On thin Ice

[jasper_111]

I don't know if I'll be able to get on anymore or neopets either. I'm at the bottom of the pit here. And internet is one of those extra things...sorry guys. My job messed me over by laying me off even though I was told I'd be hired year-round(otherwise I wouldn't have taken it). Not only that, but they attempted to lay me off when I only needed one more week to be eligible for unemployment. Yeah, you can bet I fought that one. So I stayed an extra week. I thought that would be the end of the battle for me....but no. I got mail from unemployment, which was confusing. Okay, one paper said I wasn't eligible, the second said I was and the third said I had a phone appointment on the 15th. At this point I have no idea what to do & I ask my parents but you know they've never done unemployment before so they didn't know. So I decided to wait until I get the call & try to find a job. There's no jobs though since it's the dead of winter & whatever jobs were year round have already been filled by the good workers of that summer already. Because where I live everything is seasonal and they mostly only hire for the summer. I'm still looking but after a month and being on the edge of poverty, it's a a scary thing. Yeah well I got three calls today all of which I missed because my phone wasn't on me & you know they called 2 days early than expected. Yeah so I try calling back & I'm on hold for an hour & still waiting for a response -_-. Yeah, on top of that, my landlord is a pain. We moved into a house for cheap rent specifically because the landlord would pay for materials but we would do the work of fixing it up. Yeah well we were promised carpets a month ago so we moved all of our bedroom furniture & things on the porch. Today we get the call "oh we're not doing the carpets...we have to do the kitchen & porch first." Are you serious? We were supposed to have those carpets a month ago! It's just really ridiculous. They are also asking for rent early to get the materials. Yeah, well unemployment hasn't come through yet. I almost don't want to pay it either though because it's total kau dung. So homelessness here I come. What a great world this is. I just want to give up. I understand the storm comes before the rainbow or whatever but honestly homelessness is a killer storm. I donate to homeless shelters and now I'm going to have to go to one? I admit, there is a little bit of shame surrounding it but most of all is fear.

[Rebecca~]

Sweetie, I am so sorry you're going through this. :( I wish there was something I could do aside from just providing a bit of support.

With any luck your insurance will come through, and you'll get some money. Are landlords able to demand rent money early? Sure, they can ask, but you definitely shouldn't have to pay it more than two weeks before the end of the month!

-hugs- I'll be keeping you in my thoughts. :(

[vyvren]

*big big hug* I'm so sorry, Jennifer :( I was facing a very similar situation earlier this year, and I was really lucky to have very supportive parents who helped me with both the money issue and the reason for the money issue. I'm glad you were at least able to fight your job about the extra week. I really hope that you'll be found eligble for the unemployment insurance!

 

I wish I could help you in some way :(

[jasper_111]

Thanks. It's just really stressful for me right now & every little thing makes me upset. That's how fragile I am right now :(

I'll have to call my parents later.(working up courage) Boy what a conversation that will be...

[Rebecca~]

I'm not surprised that you're kind of at your wits end, and that you are easily upset. I would be the same in your position!

I hope that the call to your parents goes better than you expect. -hugs-

 

EDIT: I don't know what state you live in, but if you feel up to it, you can check out your rights as a tenant here: http://portal.hud.gov/hudportal/HUD?src=/topics/rental_assistance/tenantrights

[karmacow]

Ugh, I'm so sorry :( Fingers crossed, that you'll be able to collect unemployment, if you aren't lucky enough to find work.

It also seems to me that they can't demand rent early. It would be for materials for your house, right? So they're going to have to wait till rent is actually due. No one but you guys should be affected by it - if others are affected, something's fishy.

[lilshadowdweller]

I don't think they can legally ask for your rent early, especially because they haven't done anything for your house yet.

 

Regardless, I comprehend your pain. Heck, if I didn't get EI within the last two years, I would have probably been in big trouble! (I usually get laid off around this time, but not this year. Not yet anyway.) (They call it "Employment Insurance" here, so as not to sound as negative as "Unemployment Insurance".) I'm 23 years old and my boyfriend and myself have been paying rent in this place for 2 years...I wouldn't be able to afford it alone. (I pay $720 CDN). I'm not sure how your EI works. I've never been told that I wasn't eligible; nor have I had to speak on the phone to anyone. (Though, I did have to attend a meeting to make sure I was looking for work and knew my rights, ect).

 

Companies are always trying to rip you off Urgh! I'm so glad to hear that you put your foot down and made sure they gave you the extra time which you needed! Make sure that they laid you off, not "fired" you, otherwise, you may be ineligible. (That's how it works here...you have to be 'laid off'.) But this is a lot of stress they are placing on you. Definitely call them back for that interview and ask for clarification. Look back at your hours, point out that you've worked enough, and also your situation.

 

And don't be afraid to ask for help. I'm lucky, my parents probably would never let me live on the street, even though their situation isn't exactly great. Even if your parents can't give it to you, I'm sure there are organizations which could - they could help you look for new work, provide you housing, they don't judge you! Lots of people have been in these painful situations, trust me. You're strong for dealing with it!

 

Also, do you have good credit? You may have to live off your credit card just to tie you over. I don't recommend it, but as a last resort, you may need it to keep you stable.

 

Make sure to also cut out the things you don't need. Like me and boyfriend, we pay like $135 for cable+internet. I'm pretty sure we don't need our cable. We only use it for the DVR. So we're considering ridding of it, though that'll stink. Also check your hydro (electricity), unplug things when not in use (plugged in still zaps energy), bundle up when it's cold (so you don't use electric heating if that's what your house has), and always browse around for discounts/deals.

 

This is a tough time, I feel for you. If I were there, I'd be offering you assistance. I wish you the best of luck and I want you to continue standing your ground!

[jasper_111]

I don't think they can legally ask for your rent early, especially because they haven't done anything for your house yet.

 

Regardless, I comprehend your pain. Heck, if I didn't get EI within the last two years, I would have probably been in big trouble! (I usually get laid off around this time, but not this year. Not yet anyway.) (They call it "Employment Insurance" here, so as not to sound as negative as "Unemployment Insurance".) I'm 23 years old and my boyfriend and myself have been paying rent in this place for 2 years...I wouldn't be able to afford it alone. (I pay $720 CDN). I'm not sure how your EI works. I've never been told that I wasn't eligible; nor have I had to speak on the phone to anyone. (Though, I did have to attend a meeting to make sure I was looking for work and knew my rights, ect).

 

Companies are always trying to rip you off Urgh! I'm so glad to hear that you put your foot down and made sure they gave you the extra time which you needed! Make sure that they laid you off, not "fired" you, otherwise, you may be ineligible. (That's how it works here...you have to be 'laid off'.) But this is a lot of stress they are placing on you. Definitely call them back for that interview and ask for clarification. Look back at your hours, point out that you've worked enough, and also your situation.

 

And don't be afraid to ask for help. I'm lucky, my parents probably would never let me live on the street, even though their situation isn't exactly great. Even if your parents can't give it to you, I'm sure there are organizations which could - they could help you look for new work, provide you housing, they don't judge you! Lots of people have been in these painful situations, trust me. You're strong for dealing with it!

 

Also, do you have good credit? You may have to live off your credit card just to tie you over. I don't recommend it, but as a last resort, you may need it to keep you stable.

 

Make sure to also cut out the things you don't need. Like me and boyfriend, we pay like $135 for cable+internet. I'm pretty sure we don't need our cable. We only use it for the DVR. So we're considering ridding of it, though that'll stink. Also check your hydro (electricity), unplug things when not in use (plugged in still zaps energy), bundle up when it's cold (so you don't use electric heating if that's what your house has), and always browse around for discounts/deals.

 

This is a tough time, I feel for you. If I were there, I'd be offering you assistance. I wish you the best of luck and I want you to continue standing your ground!

Thanks for all of the wonderful tips! I will certainly follow them. As an update, I got most of my things out today, well the important things. The only thing left is the furniture. One of my uncle's has decided to let me stay at his house. It's cramped but at least there's a roof over my head. Unemployment here is extremely annoying you have to either call them or go online but it has to be during desk hours when an agent is there. Then you have to wait for a reply in the mail and they interview you to further determine your eligibility i guess? This is my first time applying & my first time needing it. I moved out of my parents house for the first time so it sucks my first attempt at being an adult failed. Also, I do not have a credit card, just debit.

[Rebecca~]

Thanks for all of the wonderful tips! I will certainly follow them. As an update, I got most of my things out today, well the important things. The only thing left is the furniture. One of my uncle's has decided to let me stay at his house. It's cramped but at least there's a roof over my head. Unemployment here is extremely annoying you have to either call them or go online but it has to be during desk hours when an agent is there. Then you have to wait for a reply in the mail and they interview you to further determine your eligibility i guess? This is my first time applying & my first time needing it. I moved out of my parents house for the first time so it sucks my first attempt at being an adult failed. Also, I do not have a credit card, just debit.

You didn't fail at being an adult. You've been hit with some horrible circumstances that are completely out of your control. You are dealing with tougher stuff than many other people have to, and from the sound of it, you're dealing with it well. You should never be ashamed, or feel like you have failed if you need to ask for help.