Financial Samurai - Forums

Career => Engineering Your Layoff => Topic started by: Jamie on August 18, 2018, 04:39:12 PM

Title: Were you able to collect unemployment after engineering your layoff?
Post by: Jamie on August 18, 2018, 04:39:12 PM
Were you able to collect unemployment after engineering your layoff? Was it hard to do?
Title: Re: Were you able to collect unemployment after engineering your layoff?
Post by: Captain on August 18, 2018, 11:06:52 PM
I haven't engineered a layoff, but I have collected unemployment many times over the years. I think it's always worth applying because the only down side is that you don't get approved. I always went straight to the unemployment office to get help when I had to file a claim. I didn't have the convenience of the internet back in my days.
Title: Re: Were you able to collect unemployment after engineering your layoff?
Post by: sfpf on August 20, 2018, 11:21:51 AM
Yes, I was able to get unemployment benefits and am glad I took the time to apply. The process in San Francisco takes patience because the unemployment office is so busy. The phone lines in CA are often jammed too and I couldn't even get placed on hold time and time because there were too many people calling in. I did a lot of reading online to figure out how to file a claim and often googled for answers outside of the CA EDD website. It felt frustrating not being able to get a hold of someone over the phone so I just did the best I could with the application. After I submitted they had a couple questions they wanted to clarify with me and they sent me a letter in the mail with a scheduled phone interview. It was nice to get to speak with someone then at least and I made sure to ask as many questions I could think of then while they got my paperwork squared away. Like Captain said, it's worth applying because the worst is you don't get it and you will get it if you meet the qualifications. Good luck!
Title: Re: Were you able to collect unemployment after engineering your layoff?
Post by: Sydney on August 20, 2018, 04:38:59 PM
Quote from: sfpf on August 20, 2018, 11:21:51 AM
Yes, I was able to get unemployment benefits and am glad I took the time to apply. The process in San Francisco takes patience because the unemployment office is so busy. The phone lines in CA are often jammed too and I couldn't even get placed on hold time and time because there were too many people calling in. I did a lot of reading online to figure out how to file a claim and often googled for answers outside of the CA EDD website. It felt frustrating not being able to get a hold of someone over the phone so I just did the best I could with the application. After I submitted they had a couple questions they wanted to clarify with me and they sent me a letter in the mail with a scheduled phone interview. It was nice to get to speak with someone then at least and I made sure to ask as many questions I could think of then while they got my paperwork squared away. Like Captain said, it's worth applying because the worst is you don't get it and you will get it if you meet the qualifications. Good luck!

I completely agree about the frustrations of dealing with the EDD. When I was trying to file a claim I remember going through the same thing - calling over and over again and not being able to even get put on hold. Their website is ok - some things are pretty straight forward but if you have any type of unique situation it's hard to figure out what to do. But the couple times I magically got to be placed on hold and was eventually able to speak with someone, they were always so nice and really helpful.
Title: Re: Were you able to collect unemployment after engineering your layoff?
Post by: Sam on September 13, 2018, 09:21:09 AM
 Yes, this is one of the beauties of engineer in your layoff. If you get laid off, even with a severance package, you are eligible for state unemployment benefits usually up to 26 weeks. During the time of financial crisis, the federal government stepped in and offered an additional 73 weeks or so.

If you quit, you get nothing because the state deems that you quit because you didn't need your job or money.
Title: Re: Were you able to collect unemployment after engineering your layoff?
Post by: CallieSF on November 11, 2018, 10:24:12 AM
Engineered my layoff a few years ago. Did the application online and due to the high level of income I qualified for the max amount per week...totalling $11,700 max in California. Hardly what I expected and it was taxable in the highest income tax bracket. I tell people never to rely on EDD, but it was a nice perk. The employer pays into EDD anyways, so make sure you get a big severance package.
Title: Re: Were you able to collect unemployment after engineering your layoff?
Post by: Sam on November 11, 2018, 06:50:47 PM
Quote from: CallieSF on November 11, 2018, 10:24:12 AM
Engineered my layoff a few years ago. Did the application online and due to the high level of income I qualified for the max amount per week...totalling $11,700 max in California. Hardly what I expected and it was taxable in the highest income tax bracket. I tell people never to rely on EDD, but it was a nice perk. The employer pays into EDD anyways, so make sure you get a big severance package.

Well done! Getting unemployment benefits is one of the key benefits of negotiating a severance. If you quit, it's much harder to get unemployment because you quit voluntarily and the company must SIGN OFF with the state/city to approve your unemployment benefits in most cases.