Unemployment NJ (find a job, school, bus)

[Acornielle]

Hi, guys.

I was fired from my job at the end of October and filed for unemployment the day after. I've since had the phone interview since I was discharged for what I believe was a simple misconduct. I'm now waiting for a determination letter.

The actual reason why I'm writing today is a simple question. If I do get disqualified for 8 weeks, will I get back pay for the 8 weeks I was disqualified or do i essentially get the benefit period cut from 26 to 18 weeks?

Thank you all in advance.

[Slade51]

You will be delayed in starting benefits. No back pay, they start counting from your first check. So you will get the full number of weeks, unless hopefully you find a job before then.

[Acornielle]

Thank you very much, Slade51. That clears it up for me.

I'm still getting 26 weeks, they're just going to make me wait another 7 weeks for it (well, at this point it's going to be about two weeks only). I wonder if the unemployment site updates before I get the letter, and if the money will hit my account before I receive the letter/site update if I get approved without misconduct stamp.

[bbnetworking]

I thought unemployment only for laid offs, didn't know getting fired can also qualify? I may be wrong.

[Acornielle]

Originally Posted by bbnetworking

I thought unemployment only for laid offs, didn't know getting fired can also qualify? I may be wrong.

If you get fired, depending on the reason why, you may be eligible for unemployment benefits. I was terminated for breaking company policy, but unemployment ruled it was a simple misconduct and so it approved my benefits with an 8-week delay (penalty). So in short, yes, even if you get fired, or quit, you may be eligible depending on why.

Read some of the threads here. They have great information.

[Eevee17]

Originally Posted by bbnetworking

I thought unemployment only for laid offs, didn't know getting fired can also qualify? I may be wrong.

No, because you can be fired for no reason. NJ is at will.

[AdrianBeaky]

Originally Posted by Eevee17

No, because you can be fired for no reason. NJ is at will.

Very true but if I recall correctly when I was on it, it depends why you were fired. When I was laid off and was on unemployment, they contacted my last employer to find out why. But I've heard of people who just stopped showing up to work and got fired for that or fired for another reason of their fault and getting denied. Then I've also talked to people who quit their jobs and getting unemployment.

[Acornielle]

Originally Posted by AdrianBeaky

Very true but if I recall correctly when I was on it, it depends why you were fired. When I was laid off and was on unemployment, they contacted my last employer to find out why. But I've heard of people who just stopped showing up to work and got fired for that or fired for another reason of their fault and getting denied. Then I've also talked to people who quit their jobs and getting unemployment.

The unemployment process in NJ is a complex one. But basically you qualify for unemployment if you get fired for no fault of your own, like not being a good fir for the job, or being terminated for missing work once and not be given a warning, etc. Of course some people will get unemployment in spite of the rules because some employers tend to not respond to the unemployment agency's calls, and so whatever the claimant says happened stands until proven otherwise.

[UnemployedTIna]

I am a bus driver, I was placed on a performance plan for not controlling the kids. I thought that this was unfair because I had a rough group of preschoolers. Well, the job stress drove me crazy. I left a four year sleeping in the bus. I did not know that he was sleeping. However, he did not stay in the bus for a long time. The director found him. I was fired. Unemployment said that they are going to give me unemployment after an eight week period. I am planning to apealplan to say that the performance plan stress was too much for me and that I was not in a good state of mind. The company shoukd have just fired me for not being able to control the kids on the bus. Then I would not have the stress and it would have been a job performance issue. I heard that appeals can change some unemployment cases to severe misconduct. Should I appeal or will I lose everything

[HalfFull]

Originally Posted by UnemployedTIna

I am a bus driver, I was placed on a performance plan for not controlling the kids. I thought that this was unfair because I had a rough group of preschoolers. Well, the job stress drove me crazy. I left a four year sleeping in the bus. I did not know that he was sleeping. However, he did not stay in the bus for a long time. The director found him. I was fired. Unemployment said that they are going to give me unemployment after an eight week period. I am planning to apealplan to say that the performance plan stress was too much for me and that I was not in a good state of mind. The company shoukd have just fired me for not being able to control the kids on the bus. Then I would not have the stress and it would have been a job performance issue. I heard that appeals can change some unemployment cases to severe misconduct. Should I appeal or will I lose everything

You should consider yourself very lucky to get anything, because leaving a kid sleeping on the bus is severely negligent.