Question by nike47: I was terminated but should I say I was “laid off” at the unemployment office?
I live in Massachusetts and I was “terminated today.” I heard if i go to the unemployment office and say I was “terminated” it takes 8-10 weeks to collect unemployment. If i say i was “laid off” it takes 6-8 weeks to collect. Is there any reason why I shouldn’t simply say I was “laid off” as opposed to “terminated”?
Best answer:
Answer by JC
Are you under the impression that they are not going to check whether you were laid off or terminated?
Give your answer to this question below!
Well you would be liying so thats a reason to not tell them you were just laid off. Plus not just anyone can go in there and say oh ya i need uneployment. They would have to verify your status with your previous employer to make sure you were really laid off or terminated.
“Laid off” seems to indicate you were left go due to lack of work, which is all too common these days.
“Terminated” covers just about anything from being left go due to lack of work, or being fired for misconduct.
It really makes no difference. In most states the unemployment agency sends a letter to the last employer, asking WHY you are no longer working there. Their reply will determine whether or not you receive benefits.However, if it is in the newspaper that “: Ford plant at Detroit closes” and you say you worked at Ford Detroit, what can Ford say that the world doesn’t already know?.
Tell them the truth. They will verify this status with your former employer anyway. And it’s 4-6 weeks. Unemployment is on a major rise throughout the entire country and is taking a tad bit longer to process. Go now.
“Laid off” means that you lost your job through no fault of your own.
Being “terminated”, however, implies that you could have been dismissed from your job through some improper conduct on your part,or more precise you were fired.
If you were fired, or if you voluntarily quit your job, you may not qualify for for unemployment benefits.
Yes, there is one very good reason. It is fraud, could result in criminal charges and could disqualify you from receiving any benefits whatsoever.
Upon termination of employment of any kind (ie, fired, quit, laid off, term employement, etc.) the employer is required to file and submit a record of employment. These contain the reason for termination of employment and are used to calculate your employment insurance benefits and therefore your little indiscretion will be caught.
Conrtary to what other posters indicate, terminated doesn’t actually mean it was your fault, it means your employment was terminated with no expectation that it would be resumed in the future. It doesn’t mean you were fired, it could just mean there wasn’t enough work and they don’t anticipate there being further work in the future for you. Being laid off can mean there was lack of work at the time and you may be hired in the future again.
most unemployment proceedings are a legal thing. Lying to an unemployment officer about how you lost your job can do two things:
1. They will find out from the employer.
2. If the employer has nothing in writing saying you were teminated, they will surely come up with something once they hear of your Unemployment insurance claim.
Search online for unemployment insurance. Make sure you know the implications of lying to a government agency. If you use fraud to get money, you will likely end up losing … and all of this for two weeks quicker? In certain states there are “at will” and no need for termination etc.
If you are found to be of misconduct you will most certainly be denied any benefits. Unmployment is for people that are unemployed through no fault of their own. This applies to people who are fired and layed off. Don’t let the “stigma” of Terminated make you lie. You will win if you tell the truth and act accordingly.
Just remember that they will probably contact your former employer before any benefits are paid. If they find out you lied, you could lose all your benefits.