If you move from a full-time job to a part-time job, will you still be eligible to receive UI (Unemployment Insurance)? If you only ever held a part-time job, which you just lost, would you still qualify for the benefits? Are these the questions that are worrying you? Fret not! We’ll answer them all!
First Things First – Are you eligible?
Rules and eligibility criteria for unemployment insurance vary from state to state. So there could be a chance that you may not qualify for the benefits in one state while you will be deemed ineligible in another state.
Whether the job you lost was a part time job or a full time job, you should have lost the job due to no mistake of yours. That rule is pretty much the same in all states. If the reason for separation from your last job was due to a fault from you, you may not qualify for the benefits.
Case I – Only part time jobs
Most states will take your part time jobs into account while they go through your work history. If you had a full time job which you lost and then resorted to a part time job to help with the bills, you may still qualify to receive the benefits.
Let’s take the first case, where a person only ever held a part-time job. As mentioned before the office of UI will take every job you held into account. So even if it was a part time job, you may still qualify to receive the benefits provided you managed to earn the required amount during the base period.
If your job was a low paying one that required you to work only a few hours every week, you may not be eligible to receive the benefits.
There could also be a situation where you work multiple part time jobs and even retain one. Here too you will qualify for the benefits as long as you have earned the stipulated minimum wages during your base period. Please note that you will not qualify for benefits if your income from the job you are retaining pays you more than the minimum amount your state pays as the weekly benefit.
Case II – Full time jobs to part time jobs
The second scenario is where you resorted to a part time job after you lost a full time job. It could also be possible that your working hours at your full time job has been reduced due to lack of work. In both cases your income will certainly reduce the amount you will receive as benefits but it will not eliminate benefits altogether. In the latter case, you should be filing for what is called Partial Unemployment Benefits.
Qualifying For Unemployment benefits
As the rules and the process of determining the unemployment benefits amount vary from state to state, only your state’s UI office can determine whether you qualify for the program. We suggest that you contact the authorities immediately after you have been laid-off. Such unemployment insurance programs often require you to search for new jobs actively.
Keep in mind that benefit amounts are often small and designed to cover only your basic expenses. This means that you will have to cut back and make job hunting your priority. We understand that financial strains can take a toll on your health and psyche. Stay positive, spend time with loved ones and never give up hope. Cheers!!