# The ethics/morality of taking unemployment when you have savings. **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [September 11, 2012, 2:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-ethics-morality-of-taking-unemployment-when-you-have-savings/634402 "2012-09-11T14:50:01Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Tamerlane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tamerlane/32/7602_2.png) [@Tamerlane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tamerlane)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2012, 1:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-ethics-morality-of-taking-unemployment-when-you-have-savings/634402/21 "2012-09-12T01:54:09Z")
> [@blondebear](#): > > :smack: Another wrong-voter here. > > If you’re entitled to unemployment, take it. And another one. My, we’re an illiterate bunch, aren’t we? ---
**Author:** ![SeaDragonTattoo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/df705f/32.png) [@SeaDragonTattoo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SeaDragonTattoo)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2012, 2:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-ethics-morality-of-taking-unemployment-when-you-have-savings/634402/22 "2012-09-12T02:18:54Z")
It depends on the state, I think, but taking unemployment payments usually also means you need to be actively looking for another job. You’ll likely be required to report in weekly with information on where you’ve interviewed or put in applications for employment. I’m pretty sure in Illinois if you stop reporting on active job seeking, the unemployment checks also stop. Your state may be different, but keep that in mind if you plan on taking some time off without looking for a while. Still, I’d take the unemployment. You’re entitled, it’s been paid into, and you should take it. ---
**Author:** ![jackdavinci](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackdavinci/32/3259_2.png) [@jackdavinci](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jackdavinci)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2012, 2:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-ethics-morality-of-taking-unemployment-when-you-have-savings/634402/23 "2012-09-12T02:22:27Z")
You paid into the unemployment fund one way or another, so it’s your money. If you feel bad about it, you’d be better off using your time or the money to help someone whose needs aren’t being met by the system then letting it be reabsorbed into the general fund. ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2012, 2:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-ethics-morality-of-taking-unemployment-when-you-have-savings/634402/24 "2012-09-12T02:37:14Z")
I can’t see it as unethical unless not taking the money would help someone else out, which I don’t believe is the case–that money was contributed by your company for you, essentially, and not taking it just means it doesn’t go anywhere. I guess the most moral thing to do would be to take the money, combine it with your savings, and give the excess to people who really need it. But you could always do that part in your will or something. ---
**Author:** ![elfkin477](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a9a28c/32.png) [@elfkin477](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elfkin477)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2012, 3:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-ethics-morality-of-taking-unemployment-when-you-have-savings/634402/25 "2012-09-12T03:11:54Z")
> [@JohnT](#): > > If one has enough savings to make it through a short period of unemployment, is it ethical/moral to apply for unemployment benefits? How on earth could one know if it was going to be a short period of unemployment, especially within the past four years?? Not taking it would be irresponsible unless you secretly possess a crystal ball to see the future. ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2012, 5:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-ethics-morality-of-taking-unemployment-when-you-have-savings/634402/26 "2012-09-12T17:34:02Z")
> [@iamthewalrus\_3](#): > > If we (The People) wanted to make unemployment benefits means-tested, we could do so. The fact that we haven’t means that you’re fully entitled to them. Agreed. > [@lindsaybluth](#): > > I see where the OP is coming from. I also wish him good luck in finding a new job. > > Why not do this: once you’re fully employed in a new job and settled, give 50% of what you were given per month to your favorite charity. > > In lieu of a favorite charity, you really cannot go wrong with writing a check out to your local food bank. Not religious, not partisan – just providing food to people in need. I like that idea. You don’t know how long your unemployment will last, or what will happen during that time. Take the unemployment benefits now, and pay it forward in the future if you get hired someplace quickly. ---
**Author:** ![randomface](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/5fc32e/32.png) [@randomface](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/randomface)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2012, 6:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-ethics-morality-of-taking-unemployment-when-you-have-savings/634402/27 "2012-09-12T18:14:44Z")
I also clicked no in error. I guess I need to learn how to read sometime soon. ---
**Author:** ![SciFiSam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/47e85d/32.png) [@SciFiSam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SciFiSam)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2012, 6:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-ethics-morality-of-taking-unemployment-when-you-have-savings/634402/28 "2012-09-12T18:33:13Z")
Definitely not. Also, like Nava said, unemployment benefit may have other benefits than the cash in your pocket - in the UK at least, it means that you continue paying into your social security fund via the unemployment benefits and I suspect the same might be true with yours. If you end up out of work for a while, that’s worth a lot too. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-ethics-morality-of-taking-unemployment-when-you-have-savings/634402.md?page=1)