SDER

Well, as we are in this lovely recession at the moment, I was wondering how people in the US survive with no job??

In the UK for instance, you can usually rely on benefits when you are out of work, ie. housing benefit, unemployment benefit, free healthcare (nhs) and income support. Hey, this can be good and bad - good for the people that have paid into the system - bad for the people that just live off benefits.

So...if you are not working in the US you dont have housing benefit, no free healthcare, and unemployment benefit for a limited time.....Is that the case?

penguinsix

You can get unemployment for a period of time, then you could go on TANF or welfare for a couple years if need be. If you are poor you can get food stamps or WIC for food assistance and medicaid or SCHIP for health care assistance. Some cities have public housing (estates) or you can be eligible for Section 8 housing vouchers.

Though these programs are basically not available to new immigrants.

Bob

Food stamps your sponsor would have to repay though, so kind of defeats the purpose.

Us, we're paying a fortune for medical insurance, which is just going up with a dip in benefits through the wifes job.

Unemployment was I think something like 23 weeks, plus 20 week extension, then another 14 week extension, another 6 week extension and will be signing up for a further 14 week extension and eligble for a final 6 week if Mass stays over 9%....those extensions were for high unemployment rated states.

We don't qualify for heating assistance because when I got laid off, they counted full annual salary for household, not what you actually earned and we were over the threshold by a couple hundred a month. We don't qualify this year either because the missus earns just enough to be over the threshold for a single earner.

Childcare assistance is available, but it's a 6 year waiting list to get it in Mass...which means your better off not working than doing anything remotely double minimum wage range.

Some towns do offer holiday presents or winter clothing schemes and food parcels...some don't...local library is usually a good source of info for what your location provides.

Best thing is not getting laid off...it's clearly crap

scaria197

US undoubtly has an image of being a majical land with lesser issues and problem in case you have no income.

For non-immigrant (if you are here on a Visa) you pretty much have no options except to eat out of your savings. You are out of status the next day and have to leave the country.

meauxna

I haven't had a job for years and we do more than survive.

That doesn't mean I'm not working. But the use of words might explain the answer to your question.

Mallory

Since you've been living in the US for 15 years, shouldn't you know the answer to these questions?

BritishGuy36

Got lucky.....bought our house at the bottom of the market...sold not at the top but close enough....so have savings.

Otherwise the whole move would have been a non-starter.

Giantaxe

Not only is unemployment benefot for a relatively limited time period (although Congress had added extensions during the current recession), it replaces a lower percentage of income than any other western country. The reality is that there is far less of a social safety net here, and that is putting it mildly. It's unfortunate that many folks move to the US without understanding this and then end up in deep financial trouble.

Bob

and your bloody taxed on that unemployment too

UrsTX

There are resources in the US - but they are mostly aimed at people who experience long-term poverty (with the waitlists/waiting periods) etc. And you drop off the list pretty quickly if you start earning much or inherit anything. A car worth more than 10k will likely cause a problem!

I think most people use their own family as a source of assistance. Also churches fill in some of the gap.

Honestly though, a lot of Americans wrack-up credit card debt or home equity debt and drain their retirements in times of trouble. A self-funded welfare system that moves a solidly middle-class family into near poverty because of a job loss or unexpected/uninsured medical problem.

At least we have a well-developed mythology about starting over and climbing your way to the top. (Donald Trump is a famous example of this story) And until 2005 our Bankruptcy system really allowed you to get a fresh start if you completely hit bottom - a much less restrictive bankruptcy process than in other countries as I understand.

AmerLisa

I would say a lot more get up off their backsides and go find any job they can find. I've never met anyone that would rely on their credit cards to help them out of debt....that's suicide.

AmerLisa

I would have to agree with this statement....although wonder how many is "many".....

Giantaxe

Easier said than done in this economic climate. I personally know two people who got laid off early this year, could only find much lower-paying jobs, and are slowly drowning by using a mixture of credit cards and retirement savings to pay their monthly outgoings. Don't assume that people taking these drastic steps can't get off their backsides.

AmerLisa

Sometimes you have to do what you have to do.....although using my credit cards and dipping into my retirement wouldn't be one of them.

Bob

It's easier said than done though for many...