Looking for Help

Unemployment seems to be America's "Call of the Wild". Our nation is rampant with unemployment. Unfortunately, I'm part of that 10% of the population that is out of work and scrambling like mad to survive.

I've been a private contractor for nearly six years. Everything has been fine and wonderful until about April of 2008. Suddenly, work was drying up. By October, it was all pretty much gone. What's a girl to do?

Naturally, I immediately started looking for work. I have sent out so many resumes that I'm relieved that I was able to use the internet. Had I not, I know that I would be personally be responsible for the disappearance of an acre of trees.

I considered my resume, my education, my experience; I truly thought that I would nail something--and quickly. I couldn't have been any more wrong. Finally, in December, I caved to my pride and filed for unemployment. I was terribly worried about filing for it since I'd been working as a contractor, but with all the recent changes in unemployment benefits, I thought I should give it a shot.

Of course I was turned down. So, this is what I did: I wrote a letter to my local rep. (this gets much better because I didn't stop there, I wrote to Obama, my governor as well as my congresswoman--more on all that later).

Here is the letter and the response that I received:

Carolyn FXXXXXX
5XXX XXXXXXXXXX Dr
Tampa, FL XXXXX
(813)XXX-XXXX

11/21/08 11:48 AM

To the Honorable Faye B. Culp;


My name is Carolyn FXXXXX. I am a hard-working, educated American
woman that is going through a terribly difficult time; I am frightened.
I am hoping that you can help me. I've run into a bureaucratic
nightmare that seems less than fair.

Apparently, I made a bad choice by becoming a contract teacher for
XXX Community College . I have taught full-time and
part-time in Tampa for the last seven years. I worked for XXXX
XXXX and Holy XXXX School and XXX.

I do not qualify for unemployment because I worked as a teacher for
XXXX Community College , in Tampa , as a contractor. Since I was
a contractor, the state does not see me as a candidate for unemployment.

I have been working for 26 years, paying taxes, being a contributing
member to my community and my country.

I am down to $500 in my checking account and will bleed the remainder of
my retirement account in order to make it through December. After
December? I don't know. I have applied for so many jobs and positions.
I've gone to restaurants and stores. I've applied at banks, schools,
hotels, casinos, distributors, staffing agencies, newspapers and I don't
remember what else. You know what is the worst thing? When I apply for
a job like receptionist of administrative assistant and told that I'm
over qualified. I either have too much education or not the right
education.

I am at my wit's end. I honestly do not know how I will make it after
December.

How can I not qualify for unemployment when illegal aliens, immigrants
and non-working citizens get government assistance to pay for food,
medical care, and housing?

I do NOT want to be a welfare case. I simply want a job, but I need
help from my country or my state until I find one. What am I to do?

Sincerely,

Carolyn FXXXXXX

---

From: "HXXX, MXXX"
Sent: Friday, November 21, 2008 12:39:21 PM
Subject: From 'Write Your Representative' Website

Dear Ms. FXXXXX:

Representative Culp forwarded me your e-mail for a response.
Unfortunately, the information you have been given from unemployment
compensation is correct, as a self-employed contract teacher, you
haven't paid unemployment tax, and therefore are not eligible for these
benefits. I would encourage you to go ahead and apply for food stamps
and any other benefit you might qualify for with the Department of
Children and Families at 558-5788. Also, you might want to go to the
nearest Neighborhood Service Center to see if you would qualify for any
services there. I believe that Metropolitan Ministries can help you get
on a Thanksgiving and Christmas dinner box list. Also, Hillsborough
County Social Services at 272-5040 provides some employment services.

I hope this information is helpful to you. I'm afraid that Rep. Culp
will be receiving more and more e-mails like yours as our economy
continues to spiral downward. If we can assist you further, please do
not hesitate to contact our office.

Sincerely,

MXXXXX, Aide to
Representative Faye Culp
District 57
813-xxx-xxxx(District office)
850-xxx-xxxx ( Tallahassee office)

I did follow up with "How do I pay rent with food stamps?" But never received a response to that.

This is just scratching the surface. I will share letters that I received from both the Governor of Florida as well as our country's President the next time I sign in. More details to come, and entertaining mail to share.