Ahmad Ghabboun broke into a sweat. It was a late night in August and he had just discovered an unexpected $14,990 debt posted to the online portal he uses to access his account with Washington state’s unemployment agency. Since May, he had been receiving payments every week through the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance program, newly established … Read more
The COVID-19 pandemic is causing similar financial hardship for consumers around the world, but new research indicates that Millennials (those persons between the ages 26-40) are being challenged the most. A just-released TransUnion (NYSE: TRU) global report including seven regions on five continents found that three in four Millennials (76%) worldwide indicated their household incomes … Read more
Tom Steckel hunched over a laptop in the overheated basement of the state Capitol building in Pierre, South Dakota, early last week, trying to figure out how a newly awarded benefit claims contract will make it easier for him do his job. Steckel is South Dakota’s director of employee benefits. His department administers programs that … Read more
The House of Representatives recently passed the Working Families Flexibility Act of 2017 with all but six Republicans voting for the measure, and no Democrats. Putting your political leanings aside, this legislation gives private employers the ability to no longer pay you in your next paycheck for overtime work you provide. That time-and-a-half pay may … Read more
Have you noticed that the stock market has been doing great and companies are talking about big profits but the numbers of unemployed have remained without a whole lot of reduction? Consider this, over the same time period that the economy has been in the toilet, technology is allowing companies to do more with fewer … Read more
The state of South Carolina and Bank of America have teamed up together to administer unemployment benefits to South Carolina residents. Unemployment benefits used to come in the form of a check but are now being issued in the form of a Bank of America prepaid debit card. Bank of America claims that it’s good … Read more
by Marian Wang, ProPublica Unless Congress acts to extend programs for those who have exhausted regular state unemployment benefits, millions of jobless workers may soon be phased out of emergency unemployment benefits. Unemployment benefits from states typically last for 26 weeks, but since 2008, Congress has on four occasions passed emergency provisions that use federal … Read more
Here is a video from Cambridge Credit Counseling on how to ask for a raise in a bad economy. It’s a topic I wish I had thought of. If you are considering that a raise is in order, remember that what your boss is looking for most is proof or evidence your skills or services … Read more
If you’ve ever lost a job, you know how devastating it can be. It doesn’t really matter how you lost it — a company reorganization, merger, forced retirement or simply being fired — the results are the same. It probably feels like everything you’ve worked for is gone, including your income. And because losing a … Read more
In an effort to collect money to Gwinnett County in Georgia the local government has decided to go after 180 employees that were overpaid one time, 16 years ago. The irony is the overpayment occurred back then to avoid a financial hardship. Time is up on that intention it seems. “The payroll anomaly dates back … Read more
When I was growing up my Dad found himself unexpectedly unemployed. He went from being an executive to without work, through no fault of his own. I often think back about those days as I read the emails of people that write to me for help who are now unemployed and struggling. I asked my … Read more
The economic blues are hitting more and more people. I just learned that a friend of mine who works at a Bridgestone tire plant is on the bubble for the next wave of layoffs. My friend and fellow Suzuki Burgman rider is known as the Smyrna Cowboy and he publishes a regular vlog on riding … Read more