Travel or Seasonal?

NedRN · Mar 22, 2014

The end of a travel contract is a legitimate reason to apply for unemployment. There is no way to can draw it for three months without some serious gaming of the system. You do know that you have to look for work and are required to take a suitable job don't you? If you don't take an offered suitable job (one that you are qualified for), your benefits stop.

On another note, if you manage your finances well, you can take off three months every year.

briantroy · Mar 22, 2014

The 9 month job is not a travel contract. That particular job is deemed a season job and is with the actual hospital, not an agency. I'm aware I will have to be looking for work, I guess I am just wondering what a "suitable" job is. In other words, will I have to move across country to take a position? I am an RT, so my options are limited. I only posted here because there aren't any sites like this dedicated to travel RT jobs.

NedRN · Mar 23, 2014

It is still a contract with an end date. That means you are eligible for unemployment when it ends. It also means that if you keep your tax home, you can deduct your housing costs at that job, and deduct a per diem as well. Usually hospitals will tax your supplied housing or your housing stipend, unlike a travel company. Other than that, there is no real difference between a hospital travel contract and an agency travel contract. Seasonal is just a word that presently implies you are a hospital employee, not agency. Otherwise it would be interchangeable with travel.

briantroy · Mar 23, 2014

Interesting. The hospital built and owns an apartment complex, but they charge you extra if you have a pet since you have to live alone. I will have to check into the 'tax home' you mention and learn how that works. I'm not sure what the laws are like in AZ, but just today I heard some states no longer allow UIB for 'seasonal' work when it is understood that the contract will end at a certain time but then begin again at a certain time. I will have to do some checking. Thanks!

NedRN · Mar 23, 2014

No, I don't think it is possible for a state to define being out of work due to the end of a contract as not being unemployed! That would be crazy talk. Jobs end, and that is what unemployment is for. There is a federal component to unemployment as well.

You can read more about tax homes as they relate to travelers (including "seasonal") on PanTravelers and Traveltax. You can also get decent results in IRS publications by Googling tax home.

NedRN · Mar 23, 2014

BTW, TravelTax is an RT and was a traveler for some time before settling down in Nebraska.

ASHRN828 · Mar 23, 2014

How can you apply for unemployment benefits when your assignment ends? It's a contract that you sign to complete a certain amount of work in a time frame. That makes no sense.

NedRN · Mar 23, 2014

It is the end of your job. You are now unemployed. That's the definition. It is actually easier with a contract end date, there is no dispute about why the job ended.

briantroy · Mar 23, 2014

Thanks again, Ned. Here is an example of what I heard from a coworker. Not sure if it applies to seasonal hospital personnel: No more unemployment benefits for seasonal workers - May. 31, 2012

NedRN · Mar 23, 2014

Thanks for that article. Very interesting. I guess all it takes is Republicans being asked to do that in a red state. I suppose it could be extended to nurses and Arizona/Florida would be prime targets.

Unfair in my opinion. I can understand it for teachers. But teachers are supposed to be paid extra to cover their two months or so off. I know my dad had a choice of being paid 12 months round. Unfair, but there is a lot of state based political crap creating unfairness. Refusing federal Medicare expansion for poor citizens, healthcare for women, voting rights, there are a lot of things going the wrong direction. Denying unemployment while charging UI taxes would be one of them.