My employer terminated me for illness (illegal) and then said I quit (a lie) so as to not to have to pay me unemployment benefits. I appealed. I was supposed to have a hearing before an administrative law judge.

Today I received a letter stating that I was denied because i am unable to work fulltime (I spent 5 weeks in the hospital in Dec. and Jan. and almost died twice, my docs aren't thrilled with the idea of my working FT yet, but have cleared me for part time). Two people at the unemployment office, after hearing my story, said it sounded like I qualified, but now I don't, with no hearing involved despite what I was told.

I have $30 to my name and am down to selling furniture to make some cash so I can do things like eat, and put gas in my car ($2.83 a gallon here). No one has taken up a collection for me, even though all the work I can do is freelance, which pays $75 per article -- not enough to pay $475 a month rent, much less anything else. I have yet to see a check for two pieces I wrote in MARCH, because the company got taken over and their accounting system hasn't been switched over yet. I have no determination of disability yet from Social Security, and basically no idea where my money is coming from day to day. My home Internet got cut off, so I have to drive 20 minutes to use a library computer. But nobody gives a damn, it seems. I'm tired of bureaucracy and tired of life in general and wondering why I can't catch a damn break.

[/rant]

Candy