Unemployment $$

Adrian Spartan · 11-03-2009, 08:22 PM

So, my position was eliminated as of Friday and I'm not sure if I should sign up for unemployment. Got a severance which should get me by for a few months.

What would you do? Why should I? Why shouldn't I?

TIA

PRStoetzer · 11-03-2009, 08:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Adrian Spartan

So, my position was eliminated as of Friday and I'm not sure if I should sign up for unemployment. Got a severance which should get me by for a few months.

What would you do? Why should I? Why shouldn't I?

TIA

Get the UI and maintain as much of your severance as possible as savings.

pulling69 · 11-03-2009, 08:28 PM

Free money, take it...(your taxes have already been used for that money so get some of it back)

5.56_Spartan · 11-03-2009, 08:39 PM

You definitely want to get on unemployment.

Also, if your income is severely cut you will want to apply for food stamps.

The severance helped with keeping house payments and other bills, but my family spent a lot of our savings on food, and six months later when I landed a new job I regretted not taking advantage of all the support that was available (too proud I guess).

rodent · 11-03-2009, 08:44 PM

You are entitled to unemployment take it. You may need the money. I know stock brokers who have been delivering pizzas for 18 months.

T.C.O.B. · 11-03-2009, 09:00 PM

File for the unemployment. Depending on your severance package, you may or may not get umemployment immediately anyways. If you get a lump sum severance, then I believe you are eligible immediately. If you will continue to draw paychecks on your normal pay dates as your severance package, you will not get unemployment until after you have had your last payment.

You have already paid for unemployment through your taxes. You would be silly to not file for it while looking for another job.

greenjoker · 11-03-2009, 09:02 PM

You have to be available and looking for work while applying for and collecting UI. If you decide to take a vacation, etc. apply for it as soon after that as possible.

Spartyon2001 · 11-03-2009, 09:03 PM

Tomorrow the Senate is passing a bill that will allow you to collect 99 weeks if you live in Michigan or other high unemployment states.

GRR Spartan · 11-03-2009, 09:16 PM

Sign up ASAP and get in the system. You may just get a letter indicating you are not eligible due to a severance package and instructing you to reapply when you are eligible.

But start now. My brother-in-law retired early fully expecting to waltz in after deer season was over and pick up a lower paying full time job after 30 years as a warehouse supervisor. That was 2 years ago.

RasTrent · 11-03-2009, 09:56 PM

Absolutely get it. Your employer paid for it. You'll be suprised at how simple the whole thing is, and they direct deposit. My wife was laid off with a severance that came as a lump sum about 2 weeks after the layoff. She got unemployment for week 1, and Week 3-present. The severance actually doesn't take the place of an unemployment check, it just pushes it out.

GRR Spartan · 11-03-2009, 10:05 PM

Just beware of your employers intentions. I know a lady in the Kalamazoo area who was let go from her job in purchasing at a medium size manufacturing company and was told it was budget/economy.

She applies for unemployment and less than a week later they call her back offering her her old job back with 30 hours, 70% of her former pay and no benefits. She went back and is hating every minute while she keeps looking for another job. If she had said no the state would have denied her unemployment because he former employer had offered her a job that pays just enough to not qualify.

scimini · 11-03-2009, 10:17 PM

You are entitled to it, but you can not collect severance and unemployment at the same time. I filed becuase I was told to, the UIA office said I could delay my benefits until my severance ran out. Problem was they started it right away and I had to refund my UIA payments.

http://www.michigan.gov/uia/0,1607,7...7879--,00.html

Sparty · 11-03-2009, 10:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by scimini

You are entitled to it, but you can not collect severance and unemployment at the same time. I filed becuase I was told to, the UIA office said I could delay my benefits until my severance ran out. Problem was they started it right away and I had to refund my UIA payments.

UIA - The Effect of Severance Pay on Unemployment Benefits

false....

if ti's a lump sum, then you can collect as soon as you're let go.

Spartan Punk · 11-03-2009, 10:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sparty

false....

if ti's a lump sum, then you can collect as soon as you're let go.

Correct, you just can't file for unemployment for the particular week you receive your severance.

daryl kanary 84 · 11-03-2009, 10:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 5.56_Spartan

You definitely want to get on unemployment.

Also, if your income is severely cut you will want to apply for food stamps.

The severance helped with keeping house payments and other bills, but my family spent a lot of our savings on food, and six months later when I landed a new job I regretted not taking advantage of all the support that was available (too proud I guess).

if your severence is paid out over time, you have to wait until after the last check. if they give it all to you at once, apply for UI now. it is insurance you paid into, not a handout from the government.

I lost my job in Jun 2007, but was paid severence weekly until first week in Sep. i ended up getting 3 unemployment checks before I moved out of state for a job. it is not much at all( my weekly Unemployment was less than 1 days pay), but it is better than nothing.

Winston Wolf · 11-03-2009, 10:34 PM

I recall a thread from a few years ago where someone gave some advice that if you lose your job, file for UI right away. IIRC, they lost eligibility, or benefits of some kind because they waited too long. I tried finding the thread, but couldn't find it.

MForce2k · 11-03-2009, 10:36 PM

Get it. Get in ASAP so that you can use it, or start receiving, before the severance has to be touched or rules you ineligible.

Cym Jim · 11-03-2009, 10:40 PM

You should get another job

.

scimini · 11-03-2009, 10:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sparty

false....

if ti's a lump sum, then you can collect as soon as you're let go.

Not false, you can not collect weekly UIA and weekly severance.

Gob_Bluth · 11-03-2009, 10:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cym Jim

You should get another job

.

Oh, get a job? Just get a job? Why don't I strap on my job helmet, and squeeze down into a job cannon and fire off into job land, where jobs grow on jobbies!

Signed,

Dr. Strangelove · 11-03-2009, 10:43 PM

You paid into the system - get your share.

Register ASAP - they'll walk you thru the drill.

bleed_spartan_green · 11-03-2009, 10:48 PM

I live in Wisconsin so the rules are maybe slightly different from Michigan but I have a couple questions:

1) How often do they recalculate what your UI benefits are? I ask because I get the max amount now but I believe that is based on my pay before I had my hours cut. I worked 24 hours per week from January to September then was laid off.

2) If you move to another state (Im moving from WI to AZ) I've been told you can still collect UI and it's based on the original state that you moved from. Is that true?

Watch out Pylon! · 11-03-2009, 10:48 PM

Why is this even a question? Get your gub'ment cheese!

Dr. Strangelove · 11-03-2009, 10:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bleed_spartan_green

I live in Wisconsin so the rules are maybe slightly different from Michigan but I have a couple questions:

1) How often do they recalculate what your UI benefits are? I ask because I get the max amount now but I believe that is based on my pay before I had my hours cut. I worked 24 hours per week from January to September then was laid off.

2) If you move to another state (Im moving from WI to AZ) I've been told you can still collect UI and it's based on the original state that you moved from. Is that true?

Yes on number two and I have no idea on number one.

Ron Jeremy · 11-03-2009, 11:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 5.56_Spartan

You definitely want to get on unemployment.

Also, if your income is severely cut you will want to apply for food stamps.

The severance helped with keeping house payments and other bills, but my family spent a lot of our savings on food, and six months later when I landed a new job I regretted not taking advantage of all the support that was available (too proud I guess).

I did the same thing.

Lost a job 15 years ago, filed for unemployment. Was out of work 3 months. Never cashed an unemployment check. When I got a new job, I called the State and asked if I could give them the checks back. They told me to cash them, so I did.

You and your employer pay into that unemployment fund, take some of your money back.