“Where do I turn?”

THE MELTDOWN

The recent outbreak of the Corona Virus stemming from a small local marketplace in Wuhan China has put the world on lockdown. And as a citizen of New York City, this city has been the hardest in America. And with that, has come a wave of unemployment. It has now left people from all over the country wondering what to do now. Because I know for me, I still have a job. But so so many that’s not the case. I have never been in this position so it’s kind of a no man’s land. And for most people this is a new reality. So, let’s go through the steps to being able to get yourself through this troubling time? The first step is to apply for unemployment.

UNEMPLOYMENT UNDER COVID-19

In order to apply for unemployment, there are a number of steps to go through when filing. The first step is to go to the Department of Labor and sign up for an account. You will have temporary password sent to your email account. Sign into your account and then you’ll be prompted to create a new password. Once into the account tou created, understand that you have a specific time period to call or file. That is based off of your last name which means you call corresponding to that date. For example, my last name is a J, that means I call on Tuesday. So when you call, be prepared to wait a while.

BE PRECISE WITH INCOME

You have to know before calling how much time you work and the amount of money you make in a two week span. This is important because then they’ll be able to calculate what your unemployment can be. Now, they will look into you, and if you’re off, the process takes longer. So be open and honest up front so the process goes a little smoother. And if you manage to go through the process and get unemployment, remember it’s only 55% at most of your income. This is not meant for you to be unemployed. This is why the percent gets cut in half. It’s to encourage working. Now, this situation is difficult because the government shut down the country. This forced people to lose jobs. So it’s no fault of the unemployed. Yet, the percentage still stands.

A WHOLE NEW WORLD

Americans have not experienecd this much lost since 2008 when the economic recession forced out of work and out of their homes. Only this time it’s at no fault of the people. And the help which people will get is minimal and one time only. Now, the market go back to its original point, yes. It may take a year or more. The nation will return to success. But for now it’s going to be a struggle.

Personal Website: http://www.faheemjackson.squarespace.com
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