Unemployment Question

[sparklynails23]

I'm going to be layed off next week. How long can I wait before applying for unemployment? If I wait until October, it looks like they will include the April-June quarter in the look back, so I would like to wait until then. I plan to call the Unemployment Office, but they might be tough to reach. Any answers would be appreciated. Thanks.

 

[CMHusband]

I'm going to be layed off next week. How long can I wait before applying for unemployment? If I wait until October, it looks like they will include the April-June quarter in the look back, so I would like to wait until then. I plan to call the Unemployment Office, but they might be tough to reach. Any answers would be appreciated. Thanks.

It takes a couple of weeks for them to get it going on and you won't get paid for those weeks that you wait. I say the sooner the better. You can do everything online - They will call YOU to do a phone interview before they sign you up. You won't get much notice for that call either...I got a letter in the mail at 5pm one afternoon, and they called the next morning at 8am (of course I missed the call, because I didn't open my mail until later the next day) They are very very unorganized or maybe a little overworked - or maybe a little of both.

 

[ShesAPirate]

I don't know where you're located, or even if it's different in every state, but in New Jersey you can file the day you get laid off.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

I think my husband had to apply on the first day he was unemployed.

His layoff was Nov 1--but his last day was October 30...or whatever Friday was.

He applied for benefits on the first day he was "no longer employed" as opposed to no longer working. A co-worker made a mistake and did it on the day he was no longer working and I think it caused a hiccup. But I don't remember what the hiccup was.

And my husband also got a large severance. But that was not considered relevant for unemployment and he got full benefits (salary was in excess of the max--so he got the maximum unemployment benefits). His benefits continued until the very first day of his new job. So even though he already had the job via being hired...he was considered unemployed until he "clocked in" on that first day.

Only by grace...his unemployment was only 30 days as his new job began on December 1.

He lived in Florida when laid off--even though his employer (who laid him off) was in Maryland.
Best of luck in your job search.

 

[happily single]

I'm not sure if it varies by State, but my last day of employment was about February 13th. I collected Temp. Disablity until July and applied for Unemployment on July 21st (so about 5 months later) and was approved.

I understand you are trying to hold off filing so that your higher earnings are calucated? But, don't forget that you will get a dependence allowance for each child you have. And there is a maximum benefit amount. For example, in RI the most money you can collect is like $500 or so a week. It didn't matter if you made $1,000 a week, the most money you can collect is $500. Then you get the dependence allowance. So, waiting might not make any difference to you.

 

[Liberty Belle]

We don't get a dependence allowance here. That sounds pretty cool.

OP, you should do it right away. I waited (because I didn't know I was eligible) and they denied me for the first month I was unemployed, because I didn't file quickly enough -that was their official reason. They then let me start collecting for the next weeks, but it took longer and I was worried I wouldn't be able to.

This is in Kentucky.

 

[jen0610]

DH applied the day after he received his layoff papers. It took a few weeks for the money to come in, but he received full backpay. Also, his salary figure was based on a full years salary, starting on the day he was let go. So for him, the company he worked for had to pull what he had made from 10/23/009 back to 10/24/2008 and that is what his allotment is based on. Luckly for him, he had a lot of OT during that time frame, so he is at the max for what you can receive.

Also for IN, there is no extra pay for having kids.

 

[sparklynails23]

I would like to hold off until Oct. 1, because my highest quarter by far was April to June. The only way I would max out the benefits would be to wait until October so they would include that high quarter in their calculations. I won't get the child credit because DH is the primary bread winner. I was just wondering if they would give me a hard time for waiting a few weeks to file. Thanks for everyone's experiences.

 

[pixiewings71]

We don't get a dependent allowance, that would be nice.

I was let go on a Thursday, I filed my UE claim on the following Monday. I would have done it on Friday but DD14's bday party was that Saturday so instead we got ready for her party. I filed online and had a letter with a phone appt for the week following. A week later I had my first payment. Now the interesting thing is I hadn't had a raise for 2 years so I assumed it wouldn't matter when I filed since I was paid the same thing for 2 years, well apparently something was off because the first pay period was lower then the following 3. Made no sense to me but whatever. I am making half what I was getting when I was working. HTH

 

[sparklynails23]

FYI, the unemployment office said that you can wait to the next quarter to file if it will be to your benefit. Just in case anyone else wanted to know.

 

[C.Ann]

There was a time that I held off on collecting unemployment because I didn't know that I qualified.. (I quit that particular job..) Everyone kept telling me I would receive it anyhow - and I knew I wouldn't be returning to work because my late DH was too ill by then - so I applied at least a month later - if not longer.. Had no problems - went through with no hassles.. All they did was hold back the first week, which they normally do anyhow..

Every state is different though - so I would call and check - just to be safe..

Good luck!