Unemployment Benefits...

[FN FAL]

You are eligible after being furloughed. The state will require that you have earned a certain amount, and have been employed for 18 mos (I think) before the furlough.


You will collect benefits where you live. Which I assume is where you have been paying taxes.

Of course the amount varies from state to state, and the above criteria only affects the amount you get.

Any of you guys think about logging on to google and getting real information about your state's unemployment compensation benefits?

I spent three months at Mesaba, approximately two in training and almost one sitting on my ass at home getting paid. When they finally let me go, I was able to file for unemployment and it was approved. $250.00 a week for 6 months was available.

Guess which company's state unemployment account was billed? The 135 operator I quit to go to Mesaba.

In Wisconsin, your previous employer has to pay your unemployement benefits if your next job doesn't work out IF you get classified as a "QUIT TO TAKE".

If you "quit to take" another job that is closer to your home, is relevant in your career field or improves your status in your work field and that job ends due to no fault of your own, the employer that you quit working at has to pay your unemployment benefits.

I would assume that getting furloughed from an airline, is the same scenario as "quit to take".

I think the funniest part was the fact that my unemployment was 100.00 bucks more a month than my Mesaba pay.

I still buy charts at my old 135 employer's FBO and when I run into the owner, he still cops an attitude. I think it's because they would have hired me back in a second, but when I left that place it was a one way trip. No looking back, no regrets.

 

[FN FAL]

State Unemployment Insurance Benefits

Purpose

In general, the Federal-State Unemployment Insurance Program provides unemployment benefits to eligible workers who are unemployed through no fault of their own (as determined under State law), and meet other eligibility requirements of State law.
Unemployment insurance payments (benefits) are intended to provide temporary financial assistance to unemployed workers who meet the requirements of State law.

Each State administers a separate unemployment insurance program within guidelines established by Federal law.

Eligibility for unemployment insurance, benefit amounts and the length of time benefits are available are determined by the State law under which unemployment insurance claims are established.

In the majority of States, benefit funding is based solely on a tax imposed on employers. (Three (3) States require minimal employee contributions.)
Eligibility

1. You must meet the State requirements for wages earned or time worked during an established (one year) period of time referred to as a "base period". (In most States, this is usually the first four out of the last five completed calendar quarters prior to the time that your claim is filed.)

2. You must be determined to be unemployed through no fault of your own (determined under State law), and meet other eligibility requirments of State law.​

Filing a Claim

You should contact the State Unemployment Insurance agency as soon as possible after becoming unemployed. In some States, you can now file a claim by telephone or over the internet.
It generally takes two to three weeks after you file your claim to receive your first benefit check. Some States require a one-week waiting period; therefore, the second week claimed is the first week of payment, if you are otherwise eligible.

When you file the claim, you will be asked certain questions, such as addresses and dates about your former employment. To make sure your claim is not delayed, be sure to give complete and correct information.
Continued Eligibility

You must file weekly or biweekly claims (after the week(s) has ended), and respond to questions concerning your continued eligibility. You must report any earnings from work you had during the week(s). You must also report any job offers or refusal of work during the week. These claims are usually filed by mail or telephone; the State will provide filing instructions.

When directed, you must report to your local Unemployment Insurance Claims Office or One-Stop/Employment Service Office on the day and at the time you are scheduled to do so. If you fail to report as scheduled for any interview, benefits may be denied.

You must continue to meet the eligibility requirements stated in the previous section.

Registering For Work

Claimants who file for unemployment benefits may be directed to register for work with the State Employment Service, so it can assist you in finding employment. If you are not required to register, you still may seek help in finding a job from the Employment Service.

The One-Stop/Employment Service Office has current labor market information and provides a wide array of re-employment services free of charge.

Employment Service staff can refer you to job openings in your area, or in other parts of the State or country if you are willing to relocate.

They can refer you to various training programs.

If job openings in your field are limited, they can offer testing and counseling to determine other jobs you might like to do and are able to do.

If you believe you have special needs or considerations, such as physical needs or other considerations, which may prevent you from getting a job, they can refer you to other agencies for help with those needs.

Disqualification from Eligibility

If your reason for separation from your last job is due to some reason other than a "lack of work" - a determination will be made about whether you are eligible for benefits.

Generally all determinations of whether or not a person is eligible for benefits are made by the appropriate State under its law or applicable federal laws. If you are disqualified/denied benefits, you have the right to file an appeal. The State will advise you of your appeal rights. You must file your appeal within an established time frame. Your employer may also appeal a determination if he/she does not agree with the State's determination regarding your eligibility.

Benefits

In general, benefits are based on a percentage of an individual's earnings over a recent 52-week period - up to a State maximum amount.

Benefits can be paid for a maximum of 26 weeks in most States.

Additional weeks of benefits may be available during times of high unemployment (see Extended Benefits). Some States provide additional benefits for specific purposes.

Benefits are subject to Federal income taxes and must be reported on your Federal income tax return. You may elect to have the tax withheld by the State Unemployment Insurance agency.

That's the facts, right from the FEDS. In both cases where I filed for unemployment, the previous employer appealed and those appeals were denied.

The same thing happened when my girlfriend was let go from a sporting goods store we both worked at. The employer had a baseless appeal against the state's assignment of benefits and that appeal was denied at a hearing held at the state building. The funny thing is, the owner sent his store manager down to the appeal hearing, armed with a piece of paper. I sent my girlfriend to the hearing with a lawyer. It just goes to show you, store managers don't make good mouthpieces.

 

[UnAnswerd]

This is a pilot forum. Why in the Hell are we talking about unemployment benefits!!!

 

[FN FAL]

This is a pilot forum. Why in the Hell are we talking about unemployment benefits!!!

Hahaha...believe me, they don't have a special line for airline/commercial pilots down at the unemployement benefit place...everybody is EQUAL down there.

If you flew whales as an FO for an airline and were bringing in 150,000 a year, you're entitled to the same 250.00 a week for six months that a regional washout gets. Too bad I didn't know about Worker Investment Act back then, I would have went to law school!

 

[bdy85]

voluntary Furlough

If you take a voluntary furlough can you still get unemployment bennifits and get the Gov to pay for a type rating or money to get a type current? thanks for the info

 

[FN FAL]

If you take a voluntary furlough can you still get unemployment bennifits and get the Gov to pay for a type rating or money to get a type current? thanks for the info

Do a www.google.com search using "worker investment act" and your state of employment or residence.

From what I understand, WIA money is federal, but it is doled out individually on a state by state basis. Also, from what I understand, you can apply for WIA money based on where you were based, where your employer was base or where you claim residency on your taxes.

The only way you'll know for sure what benefits can be assigned to you is to contact a state office that handles WIA funds.

Simply starting a search on google will get you your answer. By the way, lots of board members here have applied and told their stories here, so you might want to utilize the "search" function on this forum. Just use WIA or Worker Investment Act as a search phrase.

Good luck to you...but I'd use WIA money wisely to get a degree or change majors. A type isn't going to do you much good.

 

[runwayjockey]

Anyone have any luck extending their benefits beyond the 6 months.

 

[MachPi]

If you don't educate yourself on your rights and benefits, you will screw yourself. Take me for instance; if I'd relied on government websites for all my answers, I would've lost out on 6 more months of benefits. Before furlough, I worked in California and Florida in the 18 month window that the states look at when you file. I received 6 months' pay from CA at their rate ($400 or so a week, I can't remember the exact amount), then I received 6 months' pay from FL at $275 or so a week. If I hadn't known that I should "straight file" with each state in turn, California would've looked back at the whole 18 months and generated payments based on my highest pay for a quarter. I did straight file, which forced CA to only look back at the last 6 months. By straight filing, I was able to file with FL after that 6 months was up.

I had to find out about "straight filing" on my own. The unemployment office was quite familiar with the term when I used it, but they weren't going to volunteer the information to me.

If you've worked in 3 different states in the last 18 months, you can get 18 months' worth of benefits altogether, as long as you file with the earliest state you worked in first.

One last thing: I live in MS, and no benefits could be derived from there; only the states you actually worked in can you receive unemployment benefits from.

If anyone wants any other info, pm me and I'll tell you how it worked for me.

Good luck

 

[b757driver]

Wow!

Good luck to you...but I'd use WIA money wisely to get a degree or change majors. A type isn't going to do you much good.

That's the best piece of advice I have heard in a long while, FN FAL! You are also factually right about WIA funding and doing your homework.

What's this site/thread to do with unemployment benefits?. Duh, gee, I haven't a clue....unless.....maybe, there are a lot of pilots furloughed or laid off, some for the first time, others being veterans at the game.

 

[FL420]

MachPi:
Ck. your PM's.