# Contract work while collecting unemployment

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/contract-work-while-collecting-unemployment/510916>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [September 21, 2009, 7:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/contract-work-while-collecting-unemployment/510916 "2009-09-21T07:00:12Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Neptunian\_Slug](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ce7236/32.png) [@Neptunian\_Slug](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Neptunian_Slug)\
**Post date:** [September 21, 2009, 7:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/contract-work-while-collecting-unemployment/510916/1 "2009-09-21T07:00:12Z")

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After six weeks of collecting unemployment, I was offered roughly a 12-week contract through the end of this year. At the end of the contract, the employer and I will decide whether or not there is a fit and whether or not there is the budget to bring me on.

So if at the end of this contract, something does not materialize, can I start collecting benefits again?

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**Author:** ![Shagnasty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9dc877/32.png) [@Shagnasty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shagnasty)\
**Post date:** [September 21, 2009, 7:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/contract-work-while-collecting-unemployment/510916/2 "2009-09-21T07:10:39Z")

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That is entirely state dependent. Call the unemployment office for those questions. It is common to be able to start and stop unemployment benefits so that you get paid a standard number of checks but only your PA state unemployment agency can tell you if that applies to you.

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**Author:** ![SeanArenas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/df705f/32.png) [@SeanArenas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SeanArenas)\
**Post date:** [September 21, 2009, 8:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/contract-work-while-collecting-unemployment/510916/3 "2009-09-21T08:04:43Z")

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I’ve been collecting UI for about 6 weeks now myself. I had my interview with them a few days ago. I told them I’m doing contract work similar to my old day job, and am also running my band promotion business through which I take occasional contract jobs.

They just want me to deduct any earnings I make while collecting UI on the form. I think that they deduct your earnings from the UI for that pay period. If your earnings from the contract job are less than the UI payments, you will get a partial payment. If they are greater than the UI payment, you get no UI payment, but you can continue to fill out the forms and mail them in.

So, I don’t think you have to leave UI - just specify on every form you fill out that this is a contract job only. If it does turn in to a full time job, you can then leave UI. If not, you can continue collecting benefits minus your earnings (except your earnings will be 0 again, so you will get checks again).