Will my unemployment stop when school starts???

HospiceRN88 · Aug 10, 2009

I can only tell you what happened to me. I was let go from my job due to downsizing. When applying for unemployment they ask if you are a student. Since I said yes they informed me that being a student is my job. Therefore, after 6 months of fighting with them - I got nothing!! Funny thing is I had worked AND went to school for 3 years!

portuge · Aug 10, 2009

I had the sam experience last year when I lost my job as a CNA. I had to go to an investigator at unemployment and convince them as a CNA I am able to work shifts that rotate 24 hours so my options were good. They look at it as that if you are in school you will turn down work due to classes. I explained that i could attend a class and work at night or third shift. I ended up getting my benefits.

caliotter3 · Aug 10, 2009

When I applied for unemployment one time, they denied it because I was a student. When I explained that I worked the night shift, they did not change their ruling. They said if I wanted to draw unemployment, then quit going to school. Yeah, right.

SPower82 · Aug 11, 2009

Dont tell them bout school... there is no way for them to verify on you

Trauma Columnist · Aug 11, 2009

I would advise going to them in person. I would not advise lying or being deceitful.

SPower82 · Aug 12, 2009

Two years ago the policy was this:

If you go to school full time you dont get any unemployment. maybe its changed there are lots of new laws that put in extension and such.

Elizabeth_1977 · Dec 30, 2009

Hi.

I was laid off at the end of May from my job. I've been drawing unemployment since then. I'm going back to school next month and am very worried about losing my unemployment.

I contacted IDES and asked them about this very thing. They told me this:

While there are some situations where Claimants can receive unemployment benefits while attending school, more often than not it will affect their benefits. The question is whether the Claimant is available for employment while going to school.
The situations mentioned above involve programs that are directed to individuals who are classified as dislocated workers, whose former employer transferred jobs over seas or the jobs are lost because of foreign trade. In the latter situation the training/schooling is through the Federal Trade Act program. That is why Claimants are instructed to discuss their particular situation with their local IDES office.

Hope it helps!

prinsessa · Dec 30, 2009

I lied about going to school while collecting unemployment. I didn't want to but I had no choice since I needed unemployment to pay my bills. Unfortunately the unemployment office doesn't understand that it is possible to go to school and work full time. I can understand that they don't want you to quit your job to go to school but what happens if you lose your job while in school. This happened to me twice while in school. I tried to tell the truth but then they denied my benefits. Some people have no choice but to work while in school.

Elizabeth_1977 · Dec 31, 2009

When a person works, they pay into the system so that when they need the system to be there it's there for them. I somehow get the impression that the unemployment people think you're trying to cheat them out of money should you try to collect unemployment while going to school. But since some of the money a person is receiving is theirs, why on Earth would they be trying to cheat themselves out of their own money? :confused: It makes no sense to me.

I think this country likes leaving some of its people on the curb whenever it possibly can.

chutley76 · Feb 2, 2010

Too late for me now, but Princessa did you ever get caught?? What kills me is there are people like who worked for 12 years, lost their job and went to school but yet they lose their benefits. There are 3 students in my class that still get their benefits and were working in an office just as I was - nothing different. Its just not fair. Thanks for your replies:)

prinsessa · Feb 3, 2010

No....never "caught". It wasn't like I was trying to get something for nothing. I was still looking for a job while going to school. I don't know why they don't understand that it is possible to go to school full-time and still look for a job. I had no problems working and going to school full-time.