Unemployment 101

i need to work it hard to find a job and i go to school full time

I had a fact finding interview on the phone last Monday answering why I was fired and then they called my employer and when he fired me he said, "I'm gonna have to let you go, its just not working out." He told the employment office that he let me go because I had lied on my application and that I was a felon. I have been charged with a felony before but never convicted and the application says "convicted of". Will this keep me from being accepted for unemployment benefits??

what is the porcess in which we have to optain/achieve to qualify for unemployment?

Raecast and everyone else looking into school as a way to better your career, I would first recommend that you take a look at our Paying for College section as there are a number of ways to pay for school. I would also advise you not to be scared of student loans. Federal and state funded student loans are available to almost all students. You may be intimidated or put off by the idea of putting yourself in debt to go to school, but the truth is that as long as you stick to federal and state funded student loans and as ling as you complete your schooling, you should be able to graduate and qualify for a job that pays you enough to improve your living situation and still pay back your loans. Most federal and student loan payments are reasonable and you are will also be getting a much better interest rate than if you want through a private lender. They will also work with you for reasons of financial hardship.

Quick question. If I get approved on monday 2-1-10 for school which starts 2-22-10, and the company that I got laid off from calls me back am I obligated to go back to work or can I tell them that I am enrolled in school? Thank you in advance....

I am currently on Unemployment in CT, I have a opportunity to take a part time for 20 hours a week at 30/hour for a total of 600. I will be getting paid via 1099. How does this effect my unemployment I get of $ 532 per week?

Hello my name is tonya and i was laid off also. No you will not loose your benefits if you go back to school. you just have to make sure that the school you decide to go to will be accepted by unemployment. I would ask some of the students before deciding to enroll in any school, But you loose your unemployment for maybe a few weeks until you return the approval form they send to you.

I need a job ASAP

I been unemployment for 2 year now. please help me out thank you

Hi all! My heart goes out to each and everyone one of you. I too am unemployed. I lost my job in August of 09. My whole department was outsourced, but since they outsourced my job to a local company before sending it overseas I don't qualify as Trade affected. I was with this company for 7 years working the the same department. My skills are virtually zero excecpt for some light proofreading and data entry skills. It seems as if the only jobs out there right now are the ones for people with degrees or can do fifty billion things at once and have lots of computer software skills. So I am trying to get back to school but need to find out if I can still collect unemployment while in school. Alot of things I am reading say you will lose your benefits if you attend school while on umemployment. I am so frustrated because it seems like the only way I can get back to work is to go back to school and acquire a degree or trade of some sort. My state offers a program called WIA(Dislocated workers program) and they are paying for funding to go back to school. The problem is that they have a waiting list of up to a year. So I am at the bottom of that pile right now waiting in line. In the meantime I watch the unemployment rate rise in TX and continue to send out resumes for jobs that I don't really qualify for. So I am in the same boat with everyone else. If you have a job hang on to it for dear life and make them fire you or lay you off. I pray this unemployment thing gets better soon. Hang in there everyone! Don't lose hope! I am not going to. There has to be some way to get to where we need to be.

Dena81, unemployment benefits are usually granted based on if you are working, not when you are getting paid. You should contact your local unemployment office and ask them this question, they are the only ones that can give you an accurate answer.

MJ, you need to contact your state, explain your situation in detail and let them make the final determination. Generally, you cannot qualify for unemployment if you have turned down work, but every state and every situation is different. Contact your state's unemployment office.

DebbieH98. It could very well be that the holiday mail is slowing down your certification letter but there is no way to know for certain unless you contact the state of Illinois unemployment office. They are the only ones that can answer this question accurately.

Two others asked this question and received no answer.

I just received a job that pays monthly. Can I be able to still get my unemployment if I show evidence I will not be paid for a month? What can I do? Please, please, please answer!!!

I work for a company that supplies on site calibrations to a auto company. I worked in the financial end for the department . My job has been eliminated, but my company wants me to replace another person. This job that I would be taking over is a less qualifying position, its below my job skills. Do I have to take it or can I quite and collect unemployment. If I can't collect unemployment I'll take this other job, I'm 60 years old.

I filed for unemployment in Illinois & was accepted, 1st check came, then came the Statement of Certification with my confirmation # and next date to call. I did so on 12-23-09. I received my direct deposit on 12-25 . I have yet to receive the next statement of certification letter. When it asks you in the teleserve menu how much you made in the weeks I was eligible for benifits i gave a different answer than before. I work a part time job and do not make over the alloted amount I can make and still receive benifits.
Ist certification I made $112.00 per week. This certification I stated I made $124.00 per week. Still way below what I am allowed to make. Culd this have somehow stopped my statement of certification letter from coming? Or could it just be the holidays holding it up.
I am to certify again on Jan 6 thanks

Lanctbry, certain factors are involved, such as if this is a mandatory retirement or are you doing it voluntarily. Fill out an application, be honest about your retirement and see what they say. There is never any harm in filling out an application. The worst that can happen is that they say no.

I am retiring from M&m Mars on the 31st of December. I won't draw my retirement check till Feb. 3rd, my birthday.
So I would like to draw intill such time as I start recieving my retirement checks.

Susie63, you should contact the unemployment agency in Texas and ask them this question. They are the only ones that can give you an accurate answer.

Jenica, you should look into government assistance until you and your family are back on your feet. This site: http://www.govbenefits.gov/govbenefits_en.portal has information on all sorts of federal and state government assistance programs.

My daughter has worked in a medical uniform store for about 3 years. she worked last Saturday 10 - 5. When she drove by the store Sunday (the next day), she saw that all the merchandise, fixtures, registers, etc. were gone. she contacted her boss (the owner) and the owner told her that she closed the store and had to get everything out over night before someone else that was suing her took it. she told my daughter that she was planning to call her before the next morning when my daughter was supposed to go in. My daughter worked Monday thru Saturday every week. Her employer told her that she was going to pay her to the end of the month. Her last paycheck was on the first. She is owed money for the hours she worked from the 1st to the 5th. Now her employer is telling her she is going to try to pay her as much as she can, but may not be able to pay her until the end of the month. Does her employer owe her for the entire month because she told her she would pay her, or can her employer go back on her word.

I just received my first continued claim form. Is there a minimum number of jobs to apply for in order to maintain eligibility? There are lines for 10 job searches.

I am trying to find out some info on unemployment. I work for a Texas Company doing construction work all over the U.S. When I was hired 3 years ago we were not paid perdiem. We leave Texas in a company van with our foreman and travel to job site. When we get to the out of state site we get a hotel room. We all share one room because it is cheaper. We have always been allowed to work overtime to offset the fact that we receive no perdiem. Sometimes we work 70 hours. About a year ago our company started limiting the amount of hours we could work but still gave us no perdiem. For the last 6 months or so we have been limited to 40 hours a week. The only money we recieve in addition to our hourly pay is .30 cents per mile . This week several of the employees refused to go out of town, saying they can not afford to go and pay for a hotel on only 40 hous. Our boss is threatning to fire them if they do not go. The boss says they will not be elgible to get unemployment because they are refusing to work. He says when they got the job they knew they would not get perdiem and the company never promised them a certain amount of hours. If he does fire them will they be elgible to get unemployment? If someone knows the answer I would appreciate it. Thanks

i would really like to have my money to take care of my family plus im school now.i need not want if this comment should help me please let it.thank you and have a bless day.

i was a manager for 3 yrs and i have health issues but not not on dr orders yet then they want to drop me down to server because i use my ins and it makes the primerm goes up when i use it.?but i pay for it out of my check this like excuse i get.so they said untill i get a full release.so i feel like ive been fired . thats not a good excuse every one gets sick.i ve been with this company for six years.never been let go.this is excuse i get.more at least.they hired this guy back that had stole for them and sold the food at the flee market and i told on him so he does like me but they bring him back as a districe and he does like me so they got me out of that store.my money has been right and paper work ect.

HELP! My husband was on an Unemployment Claim from Nov of last year to Nov this year. It just ended, so we had to start a new claim and they just informed us that he ineligible due to not having 20 weeks of work. I think he had 12-16. Very bad year :( Is there anything at all we can do??? We have two kids, so b/c of daycare costs, I stay home w them, so as of right now, we literally have no money. Please, any and all advice is so greatly appreciated.

Elegantpauper, Yes, you should continue to claim your weekly benefits. You should always do this whenever you have a dispute with your unemployment agency. You should also take a look at our article, Get Help Getting Unemployment (http://www.thebeehive.org/jobs/unemployment-101/getting-unemployment/get...) for a list of organizations that may be able to give you free legal help with your issue. If you do choose to apply for a welfare program, you need to start by contacting your local office of Employment and Human Services which, depending on where you live, may also be called Social Services or Human Services. You can find it listed in the government pages in your local phone book.

where do you go, and fill out an, application for the welfare department I lost my job have no money . what can I do. Not getting unemployment I don't know what there, problem is
MAY 05/2009
I received in the mail a letter stating, that my EUCO8 BENEFIT RATE WAS $97.00 HAS BEEN EXTENDED BY $1.227.00 THEN IN BOLD LETTERS IN SAID (BENEFITS ARE PAYABLE FOR WEEKS THROUGH (JUNE 05,2010
AND ARE LIMITED TO THE AMOUNT ABOVE. NOW THEY TELL ME DIFFERENT. THAT I AM NOT , GOING TO GET IT.
I TALKED TO AN ADJUCATOR ABOUT A DIFFERENT ISSUE. HE CALLED ME. THE ISSUE WAS ABOUT ANOTHER AGENCY QPS THEY FOUND WORK FOR, ME AT (JRS) THEN HE TOLD ME THAT I WAS ALL SET . THAT I WAS GOING TO GET MY, UNEMPLOYMENT. A SPECIALIST TOLD ME . I WAS GOING TO GET A CHECK FOR 1 WEEK . PLEASE LOOK INTO IT FOR ME. I DON'T KNOW WHAT IS GOING ON. SHOULD I KEEP ON FILING MY CLAIMS AS I AM DOING NOW

I would like to know where, I can for help . I am having trouble getting Unemployment Benefits. Do you or someone know where you can go, to fill out a form for the Welfare department for help
my emergency unemplyment compensation Computation
Was sent to me on 05/20/2009

To everyone asking about EXTENDED BENEFITS here is a fact sheet from unemployedworkers.org. http://nelp.3cdn.net/92cd8ffd04881b449a_w4m6iiwvg.pdf
Certain states will offer 14 weeks of extended benefits and some will offer 20, depending on the unemployment rate of each state. Only those individuals whose benefits have run out after November 8, 2009 will be eligible. It may take several weeks or more for your state to implement the process for extended benefits. Check out the above fact sheet for more detailed information or contact your local state's unemployment agency. You can choose your state from the list on our "Getting Unemployment" page.

I left my job voluntarily in the middle of July 2009. I'm still looking for a job and its almost the middle of November. Because I left my job, I didn't qualify for unemployment in the state of PA. I heard from someone that after so much time and no success in finding a job, you could qualify. Is this accurate and what are the qualifications? Thx

DOES ANYONE KNOW:

Does the extension to unemployment benefits apply to people who are on their first round of benefits? I was laid off in August 2009 & my benefits end in late Jan 2010. I have not been able to find ONE person who can tell me if I will qualify for any extensions..and if I DO qualify for an extension, what exactly do I qualify for? 6 weeks? 14? another 26? I am in CA

Maybe people are saying that the ONLY people who qualify for an extension are people who already have received a 1st or 2nd extension. I've heard that some people are getting up to 79 weeks in CA.

What about those of us who are winding down our first 26 weeks of benefits? Do we get any extensions? What do we get & how do we make sure we can get it.

Thanks so much.

Hi

I ran out of my unemployment benifits and they sent me a claim form to fill out so i couold be extented for the extra 20 weeks i usually get a check the following week, but i have yet to recieve it. What is the problem? who could i talk to?

Quick question. I lost my job in Aug 2009 in CA. Me unemployment bennies will end in late Jan 2010. Does anyone know if I will qualify for an extension in bennies? The info out there is very confusing & I am not sure. And if I do qualify how many extensions are possible? I am hoping I won't need more than one extension which is (I think) 20 weeks.

If I do qualify for an extension how do I get it?

Thanks.

TO ALL OF OUR USERS: if you have lost your job and are in need of assistance, go ahead and file a claim with your local unemployment agency ASAP, even if you are unsure if you will qualify. It does not hurt you to try. Answer all of their questions honestly and accurately and let them make the final determination. The worst that can happen is they decide that you are ineligible. There is no rule that says that you must know that you are eligible in order to file a claim. No harm can come from trying as long as you are honest in your application.

Bowlo, you need to file a claim with your local unemployment agency and let them make a final determination.

molloy, you cannot qualify for unemployment if you leave a job willingly. Okellis, you sound like you should qualify, fill out an application with your local unemployment agency and let them make the final determination.

Hi i was laid off on October 23, 2009 from Quest Electric Corp. 2 South Street Mount Vernon NY i received $15 a hour i worked 71/2 hours per day 35 hours per week. I received my pay the same Friday only to hear that i was no longer working the company anymore within these claims i have made do qualify for the unemployment insurance

I was fired today but believe I am eligible for unemployment. Would like to see if you think so as well.

appx 120 days ago: Safety department holds meeting with all drivers (appx 20 people) of one particular vehicle for purpose of clarifying what should and should not happen/be done/not be done etc. in this particular vehicle.
Meeting did not include the other vehicle and there are just 4 regular drivers of it.

96 days ago: I was given a written warning (actually a final written warning even though it was a first offense) for smoking in the regular, 4 driver, company vehicle. One that has always been smoked in and continues to be to this day by the 3 other drivers.

Today: While driving a company vehicle, no smoking going on, I was attempting to park it while leaving adequate space away from a fire hydrant. I backed into a metal cage ( at idol speed). The cage received a minor dent, the vehicle received no damage, and I reported the incident immediately.
I was fired later today and told, " Although it has been over 90 days since the last incident, it hasn't been that long, and we are releasing you."

Your opinion..?..?

Hello all:

I have a question that i'm hoping someone on this site might be able to answer for me. I've been employeed for the last 10yrs with the same company and as of late I feel that the company is forcing me to quit so I can't collect unemployment. The company has cut back on marketing, Service for my clients have dropped off, my tech dept that does my installs has dwindled down to hardly no one and my days are filled with angry client calling me up telling me how horrible the company I work for is. Just to give you a litttle back ground the company I work for has landed a major account 3 yrs ago and it appears that all the attention is on that account which I have nothing to do with. I feel like i'm on a desserted island with no help and have brought this to the attention of the owner of the company numerous times but have got no where with him. I'm focusing all my time on damage control with my client that i don't get any time to do sales which is my primary job function. My question to all is if I quit my job at this point will I be able to collect unemployment while looking for a new job.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Dody, you need to contact your state's unemployment office and explain your situation to them as accurately as possible. They should be able to tell you if you are required to accept the changes or risk losing your eligibility. Take a look at our page, "Getting Unemployment" and choose your state from that list. Once you are on your state's website, look for contact information and get in touch with them as soon as possible.

I filed for unemployment at the beginning of September, I left my job due to health issues, I was constantly dizzy and having bad migraines which started October of 2008. My doctor was giving me letters stating I should be off, but they had not been covered under FMLA. I was admitted in the hospital for dizziness and blurry vision in January of 2009 for a little over a week. I then had FMLA approved so it saved me for the moment. My health continued to decline and I was back again missing days. I was giving another FMLA package that needed to be filled out by the Neurologist. I had a difficult time getting it from her due to death in her family and her leaving the country for a month. The time had come and gone and I still didn't get her to fill out everything they were asking, which was how many days would I need off when these spells come on. Since I was not able to get my primary care to do it for me by the time for the needed information, FMLA was denied. My jobs had already sat me down a lot before FMLA was approved stating that I can't miss anymore days even though they knew of my health risk and the help I was receiving from my cardiologist, neurology, and primary care doctor. I didn't know if I should step down and leave instead of being fired so I decided to leave. I applied and sent unemployment a letter from two doctors stating my illness; I received a letter from unemployment stating that I am being denied because I am unable and unwilling to work. I am able to work so I got one of my doctor's to write me another stating that I can work and a spreadsheet of jobs I have applied for and some of their responses. I resubmitted a reconsideration letter to Florida Unemployment Dept in Tallahassee. I also received a hearing date but I am hoping that my resubmitted letter will be enough so that I will not have to do an appeal. Do you think it is enough information to get a second look or should I prepare for the hearing?

I was hired as an Teacher's Aid in a Imagration Holding Facility now thay now they want me to work as a officer in the pods ( holding area ). I was hired to work Mon-Fri 7:30am-3:30pm now thay want me to work 8:00am-4:00pm and sometimes 4:00pm-12:00am also weekends which I am unable to do. If I don't accept this new changes I will lose my job. Can I reacive un-employment till I find another job?

Laura, it sounds like you have an argument for appeal and your best bet would be to appeal the decision. Take a look at our article, "Get Help getting Unemployment." Contact the groups on that page until you find an attorney willing to give you some free legal advice. You may even be able to get an attorney to go with you to the appeal. Have everything documented and, if possible, get statements that back up your side of the story from your two employers. Good luck. Here is the link to our "Get Help Getting Unemployment" article: http://pdx.thebeehive.org/jobs/unemployment-101/getting-unemployment/get...

Ellen, it sounds like you have an argument for appeal and your best bet would be to appeal the decision. Take a look at our article, "Get Help getting Unemployment." Contact the groups on that page until you find an attorney willing to give you some free legal advice. You may even be able to get an attorney to go with you to the appeal. Have everything documented and, if possible, get statements that back up your side of the story from your two employers. Good luck.

Ellen, you should speak with your attorney about the possibility of applying for unemployment benefits. He would be better suited to answer this question because he is much more familiar with the specifics of your case.

AFTER 9 MONTHS I HAVE BEEN RELEASED FROM CA DISABILITY AS PERMANENT AND STATIONARY, WITH PERMANENT RESTRICTIONS.
I AM 63 YRS OLD, AND THESE RESTRICTIONS PRECLUDE ME FROM SEEING WORK IN THE FIELD IN WHICH I HAVE WORKED ALL MY LIFE.
WHILE MY ATTORNEY WORKS THIS OUT WITH THE W C CARRIER, I AM LEFT WITH NO INCOME. DO I QUALIFY FOR UNEMPLOYMENT?
I AM ABLE TO WORK, JUST NOT IN SAME FIELD I HAVE ALWAYS WORKED. THANKS FOR YOUR RESPONSE AND SUGGESTIONS. ELLEN

Hello. I am currently living in missour, and I have a complicated situation. I was employed at a fast food restaurant for 9 months as a part-time employee. At that time, I was also drawing partial unemployment. Under the rules of unemployment you have to do a job search everyweek and if you turn down a more productive job (more pay), you will be dis-qualified for benefits. Well I was abiding to ther rules on a weekly basis. After 9 months on my previous job, I was offered a full time permanent position through a contract company as a In- Home Assistant (non-medical). The day after my employment with my previous employer, I was trying to fill out my weekly claim, but along with the weekly claim was a job application. One of the questions was about my previous employer and why I was no longer with them (fired, quit, etc..), but there was no tab on the application in regards to current. So the day after I was no longer with the previous employer, I put down quit. Well anyways, as I was working at my new job, Unemployment sent me a questionaire about why I quit my previous employer. When I got home (this new job requires 24 hour care 4 days a week), I filled out the information required along with a long letter explaining why I quit my previous job. I also gave them new information about my current employer. Well on my last day of the work week with my new employer, I was all of a sudden laid off due to lack of work. The lady that I was assigned to take care of decided not to use our services. So after I recieved my first pay check I re-applied for unemployment again. This is where it gets more complicated. After 2 weeks of waiting for unemployment, I recieved a phone message from the worker that was assigned to my case. She replied that I put down my previous employer as my previous employer, and that she knows that I quit because I accepted a new job. She then asked for the information in regards to my new employer and why I am currently not with them. I then left a voice mail message telling her that I am still employed but currently laid off due to lack of work. I also gave them the information about my current employer (Name, address, phone no.) The next day as I was looking at my status of unemployment claim it said that I quit and deny. I automatically called up unemployment and asked them why they put down quit, (assuming that they meant that I quit my current job). The gentleman in which I talked to told me to send a current pay stub along with a letter telling them to re-consider my case. I then sent them the information along with a letter to explain my current status. I then asked my current employer if someone from unemployment has contacted her. She said no. She then asked me for the contact no of my case worker. I gave her the information. 3 days after reviewing my claims status, I recieved a letter telling me that I was dis-qualified for benefits because my previous employer said that I quit for no good reason. The person in charge of my unemployment claim felt the same way and put on the paper that I quit and failed to provide proof that the new job was more remunerative. In other words, I had no right to quit my part time job and partial unemployment to a full time permanent position ( I assumed). Well of course, I freaked out and been stressed ever since. My question to you is that do I have a solid case to apeal there decission? I have been through the appeals hearing before and lost until I made 10 times the amount of unemployment. I also contacted my current employer the day after I recieved the letter asking her if she heard any word from unemployment. She said no and that she left a message to my case worker explaining what I have been explaining to them through the letter. I am desperate right now, as we are about to lose everything because I have no income. Once again. Do I have a solid case to Appeal there decision? Thank you. Laura

Hello to all
I'm new on the beehive site
I'm Adrian i read the comments on unemployment and started to wonder what i could do with the info.
i had a job working at a new store called DreamBikes in southern Wisconsin
they laid me off after about 9 months of working there. After that i did a few days of volunteer service there at DreamBikes and then quit because i didn't want to keep doing work for no pay.

Now I'm on the verge of getting kicked out of my moms home because I'm almost 18 (in 2 months) with the fear of being homeless without a job.
I am attending an alternative school that can help me get into MATC next year but i still don't know what to do in between time for myself.
I want a good paying job so i can save enough money to move into my own home soon.
If you think there is something you can do to help please comment with your ideas

THANKS BEEHIVE

Deb, Since your friend is unable to work due to an illness he is most likely not going to be able to qualify for unemployment benefits. His best move would be to apply for Social Security Disability or some other form of public assistance. Take a look at our article on Social Security and Disability. Here is the link: http://www.thebeehive.org/jobs/living-and-working-disability/social-secu...