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American Morning

Real People, Their Money: Unemployment Benefits

Aired January 02, 2003 - 07:43   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.


LEON HARRIS, CNN ANCHOR: In this week's installment of our series, "Real People and Their Money," checks won't be in the mail. The government's program of extended unemployment benefits expired last weekend. Jobless benefits are usually provided for a maximum of 26 weeks, but federal extensions are granted during economic downturns. And now, more than 750,000 people have lost those benefits.
And among them is Michelle Wiley. She's a single mother with a 5-year-old son, and she's been out of work since May. And Michelle Wiley joins us right now. She's in our New York bureau.

Good morning, and happy New Year to you.

MICHELLE WILEY, JOBLESS FOR SIX MONTHS: Good morning.

HARRIS: Now, as I understand it, you've been out of work since May. So, tell me, what exactly -- how were your holidays? How was Christmas for you and your family if you haven't been working since back in May?

WILEY: Well, with me and my son, I received help from my mother, father, his grandparent fund (ph), his father's side. His father did help out with his Christmas, giving him as much as, you know, possible. The small things that he asked for, he did receive most of them.

HARRIS: So, little Herman (ph) was able to have at least a halfway decent Christmas then, huh?

WILEY: Yes.

HARRIS: Well, then tell me, how for you has this past six months been? How long and how hard have you been looking for work?

WILEY: The first three months was just -- it was easy. I put out as many resumes as I most possibly can at area hospitals. I did things online. And as time goes on, it gets a little harder and harder to deal with the fact that you can't find a job.

HARRIS: Yes. And as I understand it, you've got a BS degree. So, you've got a college degree, and you're looking for a job in retail, and you're still not finding any -- no nibbles at all, huh?

WILEY: The leads that I have had, it's to travel distance, and the pay is not what I was making at my previous job.

HARRIS: So, what do you do then if these benefits don't get extended?

WILEY: If these benefits do not get extended, I may have to take two part-times because of scheduling. I may -- well, I am going to interview on Monday for a preschool part-time, because I would like to go get my masters in teaching.

HARRIS: So, do you have any confidence at all that 2003 is going to be a different kind of year for you?

WILEY: I do.

HARRIS: You do?

WILEY: I do. I feel as though the economy is going to pick up. I'll have a lot of offers, and I'll interview a little more. I think that I will find something, maybe in the next month or month-and-a- half.

HARRIS: Well, good luck to you on that one. We'll knock on some wood for you.

Now, in the meantime, I understand that you did meet Senator Hillary Clinton.

WILEY: Yes.

HARRIS: What did she tell you that's going to be done in Washington for people like you?

WILEY: They're going to put it out on the floor again for it to be voted on, that the extension does go through, and reminding them that actually it's been done before. It's like history is now repeating itself. And that hopefully it will go off of the floor and Bush will sign it.

HARRIS: Yes, but do you believe that Washington gets it? Do you believe Washington hears people like you and actually care?

WILEY: I think that they do hear us. They -- I don't know why there's a slow response, but they do hear us. I don't know what's going to happen, but I hope that they do sign the bill.

HARRIS: Well, here's hoping for the best for you and little Herman (ph). Michelle Wiley, good luck. Here's hoping 2003 looks up for you, OK?

WILEY: All right, thank you.

HARRIS: All right, and all the best to you -- take care.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com.







Aired January 2, 2003 - 07:43   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
LEON HARRIS, CNN ANCHOR: In this week's installment of our series, "Real People and Their Money," checks won't be in the mail. The government's program of extended unemployment benefits expired last weekend. Jobless benefits are usually provided for a maximum of 26 weeks, but federal extensions are granted during economic downturns. And now, more than 750,000 people have lost those benefits.
And among them is Michelle Wiley. She's a single mother with a 5-year-old son, and she's been out of work since May. And Michelle Wiley joins us right now. She's in our New York bureau.

Good morning, and happy New Year to you.

MICHELLE WILEY, JOBLESS FOR SIX MONTHS: Good morning.

HARRIS: Now, as I understand it, you've been out of work since May. So, tell me, what exactly -- how were your holidays? How was Christmas for you and your family if you haven't been working since back in May?

WILEY: Well, with me and my son, I received help from my mother, father, his grandparent fund (ph), his father's side. His father did help out with his Christmas, giving him as much as, you know, possible. The small things that he asked for, he did receive most of them.

HARRIS: So, little Herman (ph) was able to have at least a halfway decent Christmas then, huh?

WILEY: Yes.

HARRIS: Well, then tell me, how for you has this past six months been? How long and how hard have you been looking for work?

WILEY: The first three months was just -- it was easy. I put out as many resumes as I most possibly can at area hospitals. I did things online. And as time goes on, it gets a little harder and harder to deal with the fact that you can't find a job.

HARRIS: Yes. And as I understand it, you've got a BS degree. So, you've got a college degree, and you're looking for a job in retail, and you're still not finding any -- no nibbles at all, huh?

WILEY: The leads that I have had, it's to travel distance, and the pay is not what I was making at my previous job.

HARRIS: So, what do you do then if these benefits don't get extended?

WILEY: If these benefits do not get extended, I may have to take two part-times because of scheduling. I may -- well, I am going to interview on Monday for a preschool part-time, because I would like to go get my masters in teaching.

HARRIS: So, do you have any confidence at all that 2003 is going to be a different kind of year for you?

WILEY: I do.

HARRIS: You do?

WILEY: I do. I feel as though the economy is going to pick up. I'll have a lot of offers, and I'll interview a little more. I think that I will find something, maybe in the next month or month-and-a- half.

HARRIS: Well, good luck to you on that one. We'll knock on some wood for you.

Now, in the meantime, I understand that you did meet Senator Hillary Clinton.

WILEY: Yes.

HARRIS: What did she tell you that's going to be done in Washington for people like you?

WILEY: They're going to put it out on the floor again for it to be voted on, that the extension does go through, and reminding them that actually it's been done before. It's like history is now repeating itself. And that hopefully it will go off of the floor and Bush will sign it.

HARRIS: Yes, but do you believe that Washington gets it? Do you believe Washington hears people like you and actually care?

WILEY: I think that they do hear us. They -- I don't know why there's a slow response, but they do hear us. I don't know what's going to happen, but I hope that they do sign the bill.

HARRIS: Well, here's hoping for the best for you and little Herman (ph). Michelle Wiley, good luck. Here's hoping 2003 looks up for you, OK?

WILEY: All right, thank you.

HARRIS: All right, and all the best to you -- take care.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com.