Robert: From Commission-Only to Nothing

Robert spent years working to build up a business he could be proud of and take care of his family. His work as an independent contractor for the insurance company Aflac, helping small businesses develop and institute benefits packages, was rewarding and successful—that is, before COVID-19. Now, most of Robert’s clients are closed, and he hasn't earned money for months. “My income is commission-only for the people that I enroll, so I haven’t had any income since March,” he said. 

Robert is the breadwinner for his family, including his daughter Patty, his partner Wanda and her two adolescent sons, Zach and Jacob. Wanda has chronic health issues that prevent her from working, and although Patty is still working as a caretaker for the elderly, her income is not enough to sustain the family. “She is making just enough to pay her car payments and insurance, and a little bit to keep the lights on. Other than that, everybody relies on me. So I was starting to go a little bit insane,” he said. 

Robert has finally begun receiving unemployment after enlisting the help of his state representative in Illinois. “He actually interacted on my behalf, as he has for dozens of constituents, bringing our cases to the unemployment department and trying to get action. But that took a month,” he said. 

The $500 emergency payment helped Robert to keep his family in their home while he waited for unemployment and tried to keep his business afloat. “It went directly to rent, and our landlord. Which helped him out because his income depends on the rental property. If I am not able to pay him, he is also struggling. So you helped two people, two birds with one stone,” he said. 

Robert was a SaverLife member before the crisis and says that the tools he has learned helped him when his income dwindled.“It has really come in handy on several occasions for me. It is one of those things you lean on, and it definitely helps when things start to get really tight,” he said.