Help available to those in Yuma County who have lost jobs

While there are signs the economy has begun to turn around, the unemployment rate remains high. For some, unemployment compensation is their only resource.

The unemployment rate in Yuma County dropped to 19.0 percent in May from 22.9 percent a month earlier, while a year earlier it had been 16.7 percent, according the the latest figures available from the Arizona Department of Commerce research administration Web page.

 Unemployment in Arizona was at 8.2 percent in May, up from 7.7 percent the previous month, which was above the 5.2 percent of a year earlier. Meanwhile, unemployment reached 9.4 percent in the U.S. in May, the highest it has been since 1983. Six millions jobs have been lost since the current recession began and is likely to climb, according to analysts at the Well's Fargo financial Market Reasearch page.

Yuma lost 4,500 jobs last year, while Arizona lost 2.1 percent of nonfarm jobs with mining, construction, and education and health service sectors accounting for the largest losses, according to the Arizona Department of Commerce figures. The department forecasts a job loss of 5.6 percent in the state for 2009 and a loss of .9 percent in 2010.

"Yuma County has not gotten to the bottom of the recession yet," John Morales, executive director of the Yuma Private Industry Council, said. "Construction jobs are down to levels not seen in over a decade. It's gone past blue-collar layoffs all the way to management. It's happening now and its very unnerving."

YPIC is a private nonprofit whose goal is to provide job seeker and employer services in the Yuma labor market.

Yet some of the unemployed can rely upon the state Department of Economic Security for assistance. Unemployment benefits are available for those who have lost their job through no fault of their own, Elizabeth Barker, spokeswoman for the DES, noted.

"Since the fall we have been receiving more than 10,000 new applications for benefits each week," Barker said. "So the phone lines may be busy and there may be a long wait. We highly recommend people apply online."

Benefits will vary depending upon an applicant's earnings over the prior 18 months. By state statute, the minimum weekly amount is $60 and the maximum is $240. Yet because of a recent provision of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA), an additional $25 is added to that amount each week.

"The maximum a person could qualify for is 72 weeks," she said. "This includes 26 weeks of regular unemployment. And now an additional 33 weeks are available as a result of the emergency actions Congress took last year, while another 13 weeks were added because of an extension included in the federal stimulus package."

Barker advised applicants to file a claim as soon as they become unemployed and not to wait for vacation pay, severance pay or savings to run out.

Yet she cautions that filers need to answer all questions on an application completely. Also, they must be seeking a job and document their efforts by filing a weekly claim. This is one of the most common mistakes filers make.

People may file a claim online at: http://www.azui.com or check their status by phone at 1-602-417-3800 or toll free at 1-877-766-8477.

If a filer is denied benefits, there are several appeals either he or their former employer may make, Barker said. If either party disagrees with a decision, they may appeal it to the DES Office of Appeals Tribunal.

Should either party disagree with the tribunal's decision, they may then appeal to the DES Appeals Board. If either party disagrees with the Appeals Board, they may ask the board to reconsider and this is called the Appeals Board Review.

Finally, if either party disagrees with the Appeals Board review, they may appeal it to the Court of Appeals. At each step, the parties also receive information about any additional appeal rights and the way to go about it.

YPIC's Morales said the high unemployment rate is likely to remain for a while even after signs of recovery appear. But unemployment compensation is a matching system where both workers and employers contribute, he stressed.

"About 30 percent of claims proceed quickly," Morales noted. "But 70 percent must go through adjudication. If for some reason you get fired, you're not eligible. So, it's not a giveaway system."

The extension of benefits is a good thing, he added. If people look at Yuma County, there have been so many closures of businesses recently such as Mervyns, Circuit City and Ann Taylor Loft.

"When you have closures, it's difficult for job seekers because the pool of available jobs is shrinking. Think of the extension as a lifeline for those covered by unemployment insurance."

---
William Roller can be reached at wroller@yumasun.com or 539-6858.

EDITOR'S NOTE: Story updated June 24, 2009.  Correct link to Well's Fargo site added.