unemployment v part time - TX (collecting, file, receive, claim)

[dianamiranda]

I have been employed for 30+ years. My boss has now put me on part-time work (24 hours) instead of my usual 40 hour work week. My question is...would I make more money filing for unemployment than working part -time? I was not offered any type of severance package, simply reduced hours because he is "retiring". I am currently looking for another job but have to wonder if I would make more money filing for unemployment and committing more time to job hunting.

[johnsmith]

money for unemployment per week is $489, do you make more than that?

[WRM20]

You need to look up whether the reduction in hours is effectively an involuntary termination. It it isn't and you just quit, you will have to wait to qualify for benefits. Keep in mind that your current employer can challenge your unemployment benefits.

[descovy]

You may want to look up the official information, but from what I understood you could file for benefits for having your hours reduced.

Heres a "fluff piece" about it. But do more research for your specific case.
Do Part-Time Workers Get Unemployment Benefits? | Chron.com

[ej35401]

How hard would it be for you to find another job?

[dianamiranda]

Originally Posted by johnsmith

money for unemployment per week is $489, do you make more than that?

Yes!

[Chyvan]

Originally Posted by dianamiranda

I am currently looking for another job but have to wonder if I would make more money filing for unemployment and committing more time to job hunting.

Sometimes, but you need to have maybe already made a decision.

If you employer says, "I'm reducing your hours next week," You've got one week to decide. If you work the reduced schedule, that pretty much becomes your new terms and conditions of employment, and you can no longer quit because of it.

If you boss says, "starting tomorrow, I'm reducing your schedule," You have a tiny amount of time, but before you go home that night, you have to say, "I'm not going part-time, and we need to talk about it." The boss might say, "don't come back," and that's you being fired and fully eligible for UI, or he might say, "I'll get back to you."

It's a fine balancing act, and you might not have a choice anymore.

However, working part-time is usually a ripoff compared to getting full UI and just being done with the place. However, TX does have a decent partial UI formula to take some of the sting out of the situation if you already started working the reduced schedule because you didn't know any better.

[vwgto]

If your employer reduces your hours/pay/benefits more than 20%, typically you can claim "Voluntary Quit for Good Cause - Significant Change in Working Agreement". However, if you work even one day on the new reduced hours schedule, it will be seen by the State as you agreeing to the new schedule. Do not quit your job or file for unemployment until you research what is and is not allowed. The State will do everything it can to prevent you from collecting. However, once you successfully make your case, the State will grant unemployment. Note: If everything goes perfectly and there are no glitches, you might receive your first unemployment check six weeks later. Make sure you have saved something to get you through.