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What are the disadvantages of unemployment benefits?

Complicated Unemployment Benefits Question -- Should I File?

  • Got laid off yesterday and filed for unemployment. Agency rejected my claim because I'm still eligible for a claim I opened a year prior in a different state for a different job. I'll try to make this as concise as possible with simple statements: Past Situation 1. One year ago, I was living in State A and was employed with Company A. Unhappy with my job, I had begun actively job searching around that time period. 2. Beginning of May 2014, I got laid off from Company A. 3. The very same day I got laid off from Company A, just hours later, I received a job offer from Company B for a position in State B. The extraordinary timing of these events being so close together does not escape me. I went from being at a complete low to a complete high in the matter of hours on that day. 4. When I received the job offer from Company B, I did not inform them that I had just been laid off from Company A. I did not believe it was relevant at the time, and I still believe it wasn't relevant. I accepted the job offer. 5. New job with Company B in State B was to start about a month after the day I was laid off from Company A, giving me a month of unemployment. 6. During that gap month of unemployment, I filed for unemployment benefits in State A. I was approved and received said benefits for that one month. 7. I then moved to State B after that one month and began working at Company B. I ceased receiving employment benefits from State A as soon as I started my new role. 8. Fast forward to yesterday, I got laid off from Company B and I need to figure out what to do in the resulting conundrum, which I will elaborate on below. Present Situation I filed a claim for unemployment in State B, my current state of residence. It was rejected. They said that I am still covered under the unemployment claim I opened in State A a year ago for the next two weeks. This makes me ineligible for benefits in State B for said next two weeks. After two weeks pass, the claim I had with State A will close and I can then file for a claim in State B. Okay, fair enough -- rules and regulations. BUT... If I go ahead and re-open my claim with State A, they will make an inquiry to Company B about my job situation to verify my layoff. And this is where I get really nervous. As I mentioned earlier, Company B does not know that I was laid off from Company A. For all they know, I accepted the position and put in my two weeks at Company A. When the benefits department from State A calls our HR Rep at Company B in State B, the HR Rep will figure out I was laid off and did not leave voluntarily -- because why else would I have filed for unemployment in State A? Leaving voluntarily makes you ineligible for unemployment. The HR Rep will connect the dots. If I file for these two weeks of benefits, I will receive around ~$900, which I frankly do not need because I have a sizable nest egg / rainy day fund. But why pass up money I'm eligible for? Well, I'm worried that my was-Manager at Company B will find out I actually got laid off from Company A and didn't leave on my own accord. Whether the HR Rep at Company B would tell my was-Manager is uncertain, but I'm going to just assume she would. She's chatty like that. Manager from Company B and I left on very good terms and he said he would give me glowing references from potential employers. I fear that his finding out I got laid off from Company A will somehow tarnish his view of me. I mean, was I obligated to tell Company B about my layoff from Company A after it happened? I was still technically employed with Company A while I was in the beginning stages of interviewing with Company B. I did not misrepresent ANY facts during this process. What I'm leaning towards is simply foregoing the next two weeks of benefits from State A. I will then file a claim with State B, my current state of residence, and Company B will receive an inquiry from State B with no eyebrows being raised. This way, I can be assured that whatever reputation I had with Company B will remain intact. All I would lose out on is $900 in benefits. OR I can inform the HR rep at Company B and tell her the truth: that I had actually gotten laid off from Company A and that they will be getting two inquiries for my employment status: one from State A for the next two weeks and another one from State B thereafter. The crux of the dilemma here is, was I supposed to disclose to Company B that I had gotten laid off from Company A after they extended an offer? Sorry if this got ramble-y or complicated.

  • Answer:

    was I supposed to disclose to Company B that I had gotten laid off from Company A after they extended an offer I certainly don't see why. They didn't ask, you didn't tell. And, even if it was "wrong" in some way to not proactively tell them, you've now been laid off from Company B, and your relationship with them is over. I'm not following what possible consequences you're worried about, even if they did "connect the dots." (I doubt the file they have on you even mentions, "Oh he had another job he left voluntarily to come here.")

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I don't see why the HR at company B wouldn't assume that Company A laid you off after you gave notice (or they heard through the rumour mill you were about to quit). Although not the norm it certainly isn't unheard of.

saucysault

Being laid off is nothing to be ashamed of- companies lay off great workers all the time to help their bottom line. I think there's less general shame in a layoff then in leaving a job voluntarily. I can't imagine Company B will care (and the HR Manager shouldn't tell your manager if she has any shred of discretion which I hope she has because, hello, HR). Don't give up your $900! That's yours, you earned that.

ThePinkSuperhero

1. You sound like feel guilty for lying to Company B or at least failing to tell the whole truth. But you did tell truth during interviews and on your resume. The only exception might be if you were fired for cause and you were trying to hide that - the question is whether it is material to their hiring decision. People get laid off all the time - and rehired all the time (at least here in Silicon Valley). Just having been laid off is not a reason to reject an otherwise strong candidate. 2. You got laid off by Company B and the manager is still willing to give you a glowing reference. Why do you think having been laid off earlier by A would change his opinion of you and your work? 3. HR is probably not even going to tell the manager about other company unless it is a very small organization - just doesn't seem like something they would spend any energy on. 4. I'm not sure you even need to call HR yourself - especially if this is a large company processing unemployment claims is a routine thing that you don't need to explain.

metahawk

You were laid off from A. Your work with A ended involuntarily before your work with B started. I don't see the problem.

zippy

Getting laid off is not like being fired for embezzeling. Getting laid off means the company couldn't pay you, generally. You are waaaayyy too worried about this. If you say were laid off, 99.9% of people will give you a look/sound of sympathy. It's almost universally accepted to not be your fault. Hence the difference between laid off and fired. You'll be fine :)

sio42

The only actual thing to worry about is that since you already had a job offer after being laid off, you were likely not actively looking for work nor able to start work immediately while receiving your first unemployment claim, which is generally a violation of the terms of an unemployment award.

klangklangston

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