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I'm so glad it's Friday! Unfortunately, I have to spend the first part of Saturday at the salon. Getting my "roots done" if you must know. Jeez, that sounds so...crone-ish don't it? Yeah, and a little skin-stretching, too. And I think I'll have my eyelids done. Sigh.

July, 2000

7/21/00

Jee-ZUSS I almost had a freaking cow Wednesday afternoon. For one hellish evening I thought I wasn't going to have any unemployment checks coming in. Ghod knows, the amount is pitiful -- but at least it's something. Anyway, I got this computer-generated notice from the California EDD basically informing me that my claim had been denied. Now, granted, the notice did say "You are not eligible to receive benefits under California Unemployment Insurance Code Section 1253A beginning 06/25/00 and ending 07/01/00." (How's that for Gov-speak, huh?) I mean, it didn't add, "However you are eligible to receive benefits thereafter." So what was I supposed to suppose? This from an agency that is so over-specific their phone recordings remind callers to "have your Social Security Number handy." Duh, like, aren't you supposed to know that at least?

So. The EDD could have spared me one grief- and angst-stricken evening if they had kindly added that one leeetle sentence. I would've thought, "Shit -- I'm losing 198 bucks, but why waste a postage stamp for a written appeal when they're just going to say NO anyway! At least I have a bigger check coming this week." But nooooooo, they had to toy with my chronic depression and fiendishly leave out this calming, sensible DAMN sentence. You're probably shaking your head, muttering, "Anne, Anne -- you shoulda figured it out." Well...this is a government agency, is it not? They are used to doling out baaaad news. If it were possible for them to see my crumpled expression as I read the notice, it would've been so much gravy to them. They like f**king with people. Yes they do. They're sadists. Yes they are.

Not realizing, at the time, that I was worrying for nothing, I composed a statement for the appeal I was so sure I'd have to file. (BTW, it'll explain to you the reason I was denied. Mercifully, I did not have to mail it in.):

I disagree with the Department’s decision dated 7/14/00 because I find it ridiculous that I’m being penalized for not applying for benefits sooner! I had thought, after my termination, that I would become re-employed quickly. I really did. Not such a bad thing. But it didn’t happen – after two weeks, zilch. Perhaps that was an error in judgment, but I had good intentions. I actually felt I was doing the State and my former employers a favor. Still, I fail to see exactly WHY I am to be denied benefits simply because of such an absurd technicality. After all, it is MY money – unemployment benefits are deducted from each paycheck, are they not? I feel that I am entitled to them – when I need them. And I need them now! I have faxed and mailed out nearly thirty (30) résumés – in addition to applying online – with no results. I haven’t even been offered temporary work. Now you’re telling me that because I didn’t apply for benefits within the first week of unemployment, I won’t be getting MY money. Wonderful. I have no idea what I’m going to do now. Thank you so much for your compassion. (And yes, that’s sarcasm. I think I’m entitled to that, at least.)

Oh, yes, that was the state I was in. Fumed all evening long. I could've chugged down two jars full of St. John's Wort and it wouldn't have helped. I was in a foul mood. I had nightmares.

But it was all for nothing. Suspecting something was amiss (and hoping to verbally plead my case), I called the EDD the next morning (8:00 sharp!). I spoke to a very nice lady (yes, it's true -- she was nice -- and articulate too; must've been recruited from private industry). She calmly explained to me that this denial was only for the one week, and that my next check was going out to me that morning. Happy, happy, joy, joy! I thanked her graciously. I felt like a doofus for being so worked up, but I was a happy doofus at least. Well, let's not get carried away here. I'm a doofus. But I'm not happy. I haven't been truly happy since I was a kid. But that's grist for another entry. Let's just say that my mind is a little more at ease than it was the evening before.

Something genuinely funny though. Check out this sentence from the EDD notice: "You have not shown you could not have reported during the week you want to claim." Ghod, what an awkward sentence. Try saying that five times in a row. Heh.

That's okay. I'll put up with their awkward syntax -- so long as my check is in the mail. For real.

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