'Something Has To Give': Options Limited As Unemployment Ends

PROVIDENCE, RI — This week marked the end of extended pandemic unemployment benefits, leaving millions of Americans with limited options. Here in Rhode Island, 80 percent of unemployment insurance recipients lost their benefits, including one woman trying to stay afloat during the pandemic.

For years, Sierra Jones proudly worked full-time. After she was diagnosed with a rare chronic condition that causes muscle weakness, that was no longer possible. Along with the complications from her illness, disability benefits come with strict income thresholds — if you work too much, you no longer qualify.

Before the COVID-19 pandemic started in March 2020, Jones worked at several part-time, low-impact jobs before joining the hospitality industry. Jones's employer, which Patch has not disclosed for privacy reasons, was extremely accommodating of her disability.

Just before the pandemic hit, Jones was offered a new position in Las Vegas, Nevada, where she relocated ahead of her start date. Then, the world changed.

Jones was able to apply for unemployment benefits during the pandemic through her previous employer. The weekly bonuses of $600, then later $300 per week, were a lifeline, she said, that "kept [her] afloat" financially.

"The 'extra' $300 wasn't really extra," Jones told Patch. "It kept me from going completely under."

Fast-forward to this week. With federal unemployment benefits ending, Jones is left without many options. Working full-time would mean losing her disability benefits, and most jobs are too physically taxing for full-time hours. That leaves part-time work, which leaves her unable to re-apply for unemployment benefits in the meantime.

While many people say that "no one wants to work anymore" and that jobs are easy to come by in the current market, it's not as simple as it seems, Jones said. Because of her disability, she can't just apply to any job posting she sees, and many employers won't move forward with the interview process after she discloses that she'll need accommodations on the job.

"I'm not turning down suitable work, the work is not suitable," Jones explained. "It's not that easy [to go back to work]...I've gone on plenty of interviews."

Jones plans to return to work with her former employer, though she had plenty of hurdles to contend with even before her unemployment benefits ran out. With the housing market red-hot, it's been next to impossible to find an affordable place to live back in Rhode Island, she said, and she'll need "to play the catch-up game" with her finances once she's back at work.

Speaking to those who might write her off as "lazy" or unwilling to work, Jones simply asked that others put themselves in her shoes.

"There are plenty of people who want to work," she said. "No one asked to be disabled, and we shouldn't be penalized for it ... I can be just as productive as an able-bodied person."

Jones called it a double standard that relief funds for businesses like the Paycheck Protection Program were seen as important factors in keeping the economy going, but "when you were getting $300 or $600 [in added unemployment benefits], you're being lazy ... Something has to give."

Even as Jones prepares to head back to work, the coronavirus pandemic rages on. Working in a public-facing hospitality job, she's worried about safety measures, and wishes indoor mask mandates were still in effect.

"At the end of the day, I have to protect myself," she said, adding that she plans to purchase her own masks, gloves or disinfecting wipes if needed to feel safe while on the job. "We can't control who comes through those doors ... I still have to work."

Read more: 80 Percent Of RI Unemployment Recipients Lost Benefits This Week