Document text
Click Here 40 °F Forecast | Road Cams Friday, February 6, 2004 Today's News | Classifieds | Autos | Homes | Jobs | Tempo | Health | Community | Home Delivery SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries Life Opinion - Politics AP News Weather Classified Archives Site Map EXTRA Newspaper in Education Personals Movie Times TV Times E The People CLASSIFIEDS Find a Car Find a Home Find a Job Find a Rental Place an ad eSouthernOregon Automotive Communities Entertainment Publications Recreation Calendar CUSTOMER SERVICE Frequent Questions Advertising Information Home Delivery Employment Contact Us Media Kit Network Affiliate Email Story to a Friend February 1, 2004 Locals feeling crunch of jobless benefit cutbacks By JOHN DARLING for the Mail Tribune As several stopgap unemployment insurance programs come to an end, local social service programs are reporting increases in workloads and at least one client says she’s staring welfare in the face. "We’ve cut back everything we can," said Holly Goff, 39, of Medford, whose benefits run out Feb. 14. "If unemployment is pulled out from under us, there’s no choice but to go on welfare and I never pictured myself walking into that office." Goff and her husband, on Social Security disability, have three children. She recently was laid off as Avon regional manager and the couple have been living on government payments totaling $2,200 a month. She said she spends 30 to 40 hours a week at the Job Council checking help-wanted notices, sending out applications electronically and setting up interviews for work as an account executive or as a retail manager. The Temporary Additional Benefits unemployment insurance program, which Goff uses, runs out Feb. 14. The Extended Benefits program, which only allowed recipients to get half their original benefits, ended Jan. 10. Oregon Emergency Benefits ran out last September and the 2-year-old Temporary Emergency Unemployment Compensation program finishes March 27. Advertisement Almost 2 million people nationwide will be bumped off unemployment as extensions end in coming months. About 25,000 Oregonians are expected to lose benefits within weeks, according to the governor’s office. "People are getting very desperate, looking for assistance to get them through the winter, so they can afford to eat while they look for work or get training," said Ray Olsen, Job Council program director in Medford. "There are some jobs, but most are seasonal, part-time or low wage � and the food stamp program is bursting at the seams." State Adult and Family Services confirmed food stamps demand is up considerably this winter. "January hit us pretty hard," said Lisa Lewis, supervisor of the agency’s Self Sufficiency Program, which focuses on jobs and training. "It’s the economy," said George Berriman, regional adjudication supervisor of the state Employment Division, Medford. He noted the office is getting six-inch-high stacks of new applications daily. "We’re working overtime evenings and Saturdays." The employment division tries to keep clients posted by mail of the shifting deadlines and extensions of various unemployment programs, but often the message doesn’t get through or clients don’t read the bulletins, said Jean Work, manager of the Medford employment office. Goff said she wasn’t informed of the new deadline for extending her TAB benefits, so she didn’t file for an extension till Jan. 2, a week too late. Meanwhile, she said, those who have been on unemployment for months, even years, will continue to draw benefits. Employment office officials could not discuss cases, but said the claims process is "incredibly complex" and while each case is very different, the agency does its best to alert clients to new deadlines and funding and treat everyone the same. On Friday, Gov. Ted Kulongoski sent a letter to President Bush urging that he meet with congressional leaders to extend federal unemployment insurance benefits. "These benefits are critical for sustaining families and communities, as they are used for food, rent and other necessities," he wrote. "They are a cost-effective way to keep families and communities afloat during economic downturns. "We cannot leave these unemployed workers behind even as we strive for an economic recovery." John Darling is a free-lance writer living in Ashland. E-mail him at [email protected]. Mail Tribune Home Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life Opinion - Politics | AP News | Archives | Site Map E Southern Oregon | Classified Copyright © 1997-2004 Mail Tribune. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions Website Feedback 3 WEEKS FREE! ADVERTISERS A D V E R T I S E R S RESOURCES Oregon Road Conditions & Cams SPECIAL SECTIONS Auto Finder Job Finder Home Finder Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Tempo Readers' Choice Real Estate Showcase Since We Asked Food for Thought Wellness Connection Outdoor Journal Moving to Southern Oregon? Volunteer Opportunities Prime Times