Ethical question about unemployment benefits

EliseB0323

As I mentioned below, DH is likely going to be out of a job after Nov. 30. He should be eligible for unemployment benefits. If I go back to work full-time (I work part-time now) and we aren't paying for DS's daycare, we should be OK moneywise. We won't be able to put money away for college or retirement or continue with our investments, and we may have to dip into our savings, but we would be OK for at least a year if we don't have any emergencies.

Would you still file for unemployment benefits if you didn't really need them? DH and I have both worked since we were 16 and never filed for unemployment before, so we have contributed a lot to the system. But I still feel weird about getting unemployment when we can still pay the mortgage, put food on the table, etc.

shouldbworkin

Yes, why wouldn't you?  There is nothing unethical about it.  His firm decided to downsize, he did not decide to leave.  It would only be unethical if he wasn't actively looking for a job while out of work. 

eclaires

Yes, because that's why you've paid into the system. 

But I also hate social security and the fact that we're paying into a system that will be broke when we retire, so I'm bitter in general and wouldn't think twice about taking what I've paid into to continue to save for college and stuff.  I'm sure that makes me a selfish ahole, or something, but you've paid into it, get your benefits.

Also, what if you lose your job or something happens unexpectedly?  Can you apply months after being laid off?  I'd be worried about that in this economy

juniper19

Absolutely.  You pay into the unemployment pot out of your paycheck, so you are entitled to that money if you lose your job.  It isn't about 'need'.

JOEBunny

Unemployment benefits are just like insurance.  Your employer pays into them, and has been for years.  To not use them when your eligible is the equivalent of not filing for life insurance because you have enough to pay for the funeral. 

Believe me, if you had to pay out of pocket each month the amount your employer pays (which you do in a way, since he doesn't pay you as much because of it), you would not be asking this question. 

ridesbuttons

Yes, of course.  That is why you pay into unemployment.  It is insurance for exactly this type of thing.

joseysbride

I don't think that's unethical.  That's what unemployment is for.

I would be a little annoyed if someone was paying their bills just fine while taking unemployment and not attempting to search for another job in an effort to get off of unemployment.  That is way different than your situation.

phillymom2b

Your DH absolutely deserves to collect unemployment benefits if his job disappears out from under him-- even if it doesn't bankrupt your family for him to be out of work. You are right, you have paid in all those years and deserve to have protection when you finally need it. However, if he is choosing to opt out of the workforce in order to care for a child, then he should NOT file for benefits. I believe one must be looking for work in order to qualify for unemployment so DH wouldn't fit that requirement. He will be asked to demonstrate that he's looking for a replacement job in order to ask for benefits each week and I'm sure you guys don't want to lie about your situation...obviously that would not be ethical.

EMT

Ditto Eclaires. And also, I know people that have been laid off and actively looking for work for MONTHS (like 9 months, a year, etc.). This is not the economy to turn down benefits that you've already paid for because you are not really hurting at this point. My opinion on this has somewhat changed recently. 

I'm sorry about the layoff and I hope he finds something soon.

 

hikerbeth

yes.  The "if we didn't have any emergencies" line is key.  It is also rough finding a job right now (I have been out of work for over a year at this point).

EliseB0323

phillymom2b:

Your DH absolutely deserves to collect unemployment benefits if his job disappears out from under him-- even if it doesn't bankrupt your family for him to be out of work. You are right, you have paid in all those years and deserve to have protection when you finally need it. However, if he is choosing to opt out of the workforce in order to care for a child, then he should NOT file for benefits. I believe one must be looking for work in order to qualify for unemployment so DH wouldn't fit that requirement. He will be asked to demonstrate that he's looking for a replacement job in order to ask for benefits each week and I'm sure you guys don't want to lie about your situation...obviously that would not be ethical.

DH is not "opting out of the workforce" for any reason. His company lost the contract he works on. Of couse he is looking for a job and will continue to do so. But his experience is very specialized, so it's probably going to take him awhile to find a job. DH will stay home with DS while he is unemployed because we won't need daycare.

hikerbeth

When collecting unemployment he will have to certify that he can take a job the moment it is offered. . . that means, childcare would have to be lined up immediately for your DS.  In order to answer that question honestly when collecting unemployment, I had to have DD in daycare.

EliseB0323

hikerbeth:

When collecting unemployment he will have to certify that he can take a job the moment it is offered. . . that means, childcare would have to be lined up immediately for your DS.  In order to answer that question honestly when collecting unemployment, I had to have DD in daycare.

Thanks, that's good to know. I'm 99% certain we can get DS back into daycare immediately, if necessary.

JOEBunny

You do not have to have your kids in daycare to get unemployment. That is just ridiculous and not feasible for most people.  There are short term care options you could utilize if you suddenly had to go to work immediately.

shopgirl_07

hikerbeth:

When collecting unemployment he will have to certify that he can take a job the moment it is offered. . . that means, childcare would have to be lined up immediately for your DS.  In order to answer that question honestly when collecting unemployment, I had to have DD in daycare.

This is not true at all. All you have to say is that you are looking for and available for work, daycare is irrelevant in this situation.

Unemployment isn't welfare, these are benefits that you paid for and that you've earned.

hikerbeth

Sorry, that's what my handbook told me.  Of course, it didn't have to be daycare, but I have a husband who travels, no family in the area, and at the time had no friends who could help me out for an "unknown amount of time" before I could get her back in daycare.

The wording was such that if I was offered a job and asked to come into work THAT DAY, I would have to take it or risk losing my benefits.

I totally understand that different states have slightly different policies, but childcare was specifically spelled out in my handbook (in addition to looking for available work, recording my job search, etc.)

shouldbworkin

I just had to certify that I had been looking for work and that I hadn't turned down any job offers.  Didn't have to say that I could take a job on a moment's notice.  Even if I had turned down a job offer, I don't think it would have cut off my unemployment, but they probably would have investigated to make sure I didn't turn down a suitable job in order to keep receiving unemployment.  I could negotiate whatever I wanted and as it turned out, I had 2 weeks before my new job started.  I still collected unemployment for those 2 weeks. 

veloelle

Yes. You've earned that money, IMO. When we moved for DH's job, I had to quit mine. Did you know if you move for a spouses job that causes you to loose yours, you can file for unemployment? I had no idea. Technically we could pay bills when we moved, but having the cushion of unemployment for me really helped between jobs.

GrowingFamily

Yes, I would file.

mauceddie

shouldbworkin:

Yes, why wouldn't you?  There is nothing unethical about it.  His firm decided to downsize, he did not decide to leave.  It would only be unethical if he wasn't actively looking for a job while out of work. 

This exactly. Nothing unethical about it.

belle204

If I were laid or or fired and qualified, yes, I would still file for them even if I didn't "need" them. You've paid into the system and you never know how your situation may change. Better to have the extra money than have to wait on them to kick in or be denied.