Temp work in PA (collecting, file, receive, apply)

[FBJ]

If you accept a temp job for 40 hours a week and it's $30 less than what you get on UC after taxes, do you still accept that job?

I;m not sure how this works because the agency is only offering $11.00 an hour. Weekly benefit is $392 after taxes and the temp job would be $360 a week after taxes. So do I just tell the agency I won't accept?

Doesn't it have to be part-time work to receive partial benefits?

[Chyvan]

Not sure of the specifics with PA, but this question has arisen before and in NJ, if you work 32+ hrs/wk, that is not being unemployed anymore, and even if your gross pay is less than your UI benefit, you won't receive a check.

I get that you may be desperate, but don't take a job that pays less than UI until your UI benefits are exhausted. I just can't see the upside of working for "free."

[FBJ]

Originally Posted by Chyvan

Not sure of the specifics with PA, but this question has arisen before and in NJ, if you work 32+ hrs/wk, that is not being unemployed anymore, and even if your gross pay is less than your UI benefit, you won't receive a check.

I get that you may be desperate, but don't take a job that pays less than UI until your UI benefits are exhausted. I just can't see the upside of working for "free."

The gross pay is more than the weekly benefit but the net pay is $30 than the weely benefit after taxes. So it look like it doesn't make sense to accept.

[Chyvan]

The calculations are done using the gross, not the after tax amount. Also, you're forgetting that you're giving up 40 hours/wk of your life to make no more than you'd be getting by staying at home. Also, there's expenses associated with working like transportation, FICA, lunches, and then there is the inconvenience of it all like having to wake up to an alarm clock, having work clothes ready, and primping time. It's much easier to take this kind of job when you're not getting anything simply because it's better than nothing, but when it's a trade off like this, let someone else whose UI benefits have run out take it.

[FBJ]

Originally Posted by Chyvan

The calculations are done using the gross, not the after tax amount. Also, you're forgetting that you're giving up 40 hours/wk of your life to make no more than you'd be getting by staying at home. Also, there's expenses associated with working like transportation, FICA, lunches, and then there is the inconvenience of it all like having to wake up to an alarm clock, having work clothes ready, and primping time. It's much easier to take this kind of job when you're not getting anything simply because it's better than nothing, but when it's a trade off like this, let someone else whose UI benefits have run out take it.

So when the agency calls tomorrow just let her know I won't accept?

[Chyvan]

That's what I'd do, but I'd also report the refusal of work to UI and endure the adjudication that will follow. In the future, I'd never apply for these types of jobs ever again so that you don't have to deal with the consequences. Refusal of work issues are much easier to deal with than a quit. Just make sure you have the correct answer: the job didn't pay as much as you made in recent pervious employment. Also, per the US DOL, you are allowed to mention the job having no benefits like vacation, holiday, sick, and benefits, but for that to be a factor you are required to raise the issue.

[FBJ]

Originally Posted by Chyvan

That's what I'd do, but I'd also report the refusal of work to UI and endure the adjudication that will follow. In the future, I'd never apply for these types of jobs ever again so that you don't have to deal with the consequences. Refusal of work issues are much easier to deal with than a quit. Just make sure you have the correct answer: the job didn't pay as much as you made in recent pervious employment. Also, per the US DOL, you are allowed to mention the job having no benefits like vacation, holiday, sick, and benefits, but for that to be a factor you are required to raise the issue.

Report it UI? How does that work? I didn't think I had to say anything. You mean when I file again I answer yes to the refuse work question?

[STT Resident]

Originally Posted by TVandSportsGuy

Report it UI? How does that work? I didn't think I had to say anything. You mean when I file again I answer yes to the refuse work question?

If you don't report your refusal to take the job the agency probably will. I don't know that I'm correct but I wouldn't be surprised if it's a condition of their license that they report to Labor those people on their books who are collecting UC and who are either hired or who turn down jobs. Since you're allegedly an "employment counselor" by profession, you might spend some time educating yourself about all the rules and regulations in order to better advise your clients ...

You might study this website and, reference your situation, see Sections 65.21 and 65.62.

http://www.pacode.com/secure/data/03...chap65toc.html

[STT Resident]

This may also be applicable:

"Emergency Unemployment Compensation Fix
Workers who accepted temporary assignments formerly often risked losing a large proportion of their unemployment benefits or becoming ineligible to receive benefits at all. This is because their "base" salary depended on their most recent work, and many temp jobs pay much less than the jobs formerly held by unemployed workers. However, in July 2010, President Obama signed the "Emergency Unemployment Compensation Fix" into law. The provision allows workers who accept temporary work and whose weekly benefits based on their temporary jobs total either $100 less or 25 percent less than the weekly benefits from their former jobs to resume collecting unemployment at the higher rate when their temporary assignments end, according to the National Employment Law Project."

[ElizaTeal]

People work temp jobs when collecting unemployment. If your earnings fall below your weekly unemployment check , I believe unemployment will send you a partial check to make up the difference. Don't pass up a job at this stage of the game.

You go on "practice dates" with ladies who don't interest you, and "practice job interviews" for jobs you don't want, why not accept a "practice job?" If anything it will give you the experience of getting back to the daily routine of going to work. It can't hurt, right?