I am a highly skilled and experienced project coordinator and was making $20/hour when I got laid off last August. I just turned 46, and have always worked since the time I got my first job at age 15. It makes me very angry when I hear people argue that extending benefits causes unemployed people to stop looking for work.

We would much rather have our jobs and benefits back instead of trying to make ends meet on less than half of our previous salary. It requires more effort to look for a job than to actually work at some of the jobs I’ve had. Since I was laid off last year I have applied for over 450 jobs, including positions at Kroger, Wal-Mart, Home Depot, Pier 1, Old Navy, and Radio Shack. It’s exhausting - creating a profile on every company’s website, uploading your resume, entering the same information over and over, sometimes losing everything you’ve entered on the last step because of a lost connection or time-out.

I have eight customized resumes which highlight my experience according to the type of position for which I’m applying (Accounting, Administrative Assistant, Customer Service, Database Development, Personal and Commercial Lines, P&C Insurance, Project Coordinator, Sales/Marketing Assistant, and Safety/Training Coordinator). This has landed me four initial interviews and three call-backs, with no offers.  

I received my last check under Tier I extended benefits on June 16. I am fortunate in that I rent my house from my mother, so I won’t be evicted immediately, but the electricity and Internet will be disconnected at the end of next week; I'll lose my auto insurance, cable, phone, and water two weeks after that. I may even have a warrant issued for my arrest soon because I couldn’t pay the second installment on a fine for the speeding ticket I got on my way to one of the few interviews I’ve managed to score.  

I have been able to continue my health insurance under COBRA thanks to premium assistance, but it will be canceled on August 1 if I can’t come up with the $168 to pay my part. Even with coverage I can’t afford to refill my blood pressure medication, and I could sure use it right now. I am desperately trying to get my knee replacement surgery scheduled before then because I probably won’t have another chance for a long time. I’m considering using my car title as collateral for a loan so that I can keep my health insurance, but that will mean losing the car because I wont be able to repay the loan with such a high interest rate. Even if I manage to pay the health insurance premium, I won’t be able to afford the physical therapy required to rehab the knee ($35 per visit 3 times per week.)

Like I said, I would much rather have my job and benefits back.