Although the government has made efforts to tackle multiple issues like health insurance, mental stress, and unemployment benefits, the presence of regulations and standards set by the government hinders a complete resolution of these problems for unemployed individuals in the United States.
Government regulations and standards encompass various policies related to unemployment, with one prominent policy being Unemployment Insurance or Extended Unemployment Insurance. While many policies are federally governed, unemployment insurance is managed at the state level, resulting in varying guidelines across states. However, federal guidelines regarding the application process and eligibility criteria for unemployment benefits remain consistent across all states. One regulation that impacted employers’ approach to unemployment was the discontinuation of the 0.2 percent Federal Unemployment Tax Act surtax in July 2011. This surtax had been extended eight times since 1976 (Lancaster, L. 2012).
The eligibility criteria for unemployment insurance impact those who are unemployed. In order to qualify for unemployment benefits, individuals need to either earn a minimum income or work a specific amount of hours within a designated period. Additionally, they must have become unemployed through circumstances beyond their control.
The eligibility for benefits is given to individuals who are laid off due to downsizing, rather than poor performance, policy violations, or voluntary quitting. This eligibility recognizes that the job loss was not their fault and affects both their income and access to health insurance. Unfortunately, many ineligible individuals do not receive assistance in paying for their health insurance premiums. Human service workers encounter various challenges in meeting the needs of unemployed individuals.
Some obstacles that would hinder my ability to meet the needs of the unemployed as a human service worker are the heavy work load and multiple cases to handle simultaneously due to insufficient staffing. Furthermore, the changing legislation, such as the forthcoming expiration of the Extended Unemployment Compensation, could negatively impact the fulfillment of the unemployed’s needs.
Unemployment is a major concern for individuals who are seeking employment. However, their search for jobs can be hindered by qualifications, whether they have the wrong ones or are overqualified. To address these challenges, it is important to make changes to social policies related to unemployment. In the United States, the current unemployment rate stands at 7.9 percent, which marks a decrease compared to May 2012’s rate of 8.2 percent.
It is crucial for unemployed individuals to accept less desirable jobs and not solely rely on unemployment insurance benefits in order to reduce unemployment. Furthermore, there needs to be an increase in job opportunities. However, the Reemployment Service with the Texas Workforce and the Texas Back-to-Work program are inadequate for those who have higher qualifications than the currently available positions.
The current EUC policy should be revised to ensure that individuals who are unemployed can continue to receive unemployment insurance benefits. By extending the EUC program, which is scheduled to end in December 2012, assistance will be provided to those who are unable to secure employment. This extension will assist them in meeting their essential needs such as food, housing, and health insurance expenses. Generally speaking, unemployment and unemployment insurance remain significant concerns in the United States. Despite a decline in the unemployment rate, the difficulties associated with being jobless are on the rise.
Changes need to be made to government regulations and policies regarding unemployment, especially for Extended Unemployment Insurance and eligibility requirements. If these regulations and policies remain the same, the economy will face bigger problems than just unemployment.
