Re: Kathy in Il-Unemployment???

[Guest guest]

I've been lurking here for sometime, but I have had some recent

(good) experience with unemployment,so thought I would share.

First, according to Washington state law where I live, you must have

worked at less 680 hours in your base year. A base year is

calculated by ignoring the previous full quarter, then counting

the 4 quarters prior to that. (Why can't they make it simple??)

You must also be at least partially employed, and unemployed through

no fault of your own, able to work, available to work & actively

seeking work, and not have other income that might disqualify you

such as vacation, sick pay, pension from most recent employer, etc.

I lost my job in February, as in December my doctor requested a

reduction from 8 hrs daily to 4 hrs daily due to my fibromyalgia,

chronic fatigue, osteoarthritis, etc. My employer accomodated me for

a few weeks and when he was advised that I could not return to

working longer hours, I was informed that he was hiring someone to

take my full-time position. (This is legal under ADA-if a worker can

no longer perform the " necessary functions of the job " they can be

replaced.)

However, I filed for my employment on-line, & stated that I was laid

off due to my medical restrictions. Within 48 hours I received a

letter from the unemployment office requesting verification from my

doctor. I faxed the form to my doctor, & he faxed it back to me. In

turn, I faxed it to the unemployment office along with my own

personal statement of the events leading to my layoff, plus copies of

the 3 letters my doctor had previously sent my employer requesting

reduced hours.

I was very surprised when 2 days later, I received a letter in the

mail from the unemployment office advising me that I would receive my

regular benefits as long as I continue to look for a 20 hour per week

job. I was even more surprised when my first check arrived as I am

receiving FULL benefits.

Because of the internet, it has been quite easy for me to conduct my

job search-most of the local newspapers have their job postings on

their sites, the employment security department has a great site with

state-wide job listings & many of the temporary agencies also list

their jobs on the web. I'm even able to submit my weekly

unemployment claims on the web, so it has actually been quite simple

to meet my requirements. I actually had three interviews this week,

so the system seeks to be working for me.

I strongly recommend advocating for yourself-if you have questions do

not hesitate to contact the appropriate agencies as they may be

willing to work with you if you provide them complete information.

Hopefully, this may help someone else under similar circumstances.

Beckyjo in WA

[Guest guest]

Welcome, Beckyjo!

Thank you so much for sharing your good news and for giving us such a

wonderfully detailed, helpful post regarding unemployment.

I hope you find a job that you like soon. Good thinking to make the

most of the Internet in your situation. Sorry about your last job,

but you're obviously a very resourceful and bright person whom your

previous employer wasn't smart enough to accommodate.

Keep us posted and good luck!

> I've been lurking here for sometime, but I have had some recent

> (good) experience with unemployment,so thought I would share.

>

> First, according to Washington state law where I live, you must

have

> worked at less 680 hours in your base year. A base year is

> calculated by ignoring the previous full quarter, then counting

> the 4 quarters prior to that. (Why can't they make it simple??)

> You must also be at least partially employed, and unemployed

through

> no fault of your own, able to work, available to work & actively

> seeking work, and not have other income that might disqualify you

> such as vacation, sick pay, pension from most recent employer, etc.

>

> I lost my job in February, as in December my doctor requested a

> reduction from 8 hrs daily to 4 hrs daily due to my fibromyalgia,

> chronic fatigue, osteoarthritis, etc. My employer accomodated me

for

> a few weeks and when he was advised that I could not return to

> working longer hours, I was informed that he was hiring someone to

> take my full-time position. (This is legal under ADA-if a worker

can

> no longer perform the " necessary functions of the job " they can be

> replaced.)

>

> However, I filed for my employment on-line, & stated that I was

laid

> off due to my medical restrictions. Within 48 hours I received a

> letter from the unemployment office requesting verification from my

> doctor. I faxed the form to my doctor, & he faxed it back to me.

In

> turn, I faxed it to the unemployment office along with my own

> personal statement of the events leading to my layoff, plus copies

of

> the 3 letters my doctor had previously sent my employer requesting

> reduced hours.

>

> I was very surprised when 2 days later, I received a letter in the

> mail from the unemployment office advising me that I would receive

my

> regular benefits as long as I continue to look for a 20 hour per

week

> job. I was even more surprised when my first check arrived as I am

> receiving FULL benefits.

>

> Because of the internet, it has been quite easy for me to conduct

my

> job search-most of the local newspapers have their job postings on

> their sites, the employment security department has a great site

with

> state-wide job listings & many of the temporary agencies also list

> their jobs on the web. I'm even able to submit my weekly

> unemployment claims on the web, so it has actually been quite

simple

> to meet my requirements. I actually had three interviews this

week,

> so the system seeks to be working for me.

>

> I strongly recommend advocating for yourself-if you have questions

do

> not hesitate to contact the appropriate agencies as they may be

> willing to work with you if you provide them complete information.

>

> Hopefully, this may help someone else under similar circumstances.

>

> Beckyjo in WA

[Guest guest]

thanks, this sounds very promising!!! i will definatly have to do alot of

investigations. kathy in il