CA - Continuing an existing UI claim after working for 3 months? (collect, UI)

[Ikkyu1234]

Hi all!

Situation: I'm in California. I've been on unemployment since mid August after being laid off. My weekly benefits is $397 before tax and I have 8k left to collect before 8/11/2018. Cool!

I just had a short job fall into my lap. It would be ~3 months of work for $800 a week, 40 hours a week (same as I made before) starting on Tuesday.


Question:

Can I re-open my claim after the 3 months of work is done and continue on that same weekly benefit amount with the 8k until next year? Or does all of that change?

I am under the impression that since I filed my claim in August, the day after I lost my job, my base period is April 1, 2016, through March 31, 2017 (if I'm understanding Base Period right). What I'm not clear on is if it remains that for the whole year or if all of that resets when I take a new job and by new base period will be when I started this contract position. If that's the case, why even take a temp job if I'll be getting way less in unemployment?

Thank you!
ikkyu

[Chyvan]

Originally Posted by Ikkyu1234

Can I re-open my claim after the 3 months of work is done and continue on that same weekly benefit amount with the 8k until next year? Or does all of that change?

Nothing on the claim can change until it expires in Aug, 2018.

However, understand the risk. If you get fired or quit this job for the wrong reason, you will NOT get back on UI. It must end. If you don't want this job as a career, and they try to keep you, you're stuck. Also, if this is through an agency, some of them are notorious for fighting claims and making your life hell. Get HELP when it comes time to getting back on UI if the situation looks iffy.

On the other hand, it will provide enough earnings for a 2nd-year claim, so you can get a new claim in Aug, 2018, that should be just about as good as this one using wages Apr - Aug, 2017 plus from this job.

Save your paystubs.

[Ikkyu1234]

Most excellent! Thank you very much for the response. Luckily this job is for a film, so its gunna end (famous last words).