Unemployment Questions
August 17, 2021 11:21 AM Subscribe
A friend has asked for some help with navigating unemployment insurance and has asked for my insight, but I haven't been on unemployment in over twenty years and I could use some help figuring out what's what.
My friend has been working for the past year as a nanny and yesterday was told my her employers that they were enrolling their child in pre-school and that her services would no longer be required three weeks from now. My friend is distraught for a number of reasons and has asked for my insight because the thought of navigating the unemployment website right now is causing her anxiety to spike. I haven't been on unemployment in a couple decades so I don't know the current situation. Right now we have a couple questions that I was hoping someone on MetaFilter could help me answer:
1. When can she file for unemployment benefits? She knows she's being let go but she's still working for the next three weeks and her employers will be paying her for an additional week after that (although she will not be working). Can she file now? Three weeks from now when her employment is fully terminated? The week after that as she's still being paid up to that point?
2. In terms of planning and making realistic decisions about her finances my friend is trying to figure out how much she can expect to receive in unemployment benefits. Last year there was an increase in benefits due to the global pandemic; is it still in effect? If so, how much is it?
In case geography matters at all, my friend lives in Los Angeles, California. Any information you could provide would be a big help and greatly appreciated. Thanks!
My friend has been working for the past year as a nanny and yesterday was told my her employers that they were enrolling their child in pre-school and that her services would no longer be required three weeks from now. My friend is distraught for a number of reasons and has asked for my insight because the thought of navigating the unemployment website right now is causing her anxiety to spike. I haven't been on unemployment in a couple decades so I don't know the current situation. Right now we have a couple questions that I was hoping someone on MetaFilter could help me answer:
1. When can she file for unemployment benefits? She knows she's being let go but she's still working for the next three weeks and her employers will be paying her for an additional week after that (although she will not be working). Can she file now? Three weeks from now when her employment is fully terminated? The week after that as she's still being paid up to that point?
2. In terms of planning and making realistic decisions about her finances my friend is trying to figure out how much she can expect to receive in unemployment benefits. Last year there was an increase in benefits due to the global pandemic; is it still in effect? If so, how much is it?
In case geography matters at all, my friend lives in Los Angeles, California. Any information you could provide would be a big help and greatly appreciated. Thanks!
The $300-per-week boost in unemployment benefits is due to expire Sept 9. I would be pessimistic that it will be restarted or extended, based on the national political climate.
posted by Tomorrowful at 2:29 PM on August 17, 2021
posted by Tomorrowful at 2:29 PM on August 17, 2021
Is it too off-topic to suggest some things related to another job search? Unemployment likely won't cover her full wages (I don't think? Maybe California is generous), so I'd suggest she start hustling to find another job. I think there are going to be plenty of folks quite eager for in-home care for their kids, especially if she's vaccinated. If she's feeling super stressed about this, she might not be thinking so clearly to realize that she should be on the job market and applying for jobs right now. This is a good time of year to be looking, as kids are going back to school and families are making some last minute decisions (the same as her employers are doing). She should ask if her employers will be a reference, and then start applying asap.
posted by bluedaisy at 2:42 PM on August 17, 2021
posted by bluedaisy at 2:42 PM on August 17, 2021
In my state, and I assume the state requirements are similar, her employment has to be completely ended before she can begin her first filing. Since she is getting paid the week after her job ends she can not file until the beginning of the next week.
She is a household employee and typically those employers deduct her federal and social security taxes so most likely also pay household employer taxes so she should be fine in her wage amount. She will have to do weekly job searches to continue filing and if she is offered a job within 75% of her salary maximum and doesnt accept she can lose her benefits.
She can get paid faster by doing direct deposit when she files as opposed to getting a check. If she has any questions have her call the unemployment office for her state but not the city branch location, call the state capital's location. The calls seem to be answered by those offices much more efficiently (probably because no one thinks to use them)
posted by The_imp_inimpossible at 1:52 AM on August 18, 2021
She is a household employee and typically those employers deduct her federal and social security taxes so most likely also pay household employer taxes so she should be fine in her wage amount. She will have to do weekly job searches to continue filing and if she is offered a job within 75% of her salary maximum and doesnt accept she can lose her benefits.
She can get paid faster by doing direct deposit when she files as opposed to getting a check. If she has any questions have her call the unemployment office for her state but not the city branch location, call the state capital's location. The calls seem to be answered by those offices much more efficiently (probably because no one thinks to use them)
posted by The_imp_inimpossible at 1:52 AM on August 18, 2021
The California Domestic Workers Coalition has a list of resources. Of particular interest to your friend might be these Know Your Rights booklets and 1-page fact sheets, in English, Spanish, Tagalog and Chinese. The booklets and fact sheets are downloadable; if she doesn't have access to a printer, you could do her a solid by printing them out.
The website also has a list of frequently asked questions (with answers), along with a link to how to contact the coalition and where to find legal support if your friend needs it.
posted by virago at 7:33 AM on August 18, 2021
The website also has a list of frequently asked questions (with answers), along with a link to how to contact the coalition and where to find legal support if your friend needs it.
posted by virago at 7:33 AM on August 18, 2021
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https://edd.ca.gov/Unemployment/Eligibility.htm
https://edd.ca.gov/Unemployment/UI-Calculator.htm
There are other areas of concern that often arise for domestic workers. Is she treated as an employee or an independent contractor? Does she receive a W-2 and a paycheck where SS and Medicare are withheld? If she is an independent contractor who doesn't work for agency or get treated as an employee, things will be more complex and annoying and potentially problematic. I simply don't know the details for CA law, but often there will be detailed rules about eligibility for unemployment in those circumstances.
1) You generally cannot file until you are actually unemployed. The language on the California website says "File for unemployment in the first week that you lose your job or have your hours reduced. Your claim begins the Sunday of the week you applied for unemployment"
2) The calculator should provide a precise estimate for her situation in California.
In our state, the employment commission is absolutely overwhelmed and response times vary from absurdly long to non-existent. I don't know how things are in California, but be prepared for everything to be slower and more screwed up than you expect.
posted by Lame_username at 12:06 PM on August 17, 2021 [2 favorites]