BigD_95 (777 posts)
I lost my job - Healthcare - unemployment- help
Last edited Sat Jun 16, 2012, 02:10 PM USA/ET - Edit history (1)
I was just let go at my company. Almost 9 years. I thought I would retire there. Loved my job. I made ok money. Enough to live in a semi-attached home & provide for my family & let my wife be a stay at home mom while baby-sitting a couple of kids for extra income.
They said it had nothing to do with performance but they eliminated my position.
My scariest thing now is Healthcare. Since my wife is a stay at home mom we cant roll myself & kids onto her healthcare Ins. The company is letting me keep my healthcare until July 31st. They said I can put my kids then in a CHIP program which I know nothing about. But I have no idea what I will do about my wife & me while Im on unemployment.
I live in PA.
I know there was talk with the "Obamacare" plan about a pool of places you can get healthcare.
Did that ever go into effect? Does anyone have any help or suggestions on what to do?
Also when I called the unemployment office they said I only get 26 weeks of unemployment benefits. My friend said thats what they told his wife but that is the states unemployment benefits. After that you go to another level & the Federal benefits start up and give you more time. Is that true?
I hope & pray I find a job way before 26 weeks but I just want to know where I stand in a worst case situation. Its not easy out there.
Again right now Im trying to fight off depression. This hurts and is a major blow. Its hard to look at my kids to be honest. As a father of 2 boys I feel Im supposed to provide & Im a failure. I cant see clear which is why Im coming here for help.
thank you in advance.
http://www.democraticunderground.com/1002816595Good thing the private sector is doing fine.
I have a little bit of sympathy for this DUmmy because dammit, I'm human, however any sympathy I have is negated by the fact that he voted for the people who brought this on our country, and can't wait to give them another 4 years.
The good news is, you can get unemployment and food stamps and help to stimulate the economy now.
DavidDvorkin (11,185 posts)
1. First, on the emotional/psychological level
Don't in any way blame yourself. You are not a failure. The company is a failure. Management failed. But of course it's the workers who suffer for management's failures.
Practical stuff:
There is a Federal program to extend unemployment benefits. I think it varies by state, depending on the unemployment numbers in the state. Here's some info: http://jobsearch.about.com/od/unemployment/a/unempextension.htm
I don't know what field you're in. I was in the software biz and was laid of quite often during my career (now thankfully ended). I fought against depression partly by busying myself applying for unemployment and scouring all the available job ads and Web sites, and sending out scads of resumes. If nothing else, that gave me a feeling of doing something, of having some control, of not being helpless.
During one of those periods of unemployment, I wrote a tongue-in-cheek essay to cheer myself up. Other people seem to find it helpful in lightening the mood, as well: http://www.dvorkin.com/essays/unemben.htm
Don't bet on him not being a failure, odds are good his medicinal marijuana came back to bite him in the ass.
Skittles (79,803 posts)
2. HEY
I will let others give you healthcare advice but I want you to know YOU ARE NOT A FAILURE and YOU ARE NOT ALONE. Many, many people are in your situation due to the outright GREED of others. It's what OCCUPY is all about. YOU HAVE FRIENDS HERE!!!
