Unemployment Benefits/CTB for LVN to RN

Jolie, BSN · Nov 17, 2014

Unemployment compensation is intended to provide temporary financial assistance to workers who lose their jobs due to circumstances out of their control, and not related to negligent job performance. Those receiving unemployment benefits are expected to be actively engaged in a job search, and to accept reasonable offers of employment that match their qualifications and salary history.

Rules vary from state to state, but individuals who voluntarily leave their jobs and those pursuing FT education are generally not eligible for unemployment benefits.

Whispera, MSN, RN · Nov 17, 2014

You can't get unemployment benefits if you quit your job unless the job was an environment that was impossible to live-with. Even then, it's kind of iffy. Like Jolie says, it's for people who lose their jobs due to circumstances beyond their control.

caliotter3 · Nov 17, 2014

I was recently told that there is a specific job training program for which one can go to school and draw money from the unemployment fund but I have not verified this. A relative was able to get job training in conjunction with his medical disability. In the past, I was told that I could not go to school and draw unemployment. It made no difference that I was seeking to work a night shift job. They said I had to look for work during the day, not go to school. I would say that it all depends on what programs are in place, the requirements for those programs, and even the attitude of the EDD worker that you are dealing with. Go online at the EDD website first to see what kind of job training is available.

WookieeRN, BSN, MSN, RN · Nov 17, 2014

In PA I was permitted to receive full unemployment while in school, however, I had only decided to go back to school after being laid off. They specifically told me that if I quit my job for school that I would be ineligible, and believe me any employer isn't going to go down without a fight re:unemployment. It can cost them a lot of money depending on that state (for example, in PA, they pay the bulk as I literally put maybe $0.10 into the account every paycheck).

I deal with all our unemployment claims for my current job, and I am told to fight everything all the way to a hearing (and appeal) if needed.

roser13, ASN, RN · Nov 17, 2014

Just curious as to why you have the impression that you could receive unemployment benefits after choosing to quit your job due to schedule conflicts?

AlexandraGiang · Nov 17, 2014

Just curious as to why you have the impression that you could receive unemployment benefits after choosing to quit your job due to schedule conflicts?

Well I first heard of it through a CO-Worker who quit her job to go to LVN school. She said she got unemployment through CTB (California Training Benefit) which I thought was crazy too because I thought like everyone above has said that UI is only for wrongful fire. So while doing research to get help with school I signed up for WIA and the lady said that I did not qualify because I make too much and suggested I quit. And I asked her how the hell am I suppose to live if I quit and she said UI. So I am so confused. Because I talked the people at employment and they mentioned that if I quit for "good cause" then I could qualify but there is no guarantee that they will see quitting to go back to school as good cause. And then they go onto say that quitting to go into a training for a high demand job is considered good cause. So I am all sorts of confused.

AlexandraGiang · Nov 17, 2014

Unemployment compensation is intended to provide temporary financial assistance to workers who lose their jobs due to circumstances out of their control, and not related to negligent job performance. Those receiving unemployment benefits are expected to be actively engaged in a job search, and to accept reasonable offers of employment that match their qualifications and salary history.
Rules vary from state to state, but individuals who voluntarily leave their jobs and those pursuing FT education are generally not eligible for unemployment benefits.

That's what I thought too until I spoke with counselors, co-workers and the WIA rep that kept saying to use UI to get through retraining.

BellaRose4281, RN · Nov 17, 2014

I got through LVN school while on the CTB program. However, I was already laid off when I decided to go to school. You can quit and hope that you get unemployment, but it's not a for sure thing. Since you're already an LVN, can't you go into home health? Something that you can have a more flexible schedule?

roser13, ASN, RN · Nov 17, 2014

Well I first heard of it through a CO-Worker who quit her job to go to LVN school. She said she got unemployment through CTB (California Training Benefit) which I thought was crazy too because I thought like everyone above has said that UI is only for wrongful fire. So while doing research to get help with school I signed up for WIA and the lady said that I did not qualify because I make too much and suggested I quit. And I asked her how the hell am I suppose to live if I quit and she said UI. So I am so confused. Because I talked the people at employment and they mentioned that if I quit for "good cause" then I could qualify but there is no guarantee that they will see quitting to go back to school as good cause. And then they go onto say that quitting to go into a training for a high demand job is considered good cause. So I am all sorts of confused.

Maybe calling it unemployment is misleading? It sounds as if California has a program to support education/training. Is it tied to the California unemployment benefit program or separate?

TheCommuter, BSN, RN · Nov 17, 2014

The OP is in California. I've received unemployment from the California EDD (Employment Development Department) twice after voluntarily resigning. I received unemployment compensation in 1999 after resigning from a job where a shift manager was making inappropriate sexual comments to me, and again in 2005 after resigning because I lived 120 miles from the job with no feasible options.

However, the California EDD will be unlikely to award benefits to a person who separates from employment due to returning to school or a scheduling conflict resulting from school hours. In essence, you need a darned good reason to resign if you want them to award unemployment benefits to you.

Whispera, MSN, RN · Nov 17, 2014

Quitting for good cause means to continue working would be hazardous to your physical or mental health, as in unsafe working conditions, harrassment, that sort of thing. Quitting to go to school doesn't fall into that category.

There are programs out there for people who are unemployed, to help them re-tool for a job, if they have no skills. You have a job. I don't see any hope of you getting UI if you quit, under that sort of program.