Comments on: What I’ve Learned About Unemployment in Massachusetts

By: Karen

Karen — Tue, 30 Nov 2010 14:06:34 +0000

Okay, made a mistake…. I thought the cut off was 11/30 but it’s 11/20. Did you just miss it? Don’t give up hope. I have been reading everything on another extension and watching every news report on it. They say there will be another extension, it’s just a matter of how long it takes for dems and reps to fight it out and pass it. It’s so unfair that some people collected for 99 weeks and some people get cut off at 26.

By: Daryl

Daryl — Tue, 30 Nov 2010 00:41:49 +0000

Answer to my own question: I went to Unemployment today. I was cut off at 26 weeks. There will be no more unemployment for me UNLESS Congress passes a 20 wk extension. They had you a tear sheet on fuel assistance and food stamps and send you out the door! I will be homeless in February.

By: Daryl

Daryl — Sun, 28 Nov 2010 21:28:31 +0000

I received notice when filing today that my initial 26 weeks benefits have been exhausted, although my check stub shows a balance of $2500. I was given a tel number to call for “possible” extended benefits. What is going on here? I plan on going to my local office tomorrow. Meanwhile I am having a melt-down.

By: Eric

Eric — Sun, 28 Nov 2010 03:08:18 +0000

Hi, Quick question for anyone. I have a job starting on the 5th of Dec. I get paid every 2 weeks from the job so my first check will be on the 22nd of Dec. Can I still collect unemployment until I receive my first pay check?

By: Cindy

Cindy — Sat, 20 Nov 2010 11:16:30 +0000

@Beth-I know someone in exactly the same predicament. Have you had any luck finding answers?

By: Crow

Crow — Mon, 15 Nov 2010 02:26:47 +0000

The last time I filed for unemployment, my claim was being “processed” for over a year, during which time I received no benefits, became temporarily homeless, and finally found work. I called the DUA repeatedly during this time, only to be told they couldn’t help me until my claim was completed. A year later someone was finally able to tell me I was denied, though they couldn’t tell me why. I was given the phone number of the person handling my case, who did not return my call.

I was laid off earlier this year, and for the first time ever got benefits, though I have applied a few other times. The website is normally down, and phone calls to the DUA office usually involve waiting for an hour or more before being disconnected. I don’t bother with the phone anymore, and when the website is down for a few days, I take a trip to the local office. While I’m glad to see not everyone has to deal with the same difficulties, I don’t see why it’s so hard to collect. I am a disabled veteran, and I’m getting too old for periodic homelessness. I am intelligent, capable, a skilled pilot, and experienced in designing and building machinery – but I don’t have a degree, making it very difficult to find a decent job. When did ambition cease to be an asset in this country?

By: Stacey

Stacey — Sun, 14 Nov 2010 23:56:05 +0000

Hi, I opened my first claim ever in my life in July this year. My benefit credit was approx 5600 and my weekly payments are 375 with the dependent credits. I am getting close to a zero balance and my last check should come around the 2 week of December. Will I be eligible for any of those extended benefits I’ve been hearing all about? From what Ive read, it looks like only those who exhaust their benefits before November 27th are able to apply for an extension. Is that correct? That will be so unfair if it is, because that means if I had ran out 2 weeks prior to when I will, I would be able to get about 20 more weeks, but as it stands, it looks like this last check is going to put me past the deadline. Can you pls clarify this for me and let me know if there is anything I can do once they run out?

By: Annie

Annie — Fri, 12 Nov 2010 03:15:10 +0000

I have a question about starting a claim while you’re working less than full time. I was on unemployment for 8 months when I took a full time contract job. I worked 40 hours/week for 5 months of the contract and then approx 8-25 hours a week for a month and a half before my contract ended. My last day of the contract I filed a new claim for unemployment benefits. When I started receiving my benefit checks they were for a lot less than I expected…it appears they averaged the time I worked so it looks like I’m only getting benefits for approx 30 hrs/week. Is it possible to go back and try to retro the claim from when I started working part time? I didn’t realize you could file a claim when you began working part time so I waited until the contract ended instead of claiming after the 5 months of full time employment.

By: Dave Atkins

Dave Atkins — Thu, 11 Nov 2010 22:12:12 +0000

@Chris – Mass will call your current employer to verify you did not quit. If you were a contractor/freelancer and there is no work for you now…no problem. If you quit a job…generally speaking, you are not eligible for unemployment. I think, since benefits expired, you would be opening a new claim, I’m not sure what you’d get. Don’t quit.
@MDS – go in person to a one stop career center and talk to someone there; that’s the best I can think of

By: MDS

MDS — Thu, 11 Nov 2010 20:09:38 +0000

I’m beyond confused about the system at this point. I’m a first timer with unemployment. I also know several others who’ve “collected” without issue. I applied on Aug 23, 2010. I’ve tried contacting the individual directly who is adjudicating my application for benefits. I’ve attmpted contact 3 different times. Car paymnent is coming, mortgage is already past due now and other bills are going to go unpaid. Am I being unreasonable by being frustrated when others who are “playing’ the system time after time are getting their checks? I have NEVER been unemployed which means I’ve done what I’m supposed to ahve done by putting into the system. This is how the system treats you when you finally need the help? Awesome, good to know…..any advice I’d greatly appreciate it..Ive never missed a payment on any of my debts…shockingly ever collector will be calling soon, I’m sure
Thanks everyone, and good luck to all…

By: Chris

Chris — Thu, 11 Nov 2010 17:33:37 +0000

I was receiving unemployment benefits from Mass. because I was employed by a company there but working from my house located in PA. as a remote employee, I was terminated by the Mass. company and my benefits just ran out, since then I accepted a job in PA. but it is not working out, I feel under qualified for the position, will Mass. consider an extension of unemployment benefits under these circumstances if I leave my present employment in PA, I have only been there a week? I have not yet informed Mass. unemployment of the situation. Please advise.

By: Moop

Moop — Mon, 01 Nov 2010 21:32:55 +0000

Definitely agree. I went to a MA One-stop Career Center (with the documents that they told me to bring when I called the center on the phone) and got everything set up in 20 minutes.

By: tim

tim — Tue, 19 Oct 2010 02:32:53 +0000

i filed a new claim on 9/3/10. since then i have been calling them and getting different stories on what the hell is goin on .i was on a claim last winter from the previous year which has now been exhausted and i am trying to open a new claim basing my wages on the last 5 quarters. they are telling me i didnt make enough money to claim which makes no sense because in these 5 quarters i have made 6 times the wages from 2 yrs ago. does anyone in that office have any clue what they are doin? i have had not a single peice of mail come from them since the new claim was filed and now the teleclaims center wont even let me call in to claim. my claim is out of state and all my wages were made in mass so they dont care or want to hear about it here where i live. I asked for a supervisor today and got a real nasty one who simply did not want to explain anything to me and politely hung up on me saying ” i am sorry there is nothing i can do sir”

By: Bren

Bren — Mon, 18 Oct 2010 19:23:27 +0000

Dear Deb,
If you have exhausted your tier 4 benefits you have to call 1-888-998-8418 the extended benefits line. You can call the main line also and be connected. You are moving to what’s called State/Fed’l EB. You will be required to submit your Worksearch Activity Log from now on. Call them and tell them you want to claim extended benefits. There should not be a gap between checks. If you missed a week they should be sending that to you. I did this last week. You may be on hold for a while, up to an hour. It is worth it.
You may be eligible for 20 more weeks. If you do not do it already, I would suggest having the cks. sent to your bank account by direct deposit. It took 24 hours to see the check on my account. Good Luck to all.

By: R Melan

R Melan — Sat, 16 Oct 2010 20:55:06 +0000

I’ve been out of work since May 2010. I understand I am allowed to work part-time and make 1/3 of what I’m collecting but how will this impact my benefits?

By: deb

deb — Thu, 14 Oct 2010 12:18:23 +0000

I have exhausted all tiers of benefits, and I believe I should be entering the EB stage. My last payment from tier 4 was on October 2, 2010. This week would be my first week applying in the EB phase. Would anyone have information as to how long it takes for this, as although I did file on Sunday and would typically see a a payment on Tuesday or Wednesday nothing has happened. Is there a waiting period for the EB?

Thank you

By: Heather

Heather — Tue, 12 Oct 2010 12:14:01 +0000

Hi-
According to the DUA website, my first check was deposited in my bank account today. My last day of work was Sept 3 and I received 2 weeks severance pay. So, there are two weeks between the end of my severance pay and the start of my first unemployment payment. I was told that pay is retroactive from the time of approval… so my question is… is there usually a delay in the retroactive pay or should I have gotten it with my first payment? I don’t want to call and bug people if this is standard procedure, but I am afraid to let it slide and then have it be too late to have it fixed.

By: Beth

Beth — Fri, 08 Oct 2010 03:14:40 +0000

Hey there…I have heard that working part time is a really bad idea. I am going to school full time and it’s approved through Section 30. Basically I have to exhaust all federal extensions before getting the additional 26 weeks for school. I am also doing a part time contract on the side, making roughly 1/3 of my weekly pay. What I am concerned with is that when I go to open a new claim in April (which will be the one year mark), they are going to base my new benefits on the part time work that I have done. Does that make sense? I am really concerned because I work part time to pay for school and if my benefits drop I won’t be able to afford to go to school. Any thoughts?

By: Brian

Brian — Sun, 03 Oct 2010 23:16:55 +0000

I had a hearing a couple weeks ago, and on Friday received the letter saying that they awarded in my favor, does anyone know how long it should usually take for me to receive the back pay of my benefit checks?

By: MJ

MJ — Mon, 27 Sep 2010 14:40:30 +0000

To SD,

Just call them to find out a status. That happened to me and when I called they realized they were late on sending out my checks and all of my checks were then sent to me.

By: SD

SD — Mon, 20 Sep 2010 18:44:21 +0000

I think I’ve found more answers on this website in about 10 minutes of reading than I have from hours of studying the unemployment website. I have a question for some of the more recent claimers. My last day of employment was August 27, 2010. I wasn’t allowed to file my claim until August 31. I received my initial packet that simply acknowledged that I have filed, but as of today, I have yet to receive my benefits determination form or any other mailings. I’ve claimed for 3 weeks now, with the first being my waiting period, so at this point I am already owed 2 payments and am getting kind of worried. The website says I should have received a benefits determination a long time ago and my first payment within 3 to 4 weeks. This is my first time having to file for unemployment. Is this type of delay normal?

By: Dan L

Dan L — Tue, 31 Aug 2010 01:18:29 +0000

I applied for MSP but because I was told it takes six weeks for applications to be processed, I had to pay out of pocket for two months’ worth of COBRA (totalling $2K for my family) while I waited. I’m in the midst of leaving messages at COBRA to see if I can get that money back seeing I found out today that I qualified for the MSP premium-free Blue Cross, which is retroactive to before those two months that I paid for. MSP said I can request to shift to the partial reimbursement plan, but I’ll only be able to get 80% back on my most recent month’s payment. Has anyone been in this situation? Do I even have a chance of seeing most/some/all of that $2K?

By: Bridget O'Reilley

Bridget O'Reilley — Fri, 27 Aug 2010 02:11:03 +0000

Does anyone know if your company closes down and violates the Warn Act and the former employees must be paid their weekly wages for 60 days, does MA consider this wages and can you collect simulaneously. I know California has an amendment that says Warn wages can’t be considered wages for unemployment claims, but what about Mass. Thanks.

By: Dave Atkins

Dave Atkins — Wed, 25 Aug 2010 18:14:47 +0000

I guess it is a personal preference–I felt like going in person to file the claim was more active and positive.

By: Cassandra Blout

Cassandra Blout — Wed, 25 Aug 2010 17:56:37 +0000

I stumbled across your website while researching some info regarding unemployment in Massachusetts. It’s kind of funny that you mention staying positive but your first tip is rather negative; “Don’t bother calling on the phone”. I was laid off last month and called on the phone. I had to try on two diff. occasions and wait 45 minutes to speak with someone to open my claim. After all I am unemployed and not working, so I have nothing to do for the most part. What harm does it do to wait on the phone? I understand you don’t have a landline phone, most people dont. Many people have unlimited plans so they could wait on the phone. I rather do that then waste time and gas to go in person and wait in line to fill out a form. We need to understand that there are countless other individuals in the state that have been released from work, so patience is essential.

By: Sylviana Mettiany

Sylviana Mettiany — Sat, 21 Aug 2010 22:47:14 +0000

Hi I need your help!!! Please I was working for over 6 year in a company I got lay off and I started to collecting unemployement benefits and I find a part time job. Wich I got really sick I didn’t went to work for 2 day . They thought I quit. They didn’t give more hours . I didn’t get pay for the last week to. Anyways it is being 4 weeks that I hadn’t get any unemployent check eighter. I am very confuce, I have no money I’m sick and I’m have no where to live because I have no money to pay rent can you tell me if it is anyway you can give an advice of what I can do please let me know.. I will really aprecite .. Thank you:-(

By: Dave Atkins

Dave Atkins — Fri, 13 Aug 2010 18:07:18 +0000

My experience was that when I re-filed my claim in 2010, the benefit amount was based on only the W-2 income I earned over the previous 4 quarters. As far as I can tell, self-employment income would not reduce your qualification for future benefits, and it does not increase them because you are not paying unemployment insurance. You do pay an extra self-employment tax, but I don’t believe any of that goes to the UI system.

By: Lisa

Lisa — Fri, 13 Aug 2010 01:38:34 +0000

My boyfriend is a seasonal landscaper…He works each year April – November, gets laid off and receives unemployment benefits (this has been the routine each year through the company he works for, for the past 4 years) . He is thinking of opening a DBA (also landscaping) to bring in come extra money during the work season. Our question is will the additional summer income affect his unemployment pay that he receives??

By: Maureen

Maureen — Thu, 05 Aug 2010 20:10:58 +0000

Yodel,

My BYE date was also 7/17/10. While the new legislation does have a provision for eliminating the penalty for part-time employment, the effective date is for claims ending on 7/24/10 or later. Because I worked part-time, as you did, we do not benefit from that provision. If Congress had acted earlier we would have been protected.

By: Yodel

Yodel — Thu, 05 Aug 2010 03:44:49 +0000

Hi, I have a question. I worked with the company that laid me off 1 day a week for the year I was unemployed. My 52 weeks of benefits expired on 7/17/10. Now the unemployment office wants to base my benefit rate for this next year on my working that one day per week which would cut my weekly benfit rate by 2/3. I think this has done away with by Obama signing the extension and that my benefit rate should go back to the original amount for the next 47 weeks that I am unemployed. Am I correct? Thank you.

By: gerald shyavitz

gerald shyavitz — Mon, 02 Aug 2010 18:28:43 +0000

I was employed part time in massachusetts. I left work amicably and they want me back. I left as my wife is ill and I need to be home temporarily and the distance to work is too far . the employer says I quit. is there a good cause stated here or what would be a good cause based on my fact situation?

By: Cindy

Cindy — Tue, 11 May 2010 18:55:26 +0000

Just wanted to let everyone know who may be just filing for unemployment. If you are going to receive the full amount of benefits…do NOT take a part time job. After you have collected for a year, they will re-figure your benefits based on that part time income. I didn’t receive a check for 9 weeks so had to take a part time job (being a single mom) and now my year is coming up in 4 weeks and I was just told over the phone I will no collect $60 per week. Of course I was approved to attend school for 7 months and was told my benefits would continue until I finished school…no one ever said at $60 per week. I may have been able to find some type of job that paid more than that had I not gone to school. UGH I am so angry!!

By: jackie

jackie — Wed, 05 May 2010 09:58:15 +0000

I’ve been waiting for 8 weeks now to see my first UI check. I got a statement about 2 weeks ago stating how much I will receive each week. Does that mean I was granted benefits for sure? I assume I would have heard otherwise by now but I don’t know who to ask. I’m dying here waiting for that money!!!

By: LVM

LVM — Tue, 04 May 2010 11:44:29 +0000

Hello Dave,
I greatly appreciate your blog. Would you, or anyone else, be able to advise if the permanent reduction in unemployment benefits after one year will occur if the money earned is due to contract or freelance work — as opposed to wages. Is it based at all on the amount earned? Does the fact that you are not technically employed, i.e. you pay all your own taxes, you cannot deduct any business costs, and you are completely legally liable for your work — does that affect the definition of “work” as it pertains to calculating the unemployment benefit after one year? Thank you very much.

By: Dee

Dee — Mon, 03 May 2010 17:07:55 +0000

I have a question about Disaster Assistance and was wondering if anyone was going through this now.I started a job 3/29 and the next day my basement flooded-Imissed two days of work bailing out and trying to get heat and hot water.The temp agency decided to end my contract because of my attendance.I didn’t qualify monetarily for regular unemployment and am stil waiting to hear if I will get disaster unemployment assistance.If anyone is goin gthrough this and has any idea ho wlong it takes to find out if you qualify please let me know!

By: Cindy

Cindy — Sun, 02 May 2010 15:01:44 +0000

I hope someone has gone through this and can answer my question. My initial 26 week claim has expired but I still have money left in my claim balance. When I filed my weekly claim it said my benefits have expired and I may be eligible for an extention. My question is what happens to the money left over? Will I get a check this week from the money left over?

By: CJ

CJ — Wed, 28 Apr 2010 18:32:53 +0000

Dave, thank you so much for this site! It's not my first visit, and as others have stated, I've learned more here than any other site! I also agree with others that the UE process is unnecessarily difficult and stressful.

As for why I am here--I have a complicated UE background, but essentially trying to figure out EB (and of course can't get through on the phone ever). Oh, and by EB I mean after the Tier I-IV extensions when you would need to submit a work search log. If you are eligible for it, does DUA contact you?

For the tiered extensions it was automatic for me--and now that my balance has been at zero for 2 weeks, I am wondering if I will get something in the mail or if I am just done. The system (when I certify) says: "Our records indicate that you have no benefits remaining on this claim. If you are still unemployed after Saturday, May 01, 2010 and you worked in the past 15 months, you may file a new claim."

Additional facts re: my claim: I was receiving the full amount of money, but for half the time (so a 6-wk extension only lasted 3 wks for me). AND, about 2 months ago I moved to California...

Thank you in advance for any info on EB!

By: Tasha

Tasha — Tue, 27 Apr 2010 23:33:17 +0000

Thank you Dave for this great site. Hoping someone can help with some explanation. I’ve researched all over online, calling UI office, going to the Quincy UI office many times & still can’t find an answer to my questions. All the UI office says we have to reopen my claim & go through ‘the process’ Here’s my issue. I had a full time day job for 7 years & a very part time evening for about 3 years. I was laid off of day job April 16, 2009 & laid off from evening job about 5-6 weeks after the 1st lay off. In those 5-6 weeks still working p/t job I did log in my wages at Tele-cert every Sunday. P/T job was 2-3 nights per week, 3 hr shifts & my wages were about $59-$89 for each week when still working there. So now I have re-earnings & UI has to renew my claim to see if I’m eligible for a new claim with my p/t wages that will get me maybe $50 per week. If I don’t have enough for a new claim they’ll keep me on my original claim. I had just received 3 checks from 2 Tier before my BYE, Benefits Year Ends, on April 16th, 2010. With our Congress & their deadlines for our lifelines I just made it into Tier 2. It seems that the date you get laid off depends if you get into a new tier or not. Crazy!!
I think my evening job was a Mortgage Co & not in business anymore. Their web site is down, their phone doesn’t work but UI says it has to send them a form to make sure I was laid off & not a quitter. UI gives them 30 days to reply & verifying my wage report. I called the UI Problem Resolution number & a woman mentioned they don’t see too much info about Mortgage Co including the wages I reported. How can they get any answers if the compnay isn’t there any more? Like Emily had posted that this is stressful, anxious & scary for all of us. Have no idea how I will pay the rent, going to food pantries & will go for Food Stamps. When I was 1st laid of I made $12 too much to get Food Stamps. So the questions is how will UI calculate my monetary letter, how much money if any, I will receive? I think the checks will be retroactive. Will they calcilate my benfits from when I started getting checks, from all wages in 2009 or using any open quarters I still have? Don’t think I have enough wages from 2008 as I just started the Federal Tier 2. If anyone has gone through something like this or any knowledge of what to expect I thank you in advance. I do want to let you know that the Problems Resolution is very helpful but this time they said the same, have to wait for the Process. Problem Resolution said I should know in 2-3 weeks but the UI office says 4-5 weeks. That will make homeless. Spending 7-9 hrs, 7 days a week checking all the job searching engines &uploading 6-12 resumes per day. Not sitting on the couch & watching TV. Looking for a job IS a full time job. I finally got 3 interviews a couple months ago. I was qualified for those Customer Service positions. When I showed up for my interview there were 5 people in front of me & after interview there were 5 people waiting. All younger, many College Grads & this was all for one job. I’m 54 years old but thought my 28 years of experience would count for something. Like all of us we need a roof over my head, paying utilities, car insurance & something to eat. I did hear that Senator Kerry is trying to change the working part time without huring our benefits when our BYE comes. Enough babbling. I would appreciate any input anyone has about BYE & how MA would calculate a renew claim with rearnings. Good luck to all of us.

By: Labor Flexibilty

Labor Flexibilty — Mon, 26 Apr 2010 22:16:34 +0000

Tanya – presuming your previous job was such that you are eligible for unemployement than once you have been approved you will be get the unemployment $ from when you applied going forward. (FYI – sign up for the online service, and if you have a bank account sign up for direct deposit) The drill is that once a week you report how your proceeding with your job search. If you get any work, i.e. income, during a week you report that. If it is over a threshold you don’t get any money and your claim is “closed.” If a bit later you fall back out of work you reopen the claim by calling up and talking to a (generally very nice) person. Reopening a claim get’s your money flowing again immediately, like the next day. I have no idea how long it takes before a closed claim can be easily reopened.

Note if you want answers from the unemployment folks you need to call, then call back on the day associated with your SS#, wait a long time – typically a half hour on hold – and then chat with the person about your question. So don’t do it from a cell phone

By: Tanya

Tanya — Mon, 26 Apr 2010 17:58:40 +0000

I have a question that so far have found no answers to. I was laid odd about 9 weeks ago, and still in the midst of seeing if I am eligible for benefits. I have yet to receive a check. However, now I have found a temporary job (with the 2010 Census) Im not sure what Im supposed to do at all. Do I close my claim or just keep reporting how much Im making when I file my weekly unemployment? I will be making more than the part time amount I am allowed. But the job is only about 6 weeks. Do I need to open another claim after this job ends? Any information would be much appreciated.

By: Nick

Nick — Mon, 05 Apr 2010 12:06:02 +0000

I was coming to the end of my benefits a week and a half ago. I called DUA to see about getting the Tier III (IV?) extension. I was told that I had to exhaust the money in my benefit account and then the next extension would kick in automatically when I went to do the online weekly filing. So, that’s what I did yesterday (Sunday). I filed for the week of 3/28 – 4/3/10. However the automated system did not do anything and my benefit banance remains at zero. The first day this week I can call DUA is Wednesday. Just wanted to check in and see if anyone else is experiencing this issue.
Thanks

By: Charlie

Charlie — Wed, 31 Mar 2010 10:44:21 +0000

Great site & article Dave.

I'm still unclear about how severance works. If my company lays me off Friday and gives me 1 month of severance pay (paid as a lump sum), when am I eligible to start UI benefits? On Monday, becaus it's the first week I'm not employed? Or after 4 weeks?

Thanks!

By: Pete

Pete — Mon, 29 Mar 2010 14:24:21 +0000

I do not get this anniversary business. I was in the middle of the first tier of my extended benefits when I was informed that my benefits were about to be exhausted. When they were completely exhausted, I called in and was told that I’d reached my anniversary and that’s why. Why does this override the extended benefits? It’s frustrating to me because I didn’t come close to exhausting the first tier, let alone the 2nd tier. Now they’re telling me to wait 3 weeks while they review my claim to determine if it should be new or extended. Can someone explain why the “anniversary” should override extended benefits? Thanks!

By: Tanya

Tanya — Sun, 28 Mar 2010 19:15:06 +0000

I did not sign up for direct deposit… does having it mailed back it up a couple weeks? Or just a couple days? Im just a bit confused since I never got any letters or calls from the UI office telling me i was approved for benefits. I just noticed this week I actually had a balance in my account.

By: Labor Flexibilty

Labor Flexibilty — Sun, 28 Mar 2010 16:17:19 +0000

Tanya, If you have signed up for direct deposit your first N weeks of $ should appear at some point in your account tomorrow.

By: Tanya

Tanya — Sun, 28 Mar 2010 14:23:11 +0000

Hi Everyone,

I filed for UI March 9th of this year. Ive been doing my weekly claim, waiting to see If ive been approved. This is the first week that I have a balance in my account.Does that mean that I have been approved? Will I start getting checks regularly?

By: Reilly

Reilly — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 15:15:16 +0000

Just wanted to give everyone an update on my temporary full time work along with 1099 work.

My claim will be closed and then re-opened when I am laid off again in 3 months. The 1099 work will not cause any problems because 1099 employers do not pay into unemployment. I can work 1099 simultaneously and even after I finish my temp full time stint.

I do believe that the amount I earn as a full time employee will be taken into consideration as they re-calculate my weekly benefit but the pay will be high enough so as not to hurt that.

Of course I'm still going to look for full time work this whole time.

By: Christian Heels

Christian Heels — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 04:25:50 +0000

Excellent list! I’ve learned more from this forum in about 2 days than I have at any other forum community.

By: Mary-Lynn

Mary-Lynn — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 10:56:47 +0000

2 weeks ago I received direct deposit of my UI check for the 14th week of a 20 week extension. This was the extension voted on by Congress last November.

Though I have been certifying weekly, I have not received any more checks.When I certify, the message comes up that I have exhausted my benefits, but this has been coming up ever since I started my new extension.

Has anyone else had such an interruption or cessation of payment without notification?

As you know, it is impossible to speak to a human on the phone regarding UI.

Thank you, Dave, and anyone else who can help.

By: Reilly

Reilly — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 17:01:35 +0000

I have a question about returning to work for a short time. Company A laid me off in November and gave me a 1099 contract a week later for 1-4 hours week. While I look for full time work, I just landed another 1099 opportunity today with Company B. Right after that my old boss from company A called me and said he needs me back for 3-4 months, as a 32 hour a week employee with full benefits and I can still work my freelance jobs and he wouldn't hold that against me even if it ate into a few of his 32 hours.

My question is, if he lays me off again in 3-4 months and I file for a new unemployment claim, will unemployment hold the other 1099 contract with Company B against me and not let me collect again?

I've left a message with my accountant to ask the same question but it is tax season so it may be a few days before I hear back. I guess if unemployment will hold Company B 1099 against me if I get laid off again in 3 months, then I will just have to stay 1099 with Company A and suspend my current claim for three months. (The one problem is that I have to travel for company A and they will pay me mileage but not for my time on the road which would be 3-4 hours a day.)

I still intend to keep looking for a new job in the middle of all of this!