How low-income women experience the unemployment insurance system
This article shares insights from Minnesota-based focus groups, revealing that low-income women navigating unemployment insurance often face confusion and uncertainty around eligibility, complex administrative processes, and additional challenges related to childcare, housing stability, and mistrust of benefit systems.
The article summarizes focus groups with 20 low-income women in Minneapolis–St. Paul who had experienced unemployment in the past five years.
Participants described confusion about unemployment insurance (UI) eligibility, difficulty applying due to childcare and housing instability, and frustration with inconsistent service. Many avoided applying altogether, citing complex systems, mistrust, and fear of benefit cliffs. The findings highlight how current UI structures fail to meet the needs of low-income women, especially those in nontraditional or unstable employment.
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