Unemployment Claims Crash State Web Sites 233
1sockchuck writes "A sign of the times: a surge in filings for unemployment benefits has crashed online application systems in four states this week. Web sites in Ohio, New York, Kentucky and North Carolina have been knocked offline by unusually high volumes of jobless claims. Phone applications systems appearing to be faring even worse in many states. The thin silver lining: states are hiring workers for phone banks and buying new servers to prop up their web sites."
Re:HUH?? (Score:5, Interesting)
I found out that my state (LA) royally fucks you out of UI, if you are self employed.
Yep, they actually have a statute written that says, if you are the primary shareholder of a company, you cannot claim UI. This just isn't fair.
I was recently between contracts for a few months. First time for this....so, I file for UI. Now, I have and S corp. I pay myself a salary out of what I bill. Out of that salary, I pay SS, I pay medicare...and I pay Federal and STATE unemployment fees.
Yet, when I went to collect them...I could not in the state of LA. That isn't fair? I pay into the system, but, I cannot take out when I need to?
I know this isn't that way in all states...I know people with the same set up, that collected UI just fine.
I called....I went in person...I appealed this to the highest set of judges..but, to no avail.
I swear, if I had enough time and money (I'm working again, but that kills the time aspect)...I'd try to get a lawyer and get that law overturned on principal alone. If I pay into a system..I should be able to get out of it.
So anyway...I've got a bad taste for UI complaints....
Re:HUH?? (Score:4, Interesting)
Yeah, yeah, I know, the moral order of the universe depends on their being a walk of shame that everybody who has the temerity to be unemployed is forced through; but it makes very little economic sense.
Re:HUH?? (Score:5, Interesting)
I don't hope we have another depression, but I'd like to see some enforced restrictions on what you can use your unemployment money for. Like not getting fox or 52" screens.
Re:HUH?? (Score:5, Interesting)
Disconnecting your internet connection when you need to be searching for a job is the most retarded idea I ever heard. It's an enabling resource, as is a phone and an automobile depending on where you live.
When these people... You're 26 years old and you're so worldly and wise that you get to refer to the down and out as "these people" ? Or is it that you've never been one of them? Do YOU know what it's like to stand in line at a mission? To buy half chicory coffee? Ever live in your car for months at a time? How many times have you had to come to home to people dependent on you and announce you've been laid off? Can you relate to a desire ( the INSTINCT ) to preserve some semblance of normalcy for your family?
I think you lack the needed perspective to be judging these people.
And THIS: Nothing is more disgusting than watching Best Buy drop off a Plasma screen TV to Government subsidized housing and I know full well they all have the $150/month HDTV Cable plan.
I gotta call you out on this one. Nothing pisses me off more than the never ending made up welfare cadillac anecdotes. That's right, I'm saying you made that shit up, you never saw Best Buy drop off a Plasma TV to a government subsidized home.
If there's a Just God, He'll grant you some experience in these matters.
Re:HUH?? (Score:3, Interesting)
I missed the part where we're transported to an alternate universe where the crotch rubbing porn surfers monopolizing the workstations at the library jump out of the way to give job seekers priority
Re:HUH?? (Score:5, Interesting)
According to this website [inflationdata.com].
CPI in 2008 is 211.08, in 1982 was 94.3.
My parents currently make $42k. I currently make $78k. Assuming their jobs were adjusted for inflation they only made quite a bit less when I was born.
I'm socking away money left and right while kids that I went to college with go out and buy big TVs and new cars. My house is set at 45 degrees. I've shut off my hot water heater and shower at the gym (Which costs me less than what running the heater would cost, plus I work out there too). My car is 12 years old and has 220k on it (but still runs fine). Growing up my dad would get 1-2 years out of a $500 car and get another one. I buy almost everything second hand, including clothes.
I do have some 'nice' things like the internet and my MacBook Pro and a house a bit nicer than my parents. But it's frustrating to no end to drive past the subsidized housing on the way to work and see nicer cars than me. People crossing the street on iPhones and wearing brand new clothes. People that bitch they have no money but have plenty of money for 2 packs a day. Some people need to be taught the difference between Want and Need.
And my company has never had an engineering layoff in the entire 85+ year history of the company. I think I'm doing pretty good.
Re:HUH?? (Score:3, Interesting)
Re:HUH?? (Score:1, Interesting)
The fact that you're modded troll is indicative of the amazing amount of butthurt being experienced by conservative jackoffs (not all conservatives, just the bitter ones) because their social ideology has been rejected as the simple minded BS it is.
Meanwhile, the person who modded you troll is probably either sitting behind a really nice desk he got to buy because his company "saved money" by laying 5000 people off recently, or logging into slashdot after getting his daily dose of hearing why Obama and the Mexicans cost him his job (at the factory the guy with the desk manages) from Rush 'You-Got-An-Oxy?' Limbaugh. Either way, you're upsetting an intricate fantasy world, and they don't crumble quietly.
You see, Toughguy Brand #1 sees that soon, the ax will come for him. Oh, he might have enough pading to be okay, but he's fearful of seeing the gravytrain drip dry.
Toughguy Brand #2 is only on unemployment because some damn Mexican stole his job (he hasn't seen any going down to the plant, but he's SURE they're there). Those niggers down at the unemployment office though, they're just lazy. Especially Larry over there, Toughguy #2 used to work with Larry, and he sure was lazy. His production numbers were always better, and he didn't have the quality control issues Toughguy #2 had, but Larry was always laughing and joking around, just being a stupid lazy nigger.