Question by sara: if my husband is collecting unemployment can I work without any penalty to his benefits?
My husband was just laid off. We are trying to plan ahead and figure out unemployment benefits. Would I be able to work while he receives unemployment without those benefits penalized?? We are a one income family with 5 kids. The maximum amount of unemployment benefits will barely cover our house payment. If he works, those benefits go down. Any answers, advice and help are greatly appreciated! This is new territory for us. Thank you
Thank you so much to both of you for your quick responses. I really appreciate it!
Best answer:
Answer by Age of Reason
Yes you can work
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Your working has no impact on his benefits. His work would have none on yours. Each person stands alone in this regard.
I really wish you had told us in which state your husband is claiming benefits. You said that if he works, his benefits go down and that is correct but only to some extent. In some states, only a percentage of his earnings reduce his UI benefits. For example, if he were claiming in CA, and receiving the maximum $ 450 a week, about 75% of his earnings would reduce the $ 450 amount. So if he got a part time job earning say $ 250 a week, his UI benefit would be approximately $ 450 – ($ 250 x 75% = $ 187.50) = $ 262.50. Now there’s not a big difference, but there would at least be some extra income for your family ($ 262.50 + $ 250 = $ 512.50). In Minnesota, however, they only reduce benefits by 55%, so using the same figures above, his UI benefit would be $ 450 – ($ 250 x 55% = $ 137.50) = $ 312.50. Added to the $ 250 would total $ 562.50 or an additional $ 112.50 per week. I realize that there will be taxes taken from the earnings, but you’d still be ahead.
If you can’t figure out what affect his earnings would have on UI benefits by checking your state’s website, you could re-ask the question giving us that information and we could investigate for you. Just don’t assume that his working will eliminate all of his UI benefits. You’re going to need all the money you can get for a while. I’ve been out of a job since January of last year, so I fully understand.