Unemployment Putting Stress On Lives

While unemployment claims have declined the last few months, many are still struggling to make ends meet.

At waay tv dot com.

New information on unemployment in alabama.

According to new data released today - last week's initial unemployment claims in alabama fell to the lowest number since march 14!

But - it's still more than 4 times higher than it was in march.

77 hundred alabamians filed for first time benefits last week.

The march 14 number was about 18 hundred.

The department of labor says about 4 thousand of last week's claims were related to the coronavirus pandemic.

While unemployment claims have declined the last few months -- a lot of people are still struggling to make ends meet.

Waay 31's casey albritton spoke to people who are actively filing for unemployment and learned how they are trying to get their lives back on track.

Natasha zeno/parent "i had to forfeit my car, so we lost one car.

My husband works full time and he has to take care of all the bills now."

Natasha zeno has four children, two of whom are high risk for coronavirus-- natasha zeno/parent "i don't have child care like i used to before covid, so they had to actually let me go."

She's now been unemployed since march--and regularly files for unemployment.

Natasha zeno/parent "i only get a little over 200 a week and with four kids and everything they need and our bills, i mean it helps, don't get me wrong, but it's still really, really stressful.

You pay the bills and you don't have anything left."

It's something niadga reine is also dealing with.

Niadga reine/ resident "to finally be able to start working and have that ripped away from me, it's heartbreaking."

She used to work for the cardinal school in madison-- which helps children with learning differences.

Niadga reine/ resident "since we were a non-profit organization, we didn't have a lot of kids and because of covid, they only had a few kids come back."

She was let go back in april.

Niadga reine/ resident "it's easy to slip into that mindset of depression, because it's so nerve-wracking to see how many people are unemployed."

Zeno is working to find child care for her four kids--and both she and reine haven't stopped looking for new jobs.

Niadga reine/ resident "i'm praying.

I have to stay optimistic."

Nationally - 840 thousand amercians filed initial nationally - 840 thousand amercians filed initial unemployment claims last week.

That's slightly down from the week before - but still 4 times higher than before the