Unemployment

[Marine2Guard]

Well it seems I will be laid off in the not to near future, I am currently slated to begin traditional OCS in June. I have a couple of questions in regards to drill pay and unemployment benefits, it takes hours to get through to anyone at the unemployment office.
1: Will I be able to receive unemployment while receiving drill pay?
2: Can I try and change my contract to go to AOCS (since I'm not working this is now an option)
3: If I am able to do #2 will I be able to obtain unemployment benefits after I get back from AOCS (until I find another job).
I undestand that no probably works for the unemployment department, but if anyone has had to deal with a similiar situation I would greatly appreciate your input.

[richierich]

Hoorah! I think you'd be eligible, if you are drilling once a month.

http://www.state.tn.us/labor-wfd/Claimants/appintro.html

[Marine2Guard]

Richierich, I appreciate the quick responce, I just happen to already be on the link you sent me and am looking for the exact break down of benefits in regards to drill. From what I have read as long as I don't make more then my weekly benefits I will still get unemployment, the thing is wages are calculated from Sat to Sat, being that we drill all weekend would half my wages go toward one week and the other half to the second week? If so this would keep weekly wages under my weekly benefits. If I have to count the entire drill towards one week then I will lose my benefits for that week. Again thanks for the responce.

[Frisco]

First hand experience here - yes, that's how it works.

My drill pay was split into two different weeks. For illustration, lets say that get $300/week UI (unemployment insurance), and you get $200 for a MUTA-4 on Saturday the 7th and Sunday the 8th. You would report $100 in the week ending Saturday the 7th, and the other $100 in the week ending Saturday the 14th.

Now, they won't deduct the entire $100 from your UI - you get a portion of your earnings 'protected' as an incentive for working. For the week ending Saturday the 7th, you'd collect, say $215 (and the same for the following week).

Just remember not to write 'still working' in the 'reason you no longer work there' box. I know someone who was doing that, and she had to re-open the claim about every month. I wrote 'monthly weekend drill' in that box; never had any problems.

[Frisco]

Regarding your second question - when I was unemployed and it looked like my unit was going to send me to school, I looked into this. I got a phone interview with the military/veteran coordinator for my state unemployment office. He told me that my claim would be 'on hold' during the time I was away at school and continue when I got back. He said that active duty for training was not considered full-time, permanent employment.

Good luck.

[Marine2Guard]

Thanks for the info Frisco