Unemployment Benefits for Full-Time Students (Austin: loans, subsidized, income)

[scm53]

Originally Posted by stefb84

I also started drawing unemployment upon leaving the Military. I am doing online classes, and am still looking for a job, so I still receive my "benefits" from the Texas Workforce Commission.

Are you post-9/11 GI bill eligible? If you are, why aren't you going to school full time? If you did, you'd get almost $1400 in monthly living expense in Austin for 36 months and wouldn't need unemployment. And you'd be making yourself more employable.

[stefb84]

Originally Posted by OpenD

The current requirement is 5 searches a week.

No, it's still 3, I just put in my payment request.

[stefb84]

Originally Posted by scm53

Are you post-9/11 GI bill eligible? If you are, why aren't you going to school full time? If you did, you'd get almost $1400 in monthly living expense in Austin for 36 months and wouldn't need unemployment. And you'd be making yourself more employable.

I would love to do full time, but with family and everything it's nearly impossible. Plus my husband is still in the service, so I am stuck in El Paso. So, I would only get about 1000 a month. And, with online school, as long as I meet the 7 credits each semester I am considered full-time.

[scm53]

Originally Posted by stefb84

I would love to do full time, but with family and everything it's nearly impossible. .

I don't really mean to be harsh, but if you can't go to school full time due to your family obligations, then how do you expect to work full time? How did you manage when you were still in? The obligations didn't change. What did?

I spent 27 years in the Navy. My son is a Marine E-4, returning from his second tour in Afghanistan next month. His EAOS is Seotember, 2013, when he will return to college with a little more "focus" than his first abortive trip. I promise to apply my size 11 1/2 to his rear if he dares apply for unemployment after he voluntarily doesn't re-enlist. RIFs and being in-eligible to reenlist are one thing. Choosing to walk away from a job, then taking the taxpayer's money is another. That would be his case (not saying it is yours), and would earn him the whipping I am not too old to deliver, Recon bad mama-jamma that he is or not. Old age and cunning beat youth every day.

[OpenD]

Originally Posted by stefb84

No, it's still 3, I just put in my payment request.

Ahhh, I just checked, and it looks like we were both correct. Per the Texas Workforce Commission:

"Make your work search your full-time job! Unless TWC exempts you from this requirement, you must make your assigned minimum number of work search activities each week to be eligible for UI benefits. If you are uncertain about your minimum number of required weekly work search contacts, call a UI Tele-Center. "

Unemployment Insurance Benefits Information

In other words, it varies. My friend who is currently collecting benefits in Austin verified to me that he is required to make at least 5 contacts or other search activities per week. He was laid off from a high-end job and is collecting maximum benefits, so maybe that has something to do with it.

[MaryLuu]

Tawd2024, yes if you are unemployment benefits, going to school will not cause you to lose your benefits. The fact that its a evening program is even better.

I was on unemployment for a few months, and attended school at the time. When you submit your payment request, every two weeks, you answer questions such as, have you been seeking employment. One standard question is, did you attend school in the past two weeks. If you answer yes, the follow up question is, did attending school cause you toturn down job offers.

It shouldn't be a problem.

[mayfair44]

Originally Posted by OpenD

Ahhh, I just checked, and it looks like we were both correct. Per the Texas Workforce Commission:

"Make your work search your full-time job! Unless TWC exempts you from this requirement, you must make your assigned minimum number of work search activities each week to be eligible for UI benefits. If you are uncertain about your minimum number of required weekly work search contacts, call a UI Tele-Center. "

Unemployment Insurance Benefits Information

In other words, it varies. My friend who is currently collecting benefits in Austin verified to me that he is required to make at least 5 contacts or other search activities per week. He was laid off from a high-end job and is collecting maximum benefits, so maybe that has something to do with it.

To confirm, the magic number each week is 5! I would not hedge on this one....

[stefb84]

It may be depending on the area, because I was also getting the maximum amount of benefits.

[stefb84]

Originally Posted by mayfair44

To confirm, the magic number each week is 5! I would not hedge on this one....

I think it varies between each individual, because I went back through all the letters that I received from TWC and they each say at least 3 work searches each week.

[stefb84]

Originally Posted by scm53

I don't really mean to be harsh, but if you can't go to school full time due to your family obligations, then how do you expect to work full time? How did you manage when you were still in? The obligations didn't change. What did?

I spent 27 years in the Navy. My son is a Marine E-4, returning from his second tour in Afghanistan next month. His EAOS is Seotember, 2013, when he will return to college with a little more "focus" than his first abortive trip. I promise to apply my size 11 1/2 to his rear if he dares apply for unemployment after he voluntarily doesn't re-enlist. RIFs and being in-eligible to reenlist are one thing. Choosing to walk away from a job, then taking the taxpayer's money is another. That would be his case (not saying it is yours), and would earn him the whipping I am not too old to deliver, Recon bad mama-jamma that he is or not. Old age and cunning beat youth every day.

I don't think you were harsh at all in your comment. I completely understand your views, however, I did not choose to get out. I was about to hit my 10 year mark, and with the Army downsizing I was one of the many that got discharged. About a week before I out-processed I had a few family issues that came up (don't want to get too personal), and we are still having to deal with them. I didn't want to depend on the government and taxpayers dollars, however, I also feel that after serving my country and putting my life on the line in Iraq (twice) and Afghanistan (once) I deserve some down time as well as a free paycheck that I, along with my comrades, provided to the unemployed too. Don't get me wrong, I'm not just sitting at home on my butt taking the free hand out... I am out there everyday looking for a job, being told that I am over qualified, as well as going to school so I can get the job I know I deserve. I am definitely not above driving a dump truck, or cleaning toilets. Also, I would like to thank you and your son for your service and wish you both the best of luck!