Unemployment Checks--They're Just That Easy! (long)

[AccountingDrone]

That's interesting. My bf's friend's current gf has been on unemployment for only a few weeks (she was a victim of a business doing permanent layoffs).

She said that she is only allowed to be on it for so long (I can't remember how long exactly, but it isn't even a year!) but every week she has to apply to at least two places, she has to fill out an actual application and they need to sign something when she turns them in, and she needs to keep track of where she's applied to because the State just might call and ask if she really has applied there.

I was unemployed for 2 years, and only got unemployment for 6 months. Of course I also applied seriously to about 375 companies, and had documentation for all of them. Never once did the employment office check up on me. I hate not working, sitting around drives me nuts.

[JLRodgers]

The few times I've been on unemployment (actually being self employeed was a result of not finding a job anywhere), they only had a form of "list three places you contacted"

Unlike everyone else apparently, I contacted the office and said "OK... so we're not expected to take a job that makes considerbly less than our last job [$25/hr->$5 something/hr]... but you want us to apply at three places a week.... yet there's barely three places a month in my town hiring -- and none withou $15 of my last job!"

They said: "just leave it blank and tell us why -- we don't even look at it anyway"

One other time.... if I remember correctly (as it'd been 10 years about), they changed to a phone system that asked questions:
1) Are you capable of working? 1-yes, 2-no
2) Did you try to find a job? 1-yes, 2-no
3) Are you lieing? 1-yes, 2-no
-- Thank you! You're weekly application has been filed --

[smileyeagle1021]

3) Are you lieing? 1-yes, 2-no
-- Thank you! You're weekly application has been filed --

you have to be shitting me... do they really think anyone in their right mind is going to say "why yes, I have been lying"

[XCashier]

you have to be shitting me... do they really think anyone in their right mind is going to say "why yes, I have been lying"

You'd be surprised. I just filled out an application that included a questionnaire about honesty. Questions like, "I believe that stealing is okay (yes or no)" or "It's okay to steal if it's under $5.00 (yes or no)". Apparently, it weeds out those who are too stupid to lie.

[JLRodgers]

you have to be shitting me... do they really think anyone in their right mind is going to say "why yes, I have been lying"

Well it might not of said that exactly -- but it was pretty close (as I recall hearing it and thinking "what dumbass would say 'yes'?!?" And I talked to the computer in a mocking way replying the same thing as I was pressing the button.

I heard from.... well.... sources from uncertain reliability that a number of people selected the "wrong" answer and didn't get checks -- then they had to fill out paperwork at the office to prove they made a "mistake" to get their check I was told (from that source) that a small percent of people did select the "wrong" answer.

[GingerBiscuit]

I was on benefits for a while.

In the UK you get an interview with someone every couple of weeks, where they talk about where you applied and if you got interviews. They give you some more places you can apply, and you go right ahead.

They have computers you can do stuff on as well.

I was getting £42.50 a week (around $85), and I don't actually know what the point is with cheating the benefits people- you don't get enough money to make your hard work worthwhile. If you put that energy into getting a job you'd probably be wealthy.

[Lace Neil Singer]

Weird; the system must have changed since I was collecting Jobseekers. That was after I left college and discovered that it doesn't matter how many qualifications you have, it doesn't mean diddly squat without experience.

All I had to do, after initially filling out the form version of War and Peace (I kid you not; the form was humungous and full of pointless crap), was turn up every two weeks to sign on (they give you a particular time to turn up according to where in the alphabet your surname falls) answer two questions; "Have you been actively seeking work during the past two weeks?" "Have you done any work, paid or unpaid?"; sign on the dotted line and go home. My giro would land on the mat a day or so later.

I thought those questions were bull; after all, who's going to say no to the first and yes to the second? They don't ask you for proof or check up on you. At first I used to bring in photocopies of filled out application forms, after the first few times when they didn't bother asking for proof I just didn't bother.