Unemployment Benefits

[jamsmom]

Okay, I know we have to look/apply for work weekly. I have no problem with that EXCEPT....

Are you suppose to apply for jobs that pay way below what you know you can "live" on just to meet a quota? Doesn't that waist someone else's valuable time by havign to even lok at the application or resume?

Also, when I go online to the website for TWC, they only show 2 jobs for which I should apply. These have been the same 2 jobs for 3 weeks.

So, for anyone else on unemployment at the moment or if you have been, did you apply for things that either you knew you weren't qualified for or couldn't live off of just to make quota/

 

[December99]

Truthfully - if I even looked or called and made an inquiry on a job - I marked it down, even if I didn't actually drop an application off. And I looked at all jobs. I think they want you to look at anything because once you are off unemployment, they can make that money available for someone else. So I think that it doesn't matter what you would make or what type of job, that at least you have tried. And to at least get you in a job is their goal.

And I would even apply for those jobs that would be lower, doesn't mean you have to accept an interview or position. But it shows that you are trying.

 

[jamsmom]

Aren't there remifications if you don't accept an interview or position? (Not that I have that problem right now) I have heard that you don't have to accept anything less than 80% of the previous salary. Does anyone know if this is right?

 

[FINFAN]

yep, apply and show everything. Most people I know out of work are looking at huge pay cuts to find employ...a masters degree has no more salary power than experience anymore. Good luck.

 

[glo]

What I do not understand is if I apply for a job that makes less than unemployment do they expect me to take it? What would be the purpose of that? I am about to be unemployed, and there are NO teaching jobs available in MA...the budget cuts have hit almost every town and city here. So, if I apply to a dept store at which gives me thousands less, and hundreds less per week? What do you do? I am planning on working...don't know doing what, but I can't see jumping at the first McDonlad's that offers me a job

 

[December99]

The whole point that they try to make with you is that they want you out in the workforce. That would mean, ANYTHING. Especially anything that might give you benefits even if it means taking a pay cut. What they don't want to happen is once the unemployment runs out, people having to go on public aid or government subsidies, which are very low also.

And unless it's different in every state - I don't think they can FORCE you to take a job that you will not be satisified in. For instance, if you need medical insurance for you and your kids and you can't get on, or don't have one, your spouses insurance I don't think they can make you take a job with someplace that isn't going to be able to offer you insurance benefits. That risks you being put on medicaid and the government trying to find more money to go to those programs - or the states trying to find more money to go to those programs. I know in Illinois alot of those programs have been at risk because of our budget crises. When there's no money for those programs because there are so many people needing the programs, then the risk of doctor's offices closing, hospitals closings increases.

I am sorry for all of you that are having these problems with finding work. It was hard back 11 years ago when I was laid off. I can't imagine it now. When I was on unemployment and was looking for jobs - I always wondered if there was really someone in the office that called every place that every person put down on their list. I know none of the places I applied for had a call from unemployment. Can you imagine how time consuming that would be....not a job I'd want!

 

[MJames41]

When I was on unemployment, I counted jobs that I sent my resume too, even if it was a "blind ad". If you really need a job to list, if it was me and I couldn't find enough jobs that I was qualifed for (and would pay what I needed), I would apply for jobs above my qualifications rather than below. I didn't have to do that, because there were enough jobs in my field, but as long as I did send a resume to something like that, it wouldn't bother my ethics to say I did just that.

 

[apagano]

I think it varies from state to state. When I was on Ohio unemployment benefits last year, I was required to apply for a job once per week, but they never checked up on it. Also, it was considered OK to turn down a job and stay on unemployment, but you had to show that the job offer was not comparable to your previous job. So for instance if you were a steelworker making $60-80K per year with overtime, you would not be forced to take a $7/hr job at McDonald's if they offered one to you.

 

[Pin Wizard]

Originally posted by FINFAN
yep, apply and show everything. Most people I know out of work are looking at huge pay cuts to find employ...a masters degree has no more salary power than experience anymore. Good luck.

Ouch! Why am I going back to school?

 

[jamsmom]

Any other thoughts on this issue?

 

[philaround]

In CT , at this time, you only have to say yes to the question
"During the week ending [enter date if the previous Saturday] I was able to work, willing to work, and actively seeking employment" and this can be done over the phone on an automated system.
I've been unemployed since 1/6/2003 and eliminated all possible jobs in my field [Electrical Distribution] within 80miles of my home within the first 30 days.
I'm am registered with Monster.Com, Careerbuilders.com, HotJobs.com, and the CT job bank.
I send resumes to every job I see that is warehouse related, even if it does not involve Electrical supplies with no results.
Oh well 15 more weeks of unemployment then I quess I go to McDonalds
At least my wife has a good job with good insurance [it should be, she works for Blue Cross] and I am getting the max unemployment benefit available.

 

[jamsmom]

My BIL was unemployed for numerous months. We were talking and although he made double (at least) what I made, we both got the same max unemployment.

I KNOW I can go back into the classroom, but will do that as a last resort. Won't I make a great teacher with that attitude?

Actually, I talked to my former principal yesterday. He really thinks I should go back to teaching and go back to school. He said I was excellent...although I pushed the buttons by asking "WHY" a lot

 

[FleurdeLise]

Folks on unemployment ARE randomly asked to bring their booklet in to get checked.


This happened to my sister recently and she was chastised for only sending in resumes. They told her a face to face "contact' was a weekly requirement.


Good luck. .

 

[KimRaye]

Thankfully, I've only had experience with unemployment, once. And, even then, it was my former boss who told me to get it after a maternity leave. He retired when my DD was born. I had to maintain weekly sheets of jobs I looked at, called about, etc. No one ever checked that BUT, I was mandated to attend a one-day course on re-hiring techniques and, take some simple tests, which I flew through! After the day-course, the unemployment office was calling me with job openings!

We also have an automated, phone response system, to get your check.

All in all, it worked for me.

So jamsmom, yes, I applied for jobs below my abilities and, above my abilities but, no where on the weekly sheets did it ask about jobs that were offered. You can decline a job, imo. No questions asked. Just my experience.

 

[Helopoh]

My DH just got off unemployment. He was told he didn't have to accept any job that was below a certain percentage of what he made previously at the last job. As said by someone else they don't want you to take a job and then end up on public assistance because the job is unable to support your family. My DH was also listed as a dislocated worker because the job field was flooded with other people also out of work. He also had to go into the DOL and sit through classes and have meetings everyonce in a while but generally just had to go online on Mon mornings and file through the internet for his check. His check was a small chunk of what his weekly salary was and even now since he started working he only makes about 150.00 more than unemployment was giving him but like we both said it is nicer for him to work and be out of the house than us sitting around making eachother crazy. We both just worried at eachother constantly. I will be on unemployment soon since my job is seasonal and I can't seem to find anything else that can support my odd hours Dorian is in 1/2 day Kindergarten and the cost of Daycare is so much that working 40 hours basically pays for Daycare. (sigh) I hope you find something soon.