Qualifying for unemployment question

straymo · March 2011

I realize this likely varies from state to state, but I've not been unemployed for 20 years so everything is new (and exciting - ha!).

I am currently still receiving severance until the end of this month at which point I will be eligible for unemployment compensation.

I had a lead on a job but they have since emailed and said they are not ready to hire on a permanent employee but rather will do a full time temporary employee through May. At that point, it may or may not turn into a perm position. The pay is 1/2 what I was making while the perm position was closer to my previous salary.

I worry that if I take this temp position and then it never turns into anything perm (or the pay does not increase as it should), I will no longer be eligible for the unemployment compensation that I was entitled to when I was laid off originally in January.

Does anyone know if that's how it would work? I am scouring the UC website to try to find an answer. I just would hate to put all my eggs in this one basket to be left with no compensation at the end. That's a big gamble.

apugglesmom · March 2011

You should still be eligible because technically you will get "laid off" from the temporary position. At least that is how it works in my state.

SillyStraw · March 2011

In my state you can still get a portion of your unemployment even if you are working if you make under a certain amount. If while you are working a temp job you make over that certain amount, you can still go back and collect unemployment when your temp job ends/you are laid off.

MorningMania · March 2011

I am not sure if OP is still residing in FL, but I did find this.

Florida uses the wages you earned during your base period to determine how much you can receive as unemployment benefit compensation. Your base period is the first four of the past five calendar quarters before the date you apply for unemployment.

So, if you took a job for 6 months at 1/2 your current salary and was not hired permanently after that time, 2 quarters of your unemployment would get figured in at the lower rate and you could possible get less in weekly unemployment than after your current job at full salary.

Hope that helps. I know that our state also figures it this way also.

straymo · March 2011

MorningMania:
I am not sure if OP is still residing in FL, but I did find this.

Florida uses the wages you earned during your base period to determine how much you can receive as unemployment benefit compensation. Your base period is the first four of the past five calendar quarters before the date you apply for unemployment.

So, if you took a job for 6 months at 1/2 your current salary and was not hired permanently after that time, 2 quarters of your unemployment would get figured in at the lower rate and you could possible get less in weekly unemployment than after your current job at full salary.

Hope that helps. I know that our state also figures it this way also.

. Thanks. Do you mind sharing where you found this. From what I've gathered is that the most that FL UC will pay, regardless of how much I was making, is $275 week. This is from several people at my level who were laid off. I think it used to be a percentage of your average overtime, but doesn't seem so. Ar least not that I can find.

MorningMania · March 2011

I am sorry I didn't follow up Friday with this information. Here is where I found the info, but I couldn't find the exact sentence that I listed for you, but this actually has more information for you.
http://www.floridajobs.org/applications/ucfaq/faq_initialclaims.asp#ELIG2

Hope this helps.

litleazkowgirl · March 2011

Yes, unemployment is different state to state. When I was laid off along with 150 of my co-workers in 2008, I had a severance package as well. I did not file for unemployment immediately. When I did finally file they informed me that I should have filed immediate and just report the days that I get my severance payments. So I was able to earn unemployment for the weeks when no severance was received. During this time I was able to secure a temporary position as well. So, I continued to file my weekly claims and just report the earnings each week. This kept my unemployment going based on my higher salary. They ask if you have returned to full time employment that requires you to no longer report and because it is not a perm position I would not classify as no longer need to report. I hope this helps some. Good luck in finding a great position.

Qualifying for unemployment question

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