In a bind--need help re: unemployment benefits and census job (extension, file)

[Bandit507]

This week I accepted an enumerator position but after researching online I am now utterly confused and have all sorts of concerns.

I am currently approaching the end of my third extension and applied for the census job because I read it would extend my UI benefits. However, I am now reading on some forums that after the temp census job ends, I would not be eligible for the fourth extension on my current claim and would need to file a new claim in which my benefits would be recalculated based on the earnings of my temp work and I would be receiving considerably less. Is this true? How many weeks of temp work or pay do u have to get to be eligible for a new claim?

Also, when I was on the phone with the guy that offered me the job, I was concerned about the 4 day training sessions from 8am - 5pm. In my industry there is usually high turn over right before summer so I just started interviewing a lot. I've been getting at least 2 interviews a week and usually there is very little flexibility in scheduling them bc they are looking to hire asap. The guy on the phone told me that they are not flexible with the census training sessions and I would have to be there for all of it. I felt like I had no time to even consider my options so I just reluctantly agreed.

I have not yet done the training which is scheduled for next week and then the week after that. I've been unemployed for over a year so the most important thing for me right now is to find full-time work. I think it would be absolutely foolish to sacrifice good full-time job opportunities to go to these training sessions. I'm pretty certain at least one job is gonna have second round interviews that week. I'm real scared that I might lose my benefits if I tell them I can't do the training since I am essentially turning down the work.

Is it too late to quit now? If I don't mark on my claim form that I turned down work can EDD find out and stop my benefits? (since apparently a background check was done beforehand)

Please any insight on this would be greatly appreciated.

[mtneer]

You wouldn't be turning down work. You would be turning down training. I don't think they can find out anyway.

From what someone told me you have to work 8 weeks full time to get back on unemployment. And from what others on CD have said the census is barely giving them a few hours of work a week after promising them 20-40 hours.

[errigal]

Bandit, I'm in a similar position to you. The Census Bureau called me last week about an enumerator position. They told me to come in one day this week - Friday - for paperwork and fingerprinting. Then training starts on Monday. In my case they said it would be four days 9AM-5PM. They said I should be available for 6-8 weeks.

I worked for them last year beginning in April. There was one week of training and about five weeks work. I think they told us to be available for 8-10 weeks. For the training portion, one had to be there every day. The lunchbreak was unpredictable so it would be difficult to schedule interviews in that time. However, during the work weeks, you could pretty much make your own schedule, although you had to be available for meetings with the team leader a few times a week. So I think it would just be during the time of the training that scheduling interviews would be an issue for you.

Regarding adjustment of benefits, I'm not sure. Last year working on the census had the effect of extending my benefits by a few weeks. When I'd finished the temp work, I just logged into DOL again and my benefits were reinstated based on the original claim. I'm assuming the same will happen this time. But maybe it depends which tier you're in.

Last year, the census bureau also called me about a much lower-paying job. I think it was $13.25 an hour. I wasn't sure where I would stand if I turned it down and then went to fill in my weekly claim question "did you refuse any job offer." I called the DOL and the man I spoke to said it wasn't a reasonable job offer. He said one is not obliged to take a job that offers less than 80% of what one usually earns.

[tcrackly]

That's funny. I took a per diem home healthcare position because I figured some work is better than no work. They also reminded me that on UI beneifits I could not "refuse work" even though after 4 weeks of "being employed" the only offer I got was for 5 hours per week assignment. I ended up leaving the position (as suggested by the employer) because of insurance liability shortfalls and my state's UI disqualified me for leaving work without a reasonable cause.

[caligurltotx]

OP just don't show up for the training! It happens all the time and I bet for the same reasons as you stated. And if you are dealing with CA EDD I would not want to rock the boat. They won't know you were offered work by the Census. And don't bank on the Census work lasting 6 - 8 weeks. They have had a 72% form return rate. Last year we were told we would work until mid June when hired mid March. We were done mid May!

[Boardwalk 08755]

Show up for the interview with a cane....that will get you off the hook.

[LoveMyself]

i was thinking about this same issue when i applied for the census job. eventually i never heard back from them and i considered it a blessing because i'm sorry but i am not losing out on ui benefits for a measly 5-15 hour a week job that's gonna end in 2 months. i'd rather be receiving ui.