Losing Your Benefits - Don’t Make These Mistakes

Kimmar, these are questions that you need to ask your state's unemployment office directly. It is the only place where you can be sure that you are getting accurate information. Their contact number is 1-800-593-7660.

Hi folks,
I recently became unemployed in Maine. Can someone please tell me how many searches are required weekly for my work search log? Also, how many days a week we're required to search for jobs? Do I need to speak with a manager to ask if a company is hiring? Do you need to request their permission to enter their names and company info on your work search log? There is so much I dont understand.

dconner71, In general, it's in your best interest to be wherever your job is most secure whether it is your present location or the sister location. You should contact your state's unemployment office and find out from them if you would be putting your eligibility for unemployment at risk by not accepting this offer. Choose your state from the list on our "Getting Unemployment" page to get started. If you decide not to take the transfer and are eventually let go due to lack of work, make sure you get that reason in writing from your employer.

tazguy66, contact the state of California's unemployment office and ask them if you need to accept a job this far from home. Many states have a limit in the number of miles from home that you are required to accept a job but I do not know what the specifics are in California. You need to find out from them. Take a look at this page (http://www.edd.ca.gov/Unemployment/Telephone_Numbers.htm) for a list of contact numbers.

Friday afternoon, i was approached by direct supervisor with what she called an offer. It is to move to our sister company to work with same pay but be on a 90 day probationary period. I have worked for this company for 5 years in January. I did recieve a write up about a month ago(first time). If i do not takethis offer i feel they are going to let me go due to what my supvisor stated that she does not evidence to keep anthor tech, the calls are just not coming in. I am one of the few senority employees left. If they are going to let me go, I just wish they would but i do not want to ruin my chances of unemployment benefits due to i turned downan "offer". Totally confused! What would you do? I just need advice. Thanks

I was laid off of my last job eight months ago and I was recently offered a job that pays more than my last job, which should be good. However, this job is 60 miles out of town. If I took the job, the length of the commute and the resulting amount of time I would be away from home would mean my wife would have to quit her job in order to accomodate our children and their schedules, school and otherwise. This type of upheaval in our family dynamic is not desirable either to me or to my wife. All that being said, would I lose my eligibility for unemployment benefits in California if I were to turn this offer down?

I have the same question as Angie Marie. I do not see a response to her question anywhere. What if you take a commission only job that does not pay for several months? Can you still collect unemployment?

MrSanza, This is a tricky question. In most states you are only required to accept a job making close to what your old job was paying you. In your case, you have already accepted the new job. You need to contact the Kansas Unemployment Insurance office and ask them this question. They should be able to provide you with a clear answer. Their contact information is available on this page: https://www.uibenefits.dol.ks.gov/ContactUs.asp

I have been receiving unemployment from Kansas for a few weeks. I was paid $16.95 hour when the business went under. My unemployment is
$243 week plus $25(?). I thought I had to accept any job I was offered due to the "have you refused work this week" question. I was offered a job at $9 hour with 25 hour weeks. The stress at this new job is really getting to me. It is a customer service job instead of my office assistant position I was at. It pays so little that I still qualify for unemployment. If I left this part time job would I loose all my benfits? I have only been there 2 weeks. I have been very actively looking for a more approbate position.

Bookkeeper, You need to contact the unemployment office in your state and ask them this question. Explain your situation to them and they should be able to give you a clear answer. Choose your state from the list on our "Getting Unemployment" page and you will be directed to the proper contact information. Here is the link: http://www.thebeehive.org/jobs/unemployment-101/getting-unemployment

I was employed by a CPA firm and was laid off in June. I qualified for unemployment and have been receiving regular benefits while I am actively looking for work. I have not been able to find a definitive answer to the following and, if anyone knows where I can find the answer, I would appreciate being directed to it:

If I start a new Corporation, and start collecting monthly bookkeeping fees from other small businesses as an independent contractor, and put the fees into the corporation, and work for the corporation without compensation until it becomes profitable after direct expenses, does the collection of the fees by the corporation which I own disqualify me to continue to receive unemployment benefits, even though I am working for the company without compensation?

TKO, contact the National Legal Aid and Defender Association and ask them to put you in touch with an attorney or legal help agency in your area that will be willing to give you some free legal advice/representation. They should be able to give you more guidance than I am able to.

schdyldy, Every state is different. You need to contact the unemployment office in Florida and ask them if you can still receive unemployment compensation from them or if you would need to apply in your new state.

I live in Florida, if I were to move to another state to look for work can I continue with my Florida unemployment until I find work<

I appolligize Carlos Torres if I came off a little abrupt.The situation I am facing right now is,I have no money for an attorney it would have to be pro bono.I had to cancel the $5.00 I had in my savings account,my automobile will not start because it is completely out of gas,that is not a joke it won't start,it is totally out,I am facing an eviction notice very soon so the only type of work I can except is within walking distance;note my feet are in terrible shape.The past two years I have had 4 job interviews and have been unable to recoup the money I used to make.Please refer me to a free attorney if there is such a thing.The website you gave me was good,but suggest a link,I am so desperate it is pathetic.Also,this is a very important question because I own my car,can the state take it to pay off the debt beause it is an asset.

tko, contact the National Legal Aid and Defender Association. They may be able to put you in touch with someone who can handle your case or give you a consultation for free or at a reduced rate. It can't hurt to try. Their contact info is available here: http://www.nlada.org/Resources/Contact

Thank you for the insight,but I really don't have the money for an attorney.In approximately two weeks I might be homeless,so trying to afford an attorney will be next to impossible.

tko, you should contact an employment attorney in your area. Take a look at our article, "Get Help Getting Unemployment." Of the groups listed on that page, I would recommend contacting the the National Legal Aid and Defender Association and ask them to put you into contact with someone in your area who can help. This issue is most likely too complicated for you to handle without the help of a lawyer.

I was receiving unemployment compensation EB and started employment at a temporary help firm.In seven weeks,I received one 40 hour work week.That 40 hours I worked was in my second week of employment,the remaining 4.5 to 5 weeks I was sent home 9 times or more(after 2 hours specifically 5 times,and 4 or 5 hours on other occassions),in which I verbally voiced my dispeasure about the lack of work to both the temp. service and the group leaders at the company I worked for.I was employed from 10/27/2008 to 12/10/2008,not one time did I volunteer to go home.During the month of December 2008 I received letters stating that I was qualified.One of those notices I was supposed to send the UIA all work performed since last receiving unemployment compensation,that information I neglected to send in to UIA. and 3 months past,I received a notice(03/12/2009) request for information relative to the possible disqualification and deniel of compensation.I provided that info. to cooperate with their request and gave specific info. stating I simply forgot to send them the form with work performed since last receiving benefits,along with the dates I was sent home early,and the reason for quitting.I quit work on 12/10/2008 for the following reasons;lack of work and for being sent home all the time and the fact that the situation showed no evidence of improvement.The job description on Michigan's Talent Bank advertized,40 hours,temp-to-hire after 60 days,Monroe,Mi.,and medical benefits after hire.None of the above was true.In fact many temps had been employed for up to 11 months.On 06/12/2009,I received a determination for the denial of benefits and restitution due for improperly receiving benefits in the ball park of approximately $7000.In the duration of that 3 month time period,I contacted UIA EB Unit several times,each time I contacted them I got different explanations that it took 6 weeks for a determination,a couple of times the phone operators told me 6 to 8 weeks,one said 6 to nine weeks.One of the conversations consisted of me asking them(UIA),what happens if I'm foung in the wrong and why I was given a check amount after certifying for benefits.They said by Law they could not deny the money until the investgation was done,then the explained that if I was in the wrong I would have to pay it all back.

Jonathan, take a look at our article, "Get Help Getting Unemployment" located here:http://www.thebeehive.org/jobs/unemployment-101/getting-unemployment/get-help-getting-unemployment These are legal organizations that can help you with your unemployment benefit issues.

I WAS RIP OFF OF MY UNE[LYEMENT THAT WAS OWE TO ME IS THERE ANYONE OUT THERE CAN HELP ME??????????

I'm currently receiving unemployment in CA and want to take a sales job where I will be paid on commission only. It may take me 2 months to get an actually paycheck. Can I still receive unemployment during that time?

Gene,

How was your phone call with your adjudicator? What state are you in? have you reached out your city's department? are you in a union?

-Wayne

Hey HelpmePlease,

Are you in the city of New York? you can call 311 and an operator can assist you.

-Wayne

I live in NY, I was laid off from a full time job in November. In July I moved into a place of my own and to cover moving expenses I worked a pt job for two weeks. The schedule was unpredictable and I was afraid that I would mess up my full time job so I quit. When I was laid off I told them about the pt job and now they are holding up my payments I have not been paid in over a month and a half and I have been looking for work. What can I do?

I resigned a BIE(Navajo students) teaching position in November, 2008 because the students were undisciplined, mean and the administration wouldn't support the teacher. All they were concerned about were maintaining student numbers. The students were using reverse discrimination and were trying to make me quit-which they did. Actually I was hired for a gifted and talented teacher which later was eliminated so I was put into a grade classroom of horrendous kids and no support. They threw rocks at me, poked me in the crotch area, swore and used profanity at me and were disrespectful to me as well as the rest of the teaching staff-unless the teacher was Navajo. Earlier another white male teacher resigned his fifth grade because of the problems I'm stating. Apparently, and I didn't initially know this, but the school is notorious for teachers quitting or being fired. Most of the staff are very stressed. It was unreal!!

I have tried to apply for unemployment but was denied because I resigned instead of being terminated. However, I have requested an appeal to get the unemployment benefits I think I deserve. An adjudicator phone call is scheduled for February 2(Monday) of 2009.

I have put in for substitute teaching to try and help myself financially.

Do you have any tips on the above concerns? I am 60 years old and will be 61 on March 23, 2009. Thank you. Gene Collins