Tennessee Unemployment Benefits Extension – 20 More Weeks?

I would post where TN is in the process but the moderator has summed it all up if you read above. Thanks, four pillars for this additional forum for Tennessee.

This is my first time commenting on this site but I would like to share my situation, and could use some advice from anyone willing to give.

I’m not even sure where I stand as. far as the extension goes because I was on EB when my unemployment checks stopped after Dec 4th. I do not think I’ve used a full 99 weeks yet and live in Memphis, Tennessee. I think I’ m at around 95 weeks. Does anyone know if I would be eligible for at a few more weeks of EB under this new law?

I am a dental hygienist and worked in a very small dental practice with only 3 co-workers. I left the office to begin my maternity leave, and was to return 6 weeks after having my baby. Well, the dentist I worked for called me 2 weeks after I had my baby girl and told me he didn’t need me to come back. His reason for letting me go was that business was getting slow, and that he would be doing patient cleanings himself. He also brought up that I was late a few times. Yes, I was late a few times early on in my pregnancy by about 5 mins or so, due to morning sickness and my patients completely understood. He did yell at me about it after the 3rd time; I apologized and promised to work on being there on time everyday, even if I had to get sick in my car on the way to work. So from then on I was never late again and worked everyday without even missing a day,all the way up until the week I had my daughter. She was born the day after Christmas in 2008.

I was devastated when I lost my job for no good reason at all! It has been almost two years now and I have only had one job interview for a dental hygiene position and since there are a great number of hygienists also looking for work in my area, I am up against a lot of competition. My pay rate as a hygienist ranges from 28-33 an hour. I have even applied for every dental assisting job available, even willing to take a pretty nice pay cut, down to anywhere from 10-15 an hour. I was an assistant before becoming a hygienist, but the problem is that most dentists won’t hire me as an assistant because they think I’m over qualified and that I will just leave as soon as a hygiene position comes available.

So having my bachelors degree is even keeping me from getting jobs and no hygiene jobs have become available. With the economy the way it is, and so many people out of work with no dental insurance, people just are not going to the dentist now. It looks like I’m out of luck until other people start getting their jobs and dental insurance back.I have worked in the dental field for most of my working years and not sure what other types of jobs I may qualify for with a Bachelor of Science degree in Dental Hygiene. I wouldn’t mind a career change at all, so any suggestions on the different types of alternative careers to look in to would greatly be appreciated. I know it will still be a lot of competition no matter what the job these days but just trying to think of other career ideas to consider.

I have two other children and two soon to be step-children, that I already see as my own, to support. I feel that my last employer is a straight up coward for letting me go that way, especially when I was recovering from having a baby, and for the emotional distress he has caused me to endure. If he wanted to fire me, he should have been man enough to do so before I left to have my baby, instead of making me believe I was coming back in six weeks. He really did lose a hard working, dedicated hygienist that treated all of his patients with the utmost respect.

So many women already suffer from post-partum depression and this definitely caused me to become severely depressed, worried, and very anxious. I may not have even suffered this depression if I had not lost my job. It got so bad that I am now only 98 pounds. My normal weight is about 120 pounds but my depression has caused me to lose my appetite and so much more. I haven’t even been able to eat one full meal for nearly 2 years. I am not able to think clear or even function normally like before due to this emotional stress. It not only affects me and my health, but it also affects my children, having to see their mother suffer this way and not being able to give them all the attention they deserve. At least while on unemployment, I was able to provide the necessities my kids needed and I always put their needs sometimes their wants before myself so I do without so many things, but they come first and that’s just the type of person I am. I usually do more for others than I do for myself. I just need to get myself feeling better again and quit neglecting my own needs.

I love my kids than anything but when I’m hurting, they see it, they feel it, and that means they hurt too, and I can’t stand that! Now, I am seeing my psychiatrist every month for treatment but the meds are not taking my problems away and so my depression and worry stay. I am so sick that it really has gotten to the point to where I feel disabled and I’m considering filing for disability because my health has been affected so much and I’m damaged..

I have always had anxiety problems in the past but not severe enough to make me feel disabled. This dentist ended up hiring the hygienist that temped for me during my maternity leave. She was also a new graduate and a friend of the dentist’s daughter. I really would appreciate any feedback or suggestions from you all. I was even wondering if I should contact an attorney about my situation and how I was let go while on maternity leave. I’m just not sure if I would have a case because I don’t think I’m protected under the FMLA law since only 3 employees worked in this office.

Well I think I may have set the record for the longest comment. Thanks for reading and good luck to all of you in search for work.

I filed for unemployment in April 2010 and my benefits expire on April 2011 will I get the new extension that just went into effect December 2010?

im on currently receiving EB and i have $166 left to receive and i called the unemployment place and they told me they have to update their system and i will be receiving the $166 check and that was it. i have not been receiving the benefits 99 weeks whats going on somebody please explain to me. i thought i was elgible for the 13 month extension

Jeff – I am not sure I understand your question, but EB certifications are different from EUC and TUC certifications. There is an extra question regarding the work search. EB claimants have always been asked to do their certifications on Wednesdays, Thursdays, or Fridays.

We have to spread out the TIPS certifications so our mainframe can handle them.

TUC claimants certify on Sundays if their SSNs end in an even number.
TUC claimants certify on Mondays if their SSNs end in an odd number.
EUC claimants certify on Tuesdays.
EB claimants certify on Wednesdays.

Thursdays and Fridays are makeup days for everyone.

Lisa, My check for the week ending 12/11 is showing as mailed 12/20. I am also, on EB. Have you checked to see if yours has been mailed? I checked on online

John – I called last monday and checked that following wednesday and was told my weekly benefit was mailed out on the 13th. I’m aware of the burst pipe issue they had, but I still haven’t recieved a check for last week.
The 4th of Dec. was my BYE date and I filed a new claim on the 7th of Dec. and was told I wasn’t eligible as a new claimant, but still qualified for my extension Tier2 and that it would still continue. I had already recieved 2 weeks of benefits before my BYE date expired.
I’ve called the UE office and I’m being told my check has been mailed but I still haven’t recieved anything and I’ve certified for this week and was told it was accepted and being processed also.
I need to know if I’m going to get my check from last week and this week before Christmas. After wednesday of this week, my electricity will be turned off. I’m not blaming you, but the system seems broken. Nothing seems to run smooth and I always get a different answer for the same question. You’re always helpful and honest.
I was told my checks would continue and calling the TIPS line and my weekly claims being accepted, I was relieved believing that was true and now I’m in my second week with no money at all.
I’m like Lisa. I’m a single mother, but because of the amount I recieve monthly in unemployment, I don’t qualify for foodstamps either or anything else for that matter. These weekly checks are all I have to live on and this is just terrible.
If there is any way for you to find out, if my check (s) are being mailed please let me know. Any further info you need, just let me know and thank you in advanced.

Everyone – The FAC (Federal Additional Compensation) program ended with the week ending 12-18. It ended for those with new unemployment claims a while back but it stopped for all claims on 12-18.

The FAC program added $25 to each week of unemployment benefit payments. So those that have been on unemployment for a while may see a $25 decrease in their benefit payment.

Bichelle – You can receive unemployment and be exempt from the “able and available” requirement if you are in Agency approved training. If the Career Center sets up the training for you, then it would automatically be considered Agency approved.

If it is something you are doing on your own, you will have to prove to the Agency that the training will lead to a job in a demand occupation in a reasonable amount of time. Your local Career Center can help you determine if the training is a demand occupation for the area in which you live.

Danny – Not everyone qualifies for the full 99 weeks. However, if you did qualify for 99 weeks and you have not worked long enough to qualify for a new unemployment claim, you should be able to receive benefits for the week of Christmas from the EB program.

Well I didn’t qualify for 99wks I wish I could get the rest of the wks. Congress needs to give us something But their day is coming.

White House tells 99ers its focus is on jobs, not tier 5 unemployment extension

In response to questions tweeted to him by 99ers, White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs on Friday reiterated the President’s position that the White House is working to create jobs, not to extend unemployment to the millions who have exhausted all available benefits.

“To 99ers, POTUS extended to 99 wks many have gone past that – we must get econ growing faster to create more jobs 4 u and help,” Gibbs tweeted. It was unclear what he meant by the addition of the words “and help” at the end of the sentence.

http://www.examiner.com/unemployment-in-national/white-house-tells-99ers-its-focus-is-on-jobs-not-tier-5-unemployment-extension

Hello! My husband was laid off (co bought out) on 12/14; he went to the UE office to file for UE on 12/16 and was told to certify the following Monday (12/20), which he did. He answered the did you work last week question yes, as he did work thru Wednesday the 14th and was paid thru the 15th, prior being laid off. When he went to certify today (27th) after entering his SSN & pin, he got a message saying that a question he had answered previously may have invalidated him and then they system disconnected.

Did he do something wrong? What does he need to do?

Any help is greatly appreciated.

My wife worked in TN for 25 years, we moved to MS, but she continued to work and was paid in TN. This year her co closed, and she drew UI from TN. for 26 weeks. Now she received a notice that this was her last check since she was out of quarters. Is she able to get on one of the extentions, and does she now go to the UI in MS, since we live there, or does she go to TN where she drew the first UI? We can’t seem to get any answer. Thanks

MDG – It sounds like this is a simple issue. I believe that he filed before we was unemployed. If you work a few days in a week and then are separated, many times you have earned more than your weekly benefit amount and aren’t unemployed the week you file. If this is the case, just do what Terri said and we can get your claim re-opened for you. You can also go to your nearest Career Center and they should be able to resolve this for you too.

Terri – Thanks 🙂

Ron – If you don’t live in Tennessee, your claim wont automatically roll into the next available extension because there is a possibility that you have worked in another state and be eligible for regular state benefits in that state. Generally, you must receieve state unemployment benefits first and if no state benefits are available, then you can receive EUC. Also, you can only receive EB for two weeks in the other state unless that state is also triggered on to EB.

What you need to do is contact the UI Claims Center if you haven’t worked in Mississippi. Once that is verified, then we can manually set up your extension.

Ironically if the government was to create an unemployment extension for the 99ers, this would also give them a tool for tracking the real numbers of the unemployed by including the 99ers. This could be done by simply counting the 99ers claim forms. This number could do some major damage to the now high unemployment rate of 9.8% nationally, this may sky rocket this number to epic proportions.

It may also play havoc in other areas of the government when it comes to the credibility of the US being a stable economy for borrowing power world wide. Could this be a reason that the unemployed 99ers have been met with so much resistance when it comes to getting an unemployment extension for this group? The opposition may be more about what the numbers will indicate than it is about the cost of the unemployment extension for the 99ers? This may be something to think about.

http://www.examiner.com/pop-culture-in-hartford/unemployment-extension-2011-for-99ers

Joe – Generally, to be approved training, you would have to be able to complete the training relatively quickly and not be out of the workforce for very long.

If you only lacked a few hours completing your degree and teachers in your field were considered a demand occupation in your area, then it may be approved training. But if you were just now pursuing a BS or BA degree and you would be out of the workforce for 4 years, it may not be approved.

The above applies when you are in school full time and you can’t apply for or accept work. If you are going back to school part time and it doesn’t interfere with your ability to apply for or accept work to the same extent as the job you recently lost, it may be determined that going to school part time isn’t disqualifying to you.

Cinde – When someone is discharged, they are disqualified from unemployment insurance benefits if the employer proves that they are guilty or willful work-related misconduct. Generally, if a person is doing their job to the best of their ability and is not able to keep up with a quota, then that is not misconduct. The burden of proof in the case of a discharge lies upon the employer to prove this misconduct.

There may be other factors that the employer may argue, such as alleging that a claimant didn’t keep up with the quota because they were on their cell phone excessively. This is why the Adjudication and Appeals processes within our Agency are very important. Our Agency initially investigates takes statements from both the claimant and employer to find the facts in these cases and then issues a determination regarding if any misconduct is found.

At that point, either party then has the right to file an appeal and a hearing is conducted. All parties then give sworn testimony and both sides can make statements can ask questions of the oposing party as well as introduce exhibits. Then an Appeals Referee makes a decision as to if any misconduct is found.

But to answer your question more specifically – If our Agency determines you did your job to the best of your ability and you were just not able to keep up with a quota, if there are no other other mitigating factors, that would not be misconduct and a person would be approved for benefits under those circumstances.

Cinde – No problem 🙂

I just re-read my post and I write it too quickly without proofreading it. There are some errors, but I hope I explained it well enough dispite that. Let me know if it caused any confusion.

Thanks!

John,
Hi, I lost my job in April of 2010 and I am receiving unemployment, I am on EUC and it runs out in April 2011, if I am unable to find a job by then will I receive the newest extension that was just passed in December 2011?
Thank you,
Mark

Hello, I posted in December for the 1st time, and I have another question. I was permanently laid off in May 2009. I didn’t receive my 1st week of benefits until June 2009. I have went through all the Tiers and I am now on EB. I have less than $600 left in my benefit amount. That would equal a little more than 2 weeks left of benefits. I am nowhere near 99 weeks of benefits. I have desperately searched for a job (as stated in previous post) with no luck so far. Will I have exhausted all my benefits when the next 2 weeks have passed? And if so, why am I not qualified for the full 99 weeks?

John,
Thanks!
Telisa I live in Tennessee and I have been drawing unemployment since April 2010, I did qualify for the 26 weeks and I am now drawing EUC, I also was receiving the extra 25.00 but that ended and now receiving the normal 275.00 a week.
Thanks
Mark

Telsia – Send me an email at work and I will check. john.partlow@tn.gov

Remember to include the name you filed under, the last 4 digits of your social security number, and a number where you can be reached.

To John Partlow:
I exhausted all 99 weeks of UE benefits in August of 2010. I was fortunate to find a job just as I exhausted those benefits. Unfortunately, that job only lasted 5 months and I was laid off again. I have been approved for a new UE claim at $145 a week for (I believe) 13 weeks. My question is…will I be eligible for EUC benefits under this new claim?

Thanks!

Is there any hope for the 99ers? 1/6/11