You already know from reading this blog that one of the things that people who end up on Unemployment Insurance must do is continue to look for work. Another thing one must do is fill out a form that the government sends out to you. I got my first one of these forms the same day that I got the Unemployment Insurance packet. I assume that I will be finding more of these forms in my mailbox as time goes on.
Somewhere near the top it says “CONTINUED CLAIM”, (Yes, it is written in all caps, again). There are a series of questions I must fill out. The questions themselves aren’t all that difficult to answer, but the form is set up in a way that makes it confusing to read, at first glance. I am directed to look in the blue packet that arrived on the same day this form did, for further explanation, if I need it. Basically, it is one of those “read the question and check the correct box” type forms. The choices for answers are “yes” and “no” (with one exception).
This form is asking me about the first two weeks that I was unemployed. One section says “1ST WEEK” . Underneath that it says “Begins” and next to that it says “09-27-09″, followed by “Ends“, which sits next to “10-03-09″
Then there is a vertical line of obvious separation. The next section says “2ND WEEK”. And, underneath that it again says “Begins” which is next to “10-04-09″. Next to that, you guessed it! The word “Ends” appears, followed by “10-10-09″.
The most important thing on this form seems to be the phrase “COMPLETE AND MAIL THIS FORM ON“, and the date appearing next to that is “10-11-09″. In other words, I cannot send this form in any earlier than today, the eleventh of October. If I send it in any later, I am told it may result in a delay in or denial of my benefits. I am strongly encouraged to make sure I do not lose this form, because if I do, I will have to request another one. Which will… that’s right! Cause a delay in or denial of my benefits! I am sensing a pattern here.
Did anyone else notice something fishy about the date I am to send this in? Yes, you are correct, October 11 is a Sunday! The US mail is not picked up or delivered on Sundays. I can drop this finished form off in the mailbox anytime today, and it won’t matter. The mailman ain’t coming until tomorrow, which will be Monday, October 12th. I am just going to have to wait and see if the EDD will accept it postmarked a day later than one they told me I had to mail it in on. It is not my fault the mail is not collected on Sundays. I did not choose the date I had to send in this particular form. The Pessimist in me says “There’s their loophole! They aren’t going to help you after all!”
Here are the questions on this form:
(1) Were you too sick or injured to work?
Check the “yes” box, or the “no” box, just like those love notes passed around in Elementary School!
If you check “yes”, you have an extra part of this question to fill out. “If yes, enter the number of days (1 through 7) you were unable to work”. There is an arrow leading you to an empty box to put the number in.
Now, why on earth would someone check “yes”? To me, it seems that checking “yes” is a way for the EDD to trick you into letting them reduce the amount of financial assistance they will be sending you. The cynic in me is suspicious. As for me, I was no sicker these past two weeks than I was when I was working full time, so I can honestly click the “no” box.
(2) Was there any reason (other than sickness or injury) that you could not have accepted full-time work each workday?
Check “yes” or “no”. The reason why I could not accept full-time work these past two weeks is because there isn’t any full-time work to find, and no one is offering me any. I’m checking “no” for that one.
(3)Did you look for work?
Check “yes” or “no”, once again. Yes, yes I have looked for work. I even blogged about it. I’m marking that one as “yes”.
Now, here is where things get interesting. Under that question, is a box. On my form the box is completely empty. From what I am reading, if this box is checked, you have to turn the form over, and list all the places you applied for work for the past two weeks. It’s basically a chart, with details at the top, and a few lines for you to fill in information. The details are written in both English, and Spanish, (but not Mandarin, Cantonese, or any of the other languages the EDD works with). I wonder what makes the EDD feel the need to track a person’s attempts to find work so closely?
(4) Did you refuse any work?
Nope. If you can’t find any work, then you can’t refuse any work.
(5) Did you begin any kind of school or training?
The word “begin” is in bold, for some reason. I guess they care if you start training, but not if you are continuing it. I can check “no” for this question as well.
(6) Did you work or earn any money, WHETHER YOU WERE PAID OR NOT?
I think this means that if you are at the point where you have found a full time job, that pays enough to sustain you, and are officially employed…. that they want to know about that. No jobs that I know of pay you instantaneously for the work you do. It usually takes a couple of weeks, and that is if you are lucky. The EDD does not want to pay people for that “in between paychecks” span of time. Let’s hope no bills arrive for you until your new job starts paying you! Roll the dice, and take a chance!
I’m answering this question with “no”, because that is the truth. If you mark “yes” there is another set of boxes to fill in, about when you worked, who employed you, and “REASON NO LONGER WORKING”. I keep staring at this box, but the meaning in this context is eluding me.
(7) If you want federal income tax withheld for the week(s) shown above, mark this block.
There is an arrow leading you to another empty box. This offers a conundrum. Would I like my Unemployment Insurance benefits reduced by whatever the government wants to take out for income tax right now? Or, would I rather wait, and let the government bill me for income tax on April 15th? Does Unemployment Insurance count as “income”? I’m perplexed.
(8) If you had a change of mailing address or phone number mark this block and complete Sec. D on the reverse.
One more arrow leads you to one more empty box. Let me translate: “If you have been unemployed long enough to have lost your house, and to have had to cancel your cell phone, put an X in this box.”
The top of this form, right above the perforated line says one more little phrase that I found interesting. ” ALLOW 10 DAYS FOR DELIVERY OF CHECK.” Oh, really?
So, let’s see…. my last day of employment was September 25, 2009. I applied for Unemployment Insurance the same day. I am not allowed to mail the form that will get me money until October 11, 2009, today. Today is Sunday, so I am going to assume the ED meant “ten business days”, instead of “ten days”. This means I might expect my first check from Unemployment Insurance in my mailbox by no later than…. Friday, October 23rd, 2009. In other words, about a month from my last day of employment.
I am very lucky, because my husband, Shawn, still has his job and has been getting regular checks since I have been unemployed. I know that lots of people out there are not as lucky, though. There are families where all the wage-earners are unemployed at the same time. There are people who alone, with no one to help to support them through their unemployment. I know from experience that the bills do not stop coming just because you are unemployed. For most people, a month is an extremely long time to wait, especially when the bills keep coming in as you wait for your financial assistance from the government.
Tonight, I will walk over to my mailbox, place this completed form inside it, and move the little flag to the upright position. The US Mail Fairy will spirit it away tomorrow sometime, and someday… if I’m a good little girl, I might find a check in my mailbox from the EDD.
Tags: Unemployment Insurance