For any of you who have gotten unemployment: I’m coming up on the end of my 26 weeks in a couple of weeks. My friend, who got laid off before me got her last check today and it was only one-fifth of her usual check. It said this check “exhausted her benefits”. I had no idea I might not be getting the same amount for the entire 26 weeks. What is going on here? Anyone know? I’m in connecticut, but it seems itwould be the same anywhere. I’m trying not to panic. :eek:
Checking all of your unemployment documentation should be your first step. You did save all of it, including check stubs?
Checking the Connecticut DOL web site should be your second step.
Contacting your local unemployment office should be your third step, if needed.
Here in Iowa the remaining amount is printed on each check.
I suppose each state is different.
California unemployment question: If I get laid off, I will not be able to afford to live in California. (Incidentally, the rent goes up on November 1st.) So if I get laid off, I’ll be moving to another state. Will I still be able to collect California unemployment benefits?
Yeh, I’m calling them today to ask if this might be something that could happen to me. I talked to my friend on the weekend and panicked so I posted here to see if anyone knew, if baring any additional income, my regular check could be reduced. I thought they just figured the amount I was entitled to each week; paid it for 26 weeks or until I got a new job, and that was it.
- The amount of the last check depends on the amount of entitlement divided by the number of checks.
$260 entitlement / 26 checks = $10 per check
$256 entitlement / 26 checks = 25 $10 checks and a $6 check
- Collecting unemployment from CA in another state is routine. The new state will only forward the claim. You will have get CA checks and have to follow CA outside state rules.
So the amount of the entitlement is a lump sum divided by the weeks? But, what about the fact that I’m supposed to be receiving unemployment for 26 weeks, not 25 weeks? Unemployment being a set weekly amount? They never said a word about this. I pity the poor people like me who have to go through this for the first time. The CT website reads like a government manual; you can’t understand any of it. Newspaper articles are clearer as far as explaining how it works and any legislation. Also, I may be entitled to an extension but they don’t tell you how many weeks it might take to process; and I just found out I can’t even apply for it until I receive my last check, so there may be a break. With the stress of losing a job, this inepitude only makes it worse.
I’ve been unemployed in Connecticut before…Basically–and this is after any “pension” or package runs out, they look at how much you made over the past x months and determine what bracket you fall under. Whether you made $100k or 50k, you'd still get the same amount of –which is to say, not very much at all, but it’s better than nothing…
You can decide to go ahead and pay taxes on this income while you remain unemployed, or pay them later in the year when you file. I was fortunate enough not to have to get an extension, but what you said about having to wait seems in line with what they told me as well.
If you have any questions, give them a call to get things straight. All in all–and this is just like dealing with the DMV----don’t feel bad about not knowing what to do–it’s not like you do this every day!
Just remember to “phone in” each week (the biggest pain over the phone–I hear Georgia allows you to do it online in 5mins).
Best of Luck!
Coop
On MA unemployment checks there is a line item for how much funds you have remaining. That is what you are entitled to receive, the number of weeks you use to get there is just the way they divide up the checks.
You are receiving unemployment for 26 weeks, just not the same amount on the last week. I’ve been through it, and it is very stressful not knowing the details, but it worked out pretty well. Near the end of your 26 weeks call the unemployment office or visit in person and just go through your questions with a real person. They were very helpful with me.
For what it’s worth, my juridiction (New York) establishes a “weekly benefit rate” for U/I claimants. As far as I know, one receives that amount (minus any witholding) for the entire 26 (or 39) weeks.
I’ve never heard of anyone getting a fractional check for the last check. Perhaps the authorities are breaking a week? What is the effective date of your friend’s claim? When did your friend actually file for unemployment?
As other folks pointed out, it is common for people to collect benefits from one state while living in another. For example, this can happen in a “quit-to-relocate” case.
Any idea what those rules are?