‘Doesn’t pay to get old in Illinois’

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Updated: January 22, 2012 8:14AM

What can Brown do for you?

Besides delivering any last-minute packages, that is.

It seems many readers want Brown to give them a chance to add their two cents to last week’s column about Ellen Levine, the 71-year-old Niles woman who honked off about her unemployment benefits being reduced because she receives Social Security.

Levine wants to repeal the state law that creates this disparity, and I’m only too happy to connect her with other troublemakers looking to raise a little hell in Springfield.

“I lost my job one year ago in November. I worked at a bank letting people in their vaults for over seven years. Loved my job. I filed for unemployment and was told I would receive $134 a week. Because I am receiving Social Security, it was reduced to $21 a week. Now last week I received a letter from unemployment that my benefit will be reduced [again] because of the 3.6 percent raise in Social Security. Can you believe that? This is an absolute disgrace!” — Lois May, Belmont Cragin

“This is a total discriminatory practice against senior citizens. Social Security benefits only cover a portion of what many of us were making while working. In its warped wisdom, the state of Illinois further degrades us by saying we are only able to receive a portion of our unemployment benefits. Senior citizens are still hanging on to the principles that we were brought up with — work hard, pay your own way. The economy is forcing us to work more years than our parents. We still want to remain productive and independent in our later years. But with the economy, limitation on available jobs and discriminatory thought process of the state of Illinois, it appears that the deck is not stacked evenly.” — Andrea Duval, Plano

“I along with others were dismissed from our jobs at the Art Institute telefund department in the spring of ’08. No reason was given other than the work we were doing was outsourced to a company in California. Several of us who were collecting Social Security were refused unemployment compensation. Ellen was lucky she received her $70.” — Donna Walters, North Side

“I was working as a part-time adjunct professor and lost my job in 2010 due to low enrollment. I applied for unemployment insurance and couldn’t believe that I only qualified for $17 a week because I was receiving Social Security. It was such a shock to me. At the age of 73 (I’m 74 now), it is not easy to get work, but I kept looking. By the time I was called for a job, my car was repossessed the day before, which meant I could not take the job. It is still hard to believe senior citizens are treated this way by the state of Illinois, and I try not to think of it too much.” — James Barakaat, Chicago

“Please tell Ellen Levine I will help her in her struggle to get the Social Security offset reversed. I am also an unemployed senior who lost my job two years ago. I have been hopping mad about the offset ever since. My local unemployment office notified me the state would keep half my unemployment because I was eligible for Social Security. As I’m sure you know, it is difficult for anyone to find a job in today’s economy, but if you are a senior, it is next to impossible. I resent that Illinois is one of only two states in the country to impose this offset. I have lots of time and a burning desire to right the wrong that the offset represents.” — P. Bartolomei

“After 23 years on the same job here in Chicago, my position is being eliminated at the end of this month. While also receiving Social Security for the past seven years (now 72), I am shocked to learn how this poor woman got blindsided with this highly discriminatory Illinois law. I, too, will be applying for unemployment insurance next week. While counting on getting full benefits while I try to secure another job, I have now learned through your column that I will be lucky to receive 35 percent of what I thought I was entitled to. WHAT A JOKE! Obviously, it doesn’t pay to get old in Illinois.” — Bert R. Peterson, Chicago

“It’s about time. I’ve been waiting to connect with like-minded sizzling sensational seniors. We seniors are fed up. Most seniors don’t realize what power we have. We could vote you in or take you out!” — Cathi Watson, radio-television host

When these folks start sizzling together, I’m thinking somebody might get burned.