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Unemployment and being sick

Posted: Thu Dec 06, 2018 9:28 am
by markcoop
I have a question about unemployment benefits. My wife was receiving unemployment benefits that started Sept 2017 (she got let go from her job Aug 2017). In Dec 2017 she got hire as a per diem and stopped receiving the unemployment benefits. That work has been steady. At the end of June 2018 she got sick and was unable to work for 3 months (July-Sept). Does she qualify for unemployment benefits during that time (or maybe just till her 1 year anniversary of being let go, July-Aug)? I know in her old job she had plenty of sick time that would have covered this 3 month period. I told my wife to call about but I think she's just uncomfortable about it all.

Thanks for any information

Re: Unemployment and being sick

Posted: Thu Dec 06, 2018 9:30 am
by neilpilot
It maybe state specific, but in all of the states I'm familiar with (AR, TN, SC, VA, NJ) you can only collect unemployment if you are ready and able to work. If she's too sick to work, then she's disqualified.

Re: Unemployment and being sick

Posted: Thu Dec 06, 2018 10:04 am
by GoldStar
neilpilot wrote: Thu Dec 06, 2018 9:30 am It maybe state specific, but in all of the states I'm familiar with (AR, TN, SC, VA, NJ) you can only collect unemployment if you are ready and able to work. If she's too sick to work, then she's disqualified.
My understanding as well. Short-Term-Disability Insurance is intended for 3-month illness.

Re: Unemployment and being sick

Posted: Thu Dec 06, 2018 10:09 am
by RickBoglehead
Correct. If you are unable, or unwilling, to work, you get no unemployment benefits. As noted, that would be a short term disability if you had coverage, which is unlikely since most buy it via their employer, and it ends when the job ends.

Re: Unemployment and being sick

Posted: Thu Dec 06, 2018 12:51 pm
by markcoop
Thanks for the responses. I live in NY. I believe I found the same information as mentioned above that if sick or unable to work, then no Unemployment pay.