Unemployment Insurance benefits when no longer employed

by trudi_lynn » Thu Dec 11, 2008 07:53 pm

Unemployment insurance is designed to provide individuals some financial protection when they become unemployed through no fault of their own. These benefits continue till a specific period of time or until the individual finds a new job. The federal law establishes guidelines for the State unemployment insurance programs that in return provide the unemployment benefits.

Who is eligible for unemployment insurance?

The most important factor that makes you eligible for unemployment benefits is that you should lose your job not due to your own fault. If you lose your job because of your own fault you will be disqualified from unemployment benefits. You may also not receive unemployment benefits if you:

Quit your job on your own without a good reason
Are self-employed
Are involved in labor dispute
Are fired from your job as a result of misconduct
Resign from your job because of illness
Quit your job to get married
Quit because you want to attend school

How would you receive unemployment benefits?

Unemployment insurance benefits are usually paid for a maximum of 26 weeks in most of the states. However, if there is a high number of unemployment then additional weeks of benefits may be available. Benefits in many states mean that you can receive compensation that is half of your earnings up to the maximum amount available in each state. These unemployment benefits are, however, subject to Federal income taxes and you must report them to your Federal income tax return.

When should you file for unemployment?

You should file for unemployment benefits if you have been laid off for no fault of yours. The sooner you file the better for you since benefits might take 2-3 weeks to come. To be able to file a claim you will need the following:

Details like names, addresses and dates of employment of all your employers in the past 2 years
Your Social Security Number
Your mailing address with zip code
If you are not a US citizen, your Alien Registration Card
Telephone number

Some states also have a waiting period after unemployment benefits are claimed. Once you have your claim approved, you can then file weekly by mail or even a phone call.

Can you collect unemployment and disability at the same time?

To claim disability insurance you must be unable to work but willing. To claim unemployment you must not have a job but must be in a health condition suitable for a job as soon as you get one. Since both are in contradiction, you may contact your local attorney to help you in this regards. So, can you file for medical disability while collecting unemployment benefits? The answer would be a little tricky. It largely depends on the kind of work that is defined in the programs. Disability insurance is not directly connected to Employment Security Commission. This might be reason enough for you to file for medical disability while collecting unemployment benefits. However, when you file for unemployment you make an unspoken statement that you are ready and available for work (full time) and are willing to find jobs that suit you. On the other hand when you filed for disability, you state that you are unable to work (at all) due to a disability.

These two conditions have a huge disparity between themselves and hence it might be a problem if the Employment Security Commission finds out that you have filed for disability benefits while on unemployment benefits. You may not know but there can be various ways by which the Commission might get to now of this dual benefit that you are receiving.

If you are caught receiving and accepting both benefits, then you will be required to repay all unemployment / disability benefits because you will not be eligible. You could also be charged with fraud.

Total Comments: 101

Posted: Fri Jan 29, 2010 02:30 am Post Subject: disability / unemployment

i was on disability for a year (iworked at work for 17 years) then right when released my work laid me off and i received 6months of unemployment and now they won't give me anymore I believe because where the BASE PERIOD falls so if I do an appeal, will I be able to get paid...?

Posted: Fri Jan 29, 2010 10:42 am Post Subject:

Hi Veronica

I'm afraid it is true that you cannot collect unemployment benefits if you are not available for work after the birth of your baby. You may keep the child in day care or may even ask your mom to babysit. If it seems that you have made arrangement to look for work, it means you can receive as much benefits as you were getting when you were not pregnant

Posted: Fri Jan 29, 2010 11:05 am Post Subject:

Hi Sherry

Do I have to wait until I've been released from the doctor to file for unemployment?

No, you don't have to wait till you get released from the doctor. You can file a claim right away.

Also will my unemployment income be considered as work income when I apply for unemployment or only the hours I actually worked during the quarters required?

Your unemployment income is not your work income. The amount of money you receive from unemployment depends on what you earned in your base year.

Posted: Fri Jan 29, 2010 11:18 am Post Subject:

Hi onkeystone

First you need to find out if your state allows an extension of unemployment benefits. It it does, then you should ideally receive an official notification mentioning the option to extend your benefits. You may then apply by filling out the required forms from your unemployment office. Make sure you provide the required paper works. You may also apply for an appeal if you are denied benefits. This, you can do directly through the unemployment office or may hire a lawyer to help you. However, hiring a lawyer would make sense only if the compensation you receive is high.

Posted: Tue Feb 02, 2010 03:09 am Post Subject: permanent disability

i got approval for ssa permanent disbility and my waiting period will end in march 2010.also i still got some $7000
balance on my unemployment.i stop collecting unemployment because of the 5 month waiting period of ssa.

Posted: Wed Feb 10, 2010 03:32 am Post Subject: UI Benefits to Disability

I am living in California! I am currently collecting UI Benefits which will run out ten days after my baby's due date! I would like to make sure that I will qualify for State Disability Insurance for post delivery as soon as my baby arrives? I hope you are able to to answer this question!

Thanks~

Posted: Sun Feb 14, 2010 12:37 am Post Subject: UC and SS

I was laid off in June 2009 (factory closure) and am collecting unemployment comp. (also eligible for TAA and TRA). I will be 65 in April 2010 and will begin collecting social security on April 1, 2010 and be covered by Medicare (covered by employer's group plan until March 31.) Can I collect both UC and SS at the same time in Pennsylvania?

Posted: Mon Feb 15, 2010 12:43 pm Post Subject:

Can I collect both UC and SS at the same time in Pennsylvania?

I doubt it...to collect unemployment you have to be looking for employment, and eligible for employment. if you are on SS (retirement), pretty much ANYTHING you get other than SS would be offset..so even if they did allow it you wouldn't be getting any more, because SS would reduce your SS payment by the amount of Unemployment you are receiving....double check this with SS but I'd bet this is correct.

Posted: Wed Mar 03, 2010 03:55 pm Post Subject: help!!!

My friend was recieving unemployment and now is in the hospital for an undetermined amount of time he can no longer file for unemployment because he isn't actively able to seek work the doctor suggests that he file for disability where would someone go to do this and does his umemployment end also if he was told to file a FMLA(family medical act papers)?

Posted: Sat Mar 06, 2010 03:46 am Post Subject: health coverage

Do unemployment provide any kind of health insurance/benefits?