Collecting Unemployment

[cschin4]

Have you ever collected? If so for how long? I am not sure I am eligible as I lost my job at the end of Dec. I found a new job but they don't need me to start unti mid March. Can I collect for this short time if I am eligible? How hard is it to apply?

[fruitbowlk]

I have collected twice. The first time I was unemployed for 8 months the second time I was unemployed 5 months. Since you aren't working you should be able to collect. You won't know until you try.

[fruitbowlk]

I have collected twice. The first time I was unemployed for 8 months the second time I was unemployed 5 months. Since you aren't working you should be able to collect. You won't know until you try. I don't know if every state is different but I was fairly easy for me to apply and get unemployment. I had to wait at lease a week or two before it kicks in. you have to decide if you want to collect since you are so close to starting the job.

[Like2Plan]

cschin4,
I believe each state is different. Congrats on your new job! I would think you would be able to qualify while your waiting. The best thing would be to go to your unemployment office for a consult so you don't miss out if you do qualify. You might want to Google for your particular state to get a little background info on it while you are waiting to go to the unemployment office.

[QuarterMillionMan]

When I was working as a plumber, collecting unemployment was a way of life and a known part of the industry. Work would be steady for, say 8 months out of a given year. After completion of the job everyone would get laid off and collect unemployment until the union could find new work. Sometimes the lay off would last longer than the 6 months (26 weeks) of unemployment benefits and there were no extensions back in the day. Nowadays unemployment benefits can last as long as 99 weeks, I believe. In general, a person won't qualify for unemployment benefits if they had quit or were fired for cause. Most other reason would qualify such as a reduction in work force, business bankruptcy, etc.

[snafu]

Before you apply for benefits you need to know and understand the eligibility requirements. There is likely a You Tube site for your state that outlines and discusses factors for benefits. 1st, did you and your employer contribute premiums for UI [insurance]? How many weeks of premiums did you pay in the last 12 months? Were you an 'employee' by definition whose hours of work, place of work and days of work were dictated by an employer? Was your employment severed by the employer or did you choose to leave or fired for cause?

Do you have any weeks of benefits from your last employer like vacation, paid in lieu of sick days, or some kind of benefit? Those all all subtracted from benefit days. UI entitlement is not back dated. It only begins after you complete the application process. There are requirements that you seek employment and document your efforts to obtain employment. You are not entitled to only seek employment similar to what you've been doing. You're supposed to seek any employment that you are qualified to do. It's up to a prospective employer to decide whether they wish to hire you in spite of the fact that you are over qualified for example.

I suspect if you apply for benefits and acknowledge you've been hired for work to commence in March you would be denied unless you can prove you have been actively seeking employment. The view is you might find a better job or you can take a job and quit when the other employment commences. No one is entitled to benefits just because they've paid into the fund, The legislation fill a book!

[cschin4]

I have actively been seeking employment. But, in my field it takes a long time to go through the credentialing process. So most of the time you can't start right away even if they need you.

[figuringmoneyout]

I've never collected. I lost my job last year but somehow still managed to not collect anything. That probably wasn't my smartest decision ever!

Congrats on your new job!

[cschin4]

Oh well, turns out I am not eligible anyway! My business is an S Corp of which I am a Corporate officer. So, even though I have conducted a legitimate business through 13 years and PAID into the system and was a W2 employee of my corporation, then i guess that doesn't apply to me. But, i thought i should look into it anyway.

[snafu]

in hopes of being helpful...

If you are not eligible for benefits it's likely you should have not be required to pay premiums nor should the corporation have been paying their share of premiums on your behalf. If I were in your shoes, I'd be requesting the forms for a refund of premiums for as far back as possible. It's helpful to your cause if the corporation does likewise. There is likely an on-line support group to help you work through the levels of bureaucracy and the 'NO's' you'll likely butt up against.

Different countries, different rules but I know there is a a huge group of folks here who have successfully appealed denial of benefits and request for rebate of premiums incorrectly charged. It's quite similar to IRS appeals for penalties that were charged without 'cause' or in conflict with the legislation. If you happen to live in a state whose congressional seat is up for re-election 11/14...I 'dask that EA to advocate on your behalf. They can monitor the paperwork through the channels. They can't do the paperwork or intercede or try to influence bureaucrats but they can monitor outcomes. You understand that your taxes pay their salaries so you are their employer.

EAs job description includes assisting constituents. It can't rely on your contributing to campaigns as that is against the law. In other countries people often remark that Americans seem to get the best politicians money can buy. What is so weird is that unlike non democratic states, it's the Pac's in charge...

[jpham540]

I never have to collect unemployment benefit yet. I can relate to quartermillionman, I worked in a sheet metal union and lasted for about 3 month. I saw so many people got laid off within that 3 month and was also sent home several time because of no work. Had another job offer in another state so picked up my stuff and moved on. Never went back to union again, been doing government contracting work ever since.

[Spiffster]

I had a few opportunities to collect unemployment but I was back in the workforce so quick, I never bothered. Im a systems admin. 5 or so years ago or the market was pretty saturated, but now sys admins seem to be in high demand.

[cschin4]

Well in my state you have to pay for this benefit you are not eligible for. The law is set up so the max taxes apply. On one hand I got a W2 wage. On another I am the owner. I jad a legit 13 ur business. But yet contracting companies can use unemployment as part of their business plan to hire and periodically lay off. So they can use the system in a way it wasn't intended to be used.

[QuarterMillionMan]

As jpham540 mentioned, getting laid off just comes with the territory in the construction industry. Pay checks were handed out like clock-work weekly every Friday afternoon (Union policy). If the company didn't have the funds to write the paychecks by Friday afternoon the Union would have the workers walk off the job before close of business on that same Friday. However, whenever I saw the boss walking towards me with an envelope in his hand on days other than a Friday (or sometimes on Fridays but the boss would have a different demeanor), I took a big gulp and knew that my final paycheck along with my "lack of work" papers were forthcoming and I knew I would be heading to the unemployment office the next business day. It was never easy getting the boot but it is what it is and comes with the territory in construction. I learned to just suck it up and move on.

[cschin4]

I agree it comes with the territory, but why does such an industry basically allowed to use this as part of their business plan and model? It seems this industry now has purposefully set up around doing just that rather functioning they way other businesses are forced too.