Time runs out for 1.2 million on unemployment
Christina Zdanowicz
CNN
[cnn-photo-caption image=http://i.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2010/US/06/29/unemployment.irpt/story.cintron.irpt.jpg caption="Miriam Cintron lost her job in late 2008 and has been receiving unemployment benefits since then." width=300 height=169]
With her unemployment benefits coming to a halt, Miriam Cintron is forced to make a difficult choice between health insurance and daily expenses.
Signing into her unemployment benefits account last week, the New Yorker was horrified to see she hadn't received any money for three weeks, she says.
What would the four-year cancer survivor do if she couldn't afford to pay her $650 monthly COBRA payment? Her health insurance helped pay for life-saving treatment before, so giving it up is not an option, she says.
When Cintron was laid off from her job as a case worker at a homeless shelter in late 2008, she never imagined she'd go on unemployment. But even with 17 years experience, she's been unable to land a new job.
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Filed under: iReport • Unemployment |
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I have been working for over 30 years and have never collected unemployment benefits but always paid into them. Last July I lost my job and for the first time ever started collecting unemployment. Now to not extend after a year is crazy. The government had no problem taking my money all these years I worked. I am not looking for a handout I want a job. Basically Washington is saying its ok for 2 million people to be without food, shelter, utilities and other necessities. God help them that they never go without food or shelter. Where is the compassion for others who have honestly worked and paid taxes but were hit by the recession.
Of course its the GOP blocking the extension. In a market that isn't producing jobs for these unemployed folks how does the GOP think they will survive? I think unemployment benefits should be available until the economy is actively producing the number of new jobs that are needed for people to be able to get back in the work force soon. Otherwise, they may increase our population of homeless people. And we don't need more homeless.