One Year Later: Real Stories Of Filing For Unemployment During Covid-19, Revisited – Forbes

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Millions of Americans lost their jobs, had work hours reduced or otherwise lost income during the Covid-19 pandemic. In the early days of the pandemic, Forbes Advisor shared the real-life stories of three people filing for unemployment. A year later, we checked in with these three hard-working Americans in New York, Ohio and California to see how theyre doing and how their lives have been affected by the past years events.

The pandemic has prompted a massive outpouring of federal spending for unemployment benefits, stimulus checks and other enhancements to the social safety net. For the first time ever, during the pandemic, federal unemployment benefits are being offered in addition to the state-level benefits that people usually get. For millions of Americans who lost jobs and income through no fault of their own in 2020, these payments have been an economic lifeline.

The three people we interviewed, al, Paul and Austin, are all fortunately still in good health and staying safe from the virus. They also are all still receiving unemployment benefits at various levels. Like many Americans who are in this situation, they have used unemployment benefits to give themselves flexibility for when and how to go back to work, to keep working in their chosen field part time, to plan their next career moves and to look toward the future with greater clarity and confidence.

Here are their stories, along with some updated tips on how to navigate the process of filing for unemployment and the latest benefits from the American Rescue Plan Act, signed into law by President Joe Biden on March 11, 2021.

al, known to her Instagram followers and dance scene friends as miss al boogie, is a freelance creative, dancer, actor and singer/songwriter based in New York City. Before the pandemic, she had recently become a member of SAG-AFTRA after appearing in the Amazon Prime Video series, Hunters.

Throughout the past year, al has been receiving unemployment benefits while also working at freelance gigs and on TV and film projects. The New York creative freelance economy has not yet recovered, but it is showing signs of life; she has recently been doing more film work, although its not yet enough to pay her bills on a full-time basis.

I just keep applying and I keep being eligible for now, al says. In a typical week, Ive been receiving $310 from New York and $300 from the expanded federal unemployment benefits, before taxes. And apparently Im going to get some of the money that I paid in taxes for 2020 back, because of the new tax-free unemployment benefits.

Usually, unemployment benefits are considered taxable income. But in the American Rescue Plan, people can now receive a tax break on up to $10,200 of unemployment benefits for 2020. If you lost your job last year and received unemployment benefits, depending on your overall income and tax bracket, you may have some additional tax refund money heading your way from 2020.

al says that the unemployment benefits shes received during the past year have helped her keep working on a flexible basis. Having the safety net of unemployment benefits has enabled her to keep doing her own creative projects and build up her own small business as a freelancer, while also working on paid film projects whenever there is work available.

Unemployment is a great buffer, because it helps me work as much as I can, while staying flexible, al says. When youre doing film work, its typically 12 or 13 hours per day of being on set. So its not the same as a full-time job schedule. I have usually been able to work one or two days a week, depending on the production. Sometimes Ill have enough work so that I dont qualify for the minimum amount of unemployment benefits that week, and thats fine.There are ups and downs, but unemployment has been a good foundation during this crazy year.

According to al, the New York state unemployment filing system has gotten better since the early days of the pandemic. Its definitely gotten easier to file for unemployment each week. The state just sent me an email yesterday asking me if I want to continue receiving benefits, al says. New York contracted with Google to help improve their unemployment site, and the online system has gotten better, but its still hard to get people on the phone.

For people who might be having trouble getting through to the unemployment system or, if you miss your weekly filing deadline, dont panic. You still have options to get the benefits you deserve.

I had one week where I was just really busy and didnt have time to apply for unemployment that week, but it wasnt too late. You can back-certify and get the full amount of benefits for prior weeks, al says. Also, people can call your Congressional Representative if you cant get through to the unemployment system. Your Congressional office has staff who can help you.

Compared to the early days of the pandemic, when New York and the nation were enveloped in uncertainty and dread, al says that shes feeling more hopeful these days.

Im going to stay on the unemployment benefits until they run out, whatever Im eligible for, Im also going to keep working as much as I can, al says. And if I end up saving money, if Im beyond abundant, Im going to give money to mutual aid organizations. Being on unemployment this past year has helped me work smarter. Its giving people the flexibility to make better choices for themselves and take a breath, and make better moves for the future.

Before the pandemic, Paul Horan was working as a commission-based shoe salesman at a high-end retailer in Cleveland. Paul has a health issue that puts him at a higher risk of severe outcomes from Covid-19, so he has been unable to work at an in-person workplace. For the past 12 months, hes been receiving unemployment benefits, staying home and just trying to stay safe from the virus.

Nothings really changed since the last time we talked, Paul says. Im fortunate that Ive been able to stay healthy and stay in the house. Ive been unemployed for so long that my Ohio state benefit year expired [in March]. Ive applied for a renewal but at a lower benefit amount, and they havent decided yet whether or not its going to happen. And even if I get this new benefit year from the state, my weekly benefit amount from Ohio will be going down from like $440 to $275. So I might continue getting $275 per week from Ohio, plus $300 per week from the new federal expanded benefits from the new Biden plan.

Paul says that his states unemployment system is working more efficiently than it was in the early days of the pandemic. I have to file for benefits every week, but the system is working a bit smoother. Im not getting error screens now, Paul says. The work search requirement is suspended, so you dont have to be actively looking for a job during the pandemic. I just file online. I try not to call it in. My boyfriend is on unemployment right now too, and he had to call to file and it was like an hour til he got someone on the phone.

Even though Pauls unemployment benefits are less than they used to be, he is financially stable for now. The more-generous unemployment benefits provided by the CARES Act helped Paul to save money and build an emergency fund. Im actually doing pretty good on savings. Ive managed to save most of my money thats been coming in during this past year, Paul says. So even if my unemployment benefits get cut a bit, Im still in decent financial shape and I think I can get to the other side of this crisis.

Paul is hoping to go back to his old job selling shoes, as soon as he can get fully vaccinated. My current plan is to go back to my old job, once I get vaccinated and it feels safe for me to do that, Paul says. My employer has been great. Theyre not putting any pressure on me to come back before Im ready. I still have my health insurance through my former employer, and its only costing me $180 per month, which was a better deal than my other options.

As he looks back at the past year, Paul never imagined hed be unemployed for so long. I used to think that the Covid-19 situation would get better by late summer 2020, then it got pushed back to the end of 2020, now here we are in spring 2021, Paul says. Im excited to get vaccinated, and I just got my first dose. Im not hurting, money-wise right now. But I want to work. Sitting at home for so long gets really boring. Ill be happy to get back to work once Im vaccinated and the situation improves. Depending on when I can get clearance from my doctor, Im hoping to go back to work at the beginning of June.

Austin lives in Los Angeles and used to work full-time in the restaurant service industry as a repair technician for commercial coffee and espresso machines, but after the pandemic his hours were cut to less than half-time. He also used to work as a youth basketball coach for a travel team, and has done freelance projects as a music producer. All of Austins sources of income were affected by Covid-19.

Austin asked us not to use his last name to avoid bringing unwanted attention to his employers. Due to the reductions in his work hours, he has been receiving unemployment benefits since March 2020.

At my latest part-time job, Ive only been getting about 15 hours of work per week, Austin says. The restaurant and coffee industry seems to be coming back from the pandemic a bit. Things are on the uptick. But its not back to normal yet. I havent been getting enough work hours to stay alive out here.

Austin says that he is currently receiving unemployment benefits from the State of California, as well as from the recent $300 per week of expanded federal unemployment benefits. Unfortunately, he says that the California unemployment system hasnt gotten much more user-friendly since the early days of the pandemic in spring 2020.

Im glad to be receiving the benefits, but it kinda makes you uneasy, knowing how the system can go down for a few days at a time, Austin says. You have to file every two weeks, and the state system hasnt gotten much better. I dont want to have to talk to them on the phoneits just too hard to get in touch with anyone that way.

Austin also ran into a complication where the state made a mistake and stopped paying his benefits for two months. He got it corrected and eventually received back benefits for that two-month period. Ive been in the unemployment system for a whilethey should know who I am by nowbut the system started asking for an extra level of ID verification and they didnt pay me for two months. I eventually got it sorted out, Austin says. Its just hard when youre in a situation where youre not doing anything wrong, but you get caught up in the bureaucracy.

Austin has been using the extra free time during the pandemic to work on his physical and mental health. Ive been doing an intense exercise regimen with kettlebell workouts, and swimming in the ocean, even on the coldest days, Austin says. I have a sense of wholesome spitefulness about this year. Its like the virus and the economy and the government have all been plotting my downfall, so now Im responding with a self-love mechanism, Im going full-blast on self-improvement.

Austin is hoping to make a career change, and get into doing music production work full-time. Ive already been doing music production on the side, a few paid projects here and there, but I really want to get my foot in the door of the industry and make it my full-time career, he says. I am potentially going to have a chance to get hired by a music house that makes custom music for advertisements and YouTube videos and online content. I know Im good at music and its something I can do online, working remotely. Being in the restaurant industry this past year, you see how susceptible you are, and how little is in your control.

Despite the challenges of the past year, Austin feels grateful for what he has, and is hopeful for the future. Hes hoping to start coaching youth basketball again after he gets vaccinated; hes looking forward to giving his mom and dad a hug.

Im a single person, and that helps, he says. I cant imagine how stressed out Id be if I had a family to provide for right now. I like L.A. I have a good community that Ive built here. Ive managed to keep paying the bills. Ive got a good relationship with my landlord. Im thankful for everything right now, because I know people who have fallen on very hard times. I have my health, so Im the wealthiest person on Earth.

Millions of Americans have lived through a time of unprecedented uncertainty and stress, when everyday life was turned upside down. Butjust as in every crisispeople are making the best of the situation and responding with resilience and courage. Unemployment benefits have helped people have financial stability and a greater sense of gratitude and optimism. If youre receiving unemployment benefits, hopefully you can use this time as an occasion to rest, recover and plan for your next opportunity in life.

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One Year Later: Real Stories Of Filing For Unemployment During Covid-19, Revisited - Forbes