Unemployment benefits update

I got a call today from an Employment Department worker! The phone number said it was from Albuquerque, and the only reason I answered it was that I was expecting another call at that time. When the expected person did call I checked in with them and said my apologies and I would call them back in a few minutes!

He told me they're doing the process in steps, assigning everyone the minimum benefits and then a few weeks later (!) sending the cases to the people who adjust the benefits based on income. So my case is finally ready to be sent along. He verified that they have my taxes, they have all my weeks of claims, the way I've been reporting income is okay (even if people paid in advance, I report the income when I do the session), and I will get a back check in a couple of weeks. Yay!

It feels so much better not to be facing a blank wall where I've already done everything I can do and I'm just not getting a response. (I have a lot of trauma around scenarios like that.) So relieved!

Thank you all for your comments and suggestions on my previous post. It was lovely to have camaraderie in the face of uncertainty.

I don't know if contacting an Oregon representative nudged the process, but it certainly didn't hurt. I have been enjoying the daily newsletters I signed up for from a couple of representatives, as sanguinity suggested. They are caring as well as informative.

Links: on the lighter side

Robin Wall Kimmerer: 'People can’t understand the world as a gift unless someone shows them how' interview by James Yeh. Robin Wall Kimmerer is the author of Braiding Sweetgrass.

In Iran, isolated musicians perform from rooftops compiled by Balaram Menon. From April 18, 2020. Gorgeous photos.

To Each Their Own Demons, story by Midnightmooncatcher, art by Kiriani. A lovely webcomic about a pair of Black gay guys getting together. Episode 3 is not out yet, so we don't know how it ends.

JustSeeds free downloadable graphics on the themes of Black Lives Matter, Disband the Police, etc.

Seven years later, I bought a new Macbook. For the first time, I don't love it by Carlos Fenollosa. This one is more for my own reference. I have one of the older Macbooks this guy loved, and this is a reminder that I don't need a new one, since I also love it.