to get through on the phone to someone at the DCF office to ask for help to make sure I am applying correctly, (they don’t have an office you go to it is all done online) I get through to the biggest jerk in the world who actually literally called me “stupid” and said I was not trying hard enough.  Now I know why they don’t let you go down to their office anymore.  I believe if he would have said that to my face I would be in jail right now.  It is currently three days till Christmas and I am still waiting for the approval to get my daughter covered.

Week 2: Running Away

By the 8^th day that I became unemployed I checked my bank account to see if I was paid what I was promised I was going to be for my severance.  Since my former boss had such class not to even have the check with him when he fired me I had to wait a week. 

Nothing.

I checked the clock to make sure that it was past 9am in the off chance payroll was turned in late, after all he did just fired the guy that did payroll.

Nope, my last week’s check and severance should be in the bank.  So I have to call my old job and ask what is going on.  I am told that since I no longer work there they can’t do direct deposit so I have to go down there and get my last check from the greedy power hungry sob that I use to think was a friend.

Somehow I was able to keep my temper in check long enough to face him and get my check, and surprise!  It was wrong.  He didn’t keep his word and paid me 1/3 less what he said he was.

So then I am home, pissed off with real rage growing in me.  I feel like I was just betrayed by a brother.  I thought I knew this man over the last 7 years of working with for him, with him even living with him for a few months on the road with work.

That night I am going crazy from being home for the last week and I know my wife is too.  She has been home for 2 months by this point not able to work from her injury.  I ask her to call the time share and see if we can get in it right away.  I figured we could use the change in scenery and at the moment we were current with the mortgage on it.  It was no or never depending on how long it take me to get a job.

Before we left I filed my unemployment app and the welfare application.   I sent out my resume to a few places but didn’t have much hope on them considering what they were for and we went on vacation and I stuck my head in the sand for the week ignoring the growing problem.

We took the entire week at the beach.  Just what we needed, except one thing.  That week and that week only, the weather was freezing and raining.  It started as soon as we arrive and ended the day we left.  The time just kept getting better and better.

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