Thank heavens I don't live in the USA

[Casino218]

Protesting against the lockdown! What is wrong with them? Apparently they are finding it too hard!

@feelingverylazytoday there is risk of transmission in the open air. Parks have been closed in many other countries. Outside exercise is ok as long as people respect the 2m rule.

I think that a part of the problem is that not enough information has been provided to the public. The information is all there on the net but you have to look for it and analyse it.

Puzzledandpissedoff
that's not the same as furloughed though is it.

I'm not commenting on anything else on the thread though, just reading and learning.

There's quite a difference between getting 600 USD a month and up to 2500 pounds a month.

Actually it's $600 per week on top of normal unemployment benefits, which can be up to $470 per week.

My husband is still working, but has taken a 50% pay cut until this is all over (So $110,000 to $55,000 ...) but since he applied for partial unemployment he's getting a top up of around $600 ... so it's not nearly as bad as you made it sound, and in some cases people here will be taking home well over $2500 a month. (If my husband was made unemployed/furloughed with no pay, he'd get 4,200 a month)

I hadn't realised you can take partial unemployment @notmyyacht? Is that if you take a pay cut?

In my state most people claiming unemployment are getting approx $3500-4500 a month now the federal system is in place.

The US don't have a furlough scheme like the UK

There's something similar - the Paycheck Protection Program. It loans companies and non-profits with fewer than 500 employees 10 weeks of payroll and benefits costs, then forgives the loan if that's how they've actually spent the funds. The net effect is that it lets them keep employees on and working to the extent allowed by lock down rules at no cost for 2.5 months.

It was funded with $350 billion and they're about to add another $370 billion.

Senate nears $370 billion deal for coronavirus small business loan programs

Actually it's $600 per week on top of normal unemployment benefits, which can be up to $470 per week.

Wow - that is amazing! 1000+USD/week is considerably more than the average wage in most European countries.

This popped up on my Facebook page today and I thought I'd put it up here to provide some balance, there isn't one view in the USA anymore than there is in the UK.

It is a bit baffling to us Americans that we keep being told by people from other countries that we have no safety net, and that we can't afford to lose our jobs right now.

I'm self employed and so far...

I was offered an EIDL grant
I was offered a forgiveable PPP loan of 2.5 times one month's average payroll
I am due a $1200 cheque from Donny
I will qualify for $4800 a month unemployment insurance if my business does drop to nothing

Don't spoil, it, HoldMyLobster ... to some, you're all supposed to be uncaring bast**ds, concerned only about money and preserving white privilege, and the reailty isn't always welcomed

@HoldMyLobster I think people are thinking about the longer term. If you lose your job what will happen to you in a years time. If you have to take a much lower paid job what will you do? How much excess do you have to pay for standard medical procedures? Can the poorest actually afford food, shelter and healthcare?

@HoldMyLobster I'm not sure about all the ins and outs of partial employment (or if thats even the correct term) but a quick google search has told me that 'If the pay cut is related to the COVID-19 pandemic, you should be able to get some financial assistance' ... which has been my experience. I guess it may vary state to state though? (I'm in IL.)

How much excess do you have to pay for standard medical procedures?

My medical insurance, which is pretty good, pays for 80-100% of the cost, depending on the procedure and has a $500 per person deductible. Once the deductible/excess has been met for the year everything is covered at 100%.

As for losing a job, structural unemployment is lower here than in the UK and because the regulation is lighter employers are more willing to hire. So I think it's easier on average to find a new job here.

@midwesteaster - great picture, thanks. I know some really bad ass nurses.

Interesting about partial unemployment.

My state site says "If someone was working full-time and has had their hours reduced due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and if their gross — or untaxed — wages, including tips, are less than the weekly unemployment insurance amount they would receive if they were unemployed, they may qualify for partial unemployment insurance."

That's really good to know. I haven't lost any major clients yet but if I do then I may well apply.

@WhyCantIThinkOfAGoodOne can the poorest in your country easily afford food, shelter and health care? The way you make it sound no one must struggle in the UK. You act like our country has no provisions for poor people. Food Stamps, WIC, Section 8, Medicaid just to name a few.

It strikes me that the people saying thank goodness I don't live in the US have limited experience of the world beyond the West. They might ruminate on the protection afforded by a Constitution, the relationship between the citizen and the State. They might contemplate what lockdown looks like in countries which don't have one and whether they would rather be in a liberal democracy or elsewhere during a period where authoritarian measures are increasing everywhere.

How much excess do you have to pay for standard medical procedures?

None for me. I am over 65 so have Medicare. I do pay for a supplemental policy from a private insurer to cover what Medicare doesn't. But with that I have no co-pays at point of service.