I do believe some people’s circumstances can occasionally justify collecting unemployment insurance—but overall, interviewers can smell it if one really wants to work or not, and as long as that benefit check is coming in, the attempt to get hired will mainly be half-hearted.
I’ve never been unemployed for more than 2 months, as well. I could never pay my bills on UE checks, so it was never an option for me. I struggled and worked hard to get another job... I do understand that not all folks on UE for 2 years are deadbeats, but I have to be honest, I haven’t met any. Everyone I know that is living on UE for 99 weeks is a deadbeat.. Just saying...I don’t know anyone that isn’t a couch potato existing in this way..