Unemployment, Social Services, and Surviving

United States
December 29, 2010 8:51am CST
I've been unemployed since mid-July. The week I was "laid off", I started hunting for a new job. From August 2nd till now I've had dozens and dozens of interviews, some very successful, others, not so much. Frankly it often depended upon the interviewing skills of the company hiring manager. Sometimes I walked away saying to mysel, "Wow, they're sure to hire me," and other times, "I don't want to work for this company anyway - *******!" For all the hassle I've gone through to interview (riding my bike for hours, taking three buses, or a train and two buses, or a bus and a long walk, or going on foot to every business in the area) I've had only one bite. That company assured me that I'd be called with instructions on when and where to go for a company physical and drug test. A week later, they sent me a rejection letter. I'm beginning to think my age is a factor in this - I've already gotten one rejection that stated that they wanted someone younger. If I file against them I might get them fineds, but it doesn't mean I'll see any money from it. All this time I've been requesting money from relatives - my mother, my father-in-law, social services, HEAP (for oil and electricity) and now the well is drying up. In total I must have borrowed or been given at least $5000. At this point, nobody has the money to help me now, and Social Services decided that I should only get $90 for food per month for both me and my husband (he can't work due to health reasons and has been turned down once again for disability). The local food pantries are running dry, and I'm at my wits end. A small job here or there has cropped up, and I've been helped by writing for Associated Content (now Yahoo Contributor Network) but it's not enough to keep my head above water. I'm sure that lots of you are in the same boat. Was there anything that you were able to do to get along for another month, and if so, what did you do? I'll be short on the rent again, and my landlady refuses to wait a week for a payment.
2 responses
29 Dec 10
Why mot try to get a job which has a high demand in your country. In our country there are many job openings for a call center agent. Also we could apply for work doing chores for other people who are well of. They usually take you as there personal secretary or maybe as a special aide to them. You could work on a stay in basis if your time permits to save on transportation and food cost.
• Philippines
29 Dec 10
Been unemployed for about 2 months but i'm living with family. Even so, i find it hard to depend on them for money. I don't like asking money from them coz they're working hard and me, i've been looking for a job and don't have money to support myself. It's my fault in the first place coz i resigned from my previous company coz i couldn't handle the stress. Well, i can't say i went through what happened to you but i understand how it is be short financially. Thank God i have a very understanding family. I'm not taking them for granted ever.
• United States
29 Dec 10
Yep, with all the help I've gotten already (thanks, Mom) I'll never take my family for granted again. I just hope I can repay them someday.