How does going to school affect unemployment

If the benefit recipient lives in a state where school or training is allowed as a substitution for looking for work, check with the state's workforce program to find out what type of training qualifies. In some states, such as Ohio, enrolling in an accredited program is sufficient -- in other states, only certain programs are allowed. However, even in states that allow only certain programs, allowances can occur.

For example, it is possible that a laid-off bookkeeper who wants to attend school to get a bachelors degree in accounting could still collect unemployment, since the education would further his current career. Depending on whether the benefit recipient opts to take online courses or attend school on a campus, unemployment may or may not be affected. Many states do not consider online programs to be a barrier to seeking work, and therefore those classes are not in violation of being available for suitable work.

Other states allow a person to take either online or on-campus courses for training if it will make the benefit recipient a more desirable job candidate when she finishes the program. This is a separate program from a state's traditional unemployment insurance system. The new program opened eligibility for unemployment benefits to many more workers, such as independent contractors, part-time employees and gig workers. Before the pandemic, college students generally didn't qualify for state unemployment programs.

More from Invest in You: Quarantine spending was more than just hoarding canned goods Prices go up every year. That doesn't mean you have to pay more If you need cash, try these less-obvious sources. For instance, before the PUA program, students might not have earned enough to meet the threshold many states required.

Many college students, particularly full-time students, do not qualify for typical unemployment insurance. In about twenty states, all part-time workers are disqualified, whether or not they are students.

The law expanded access to unemployment benefits for a number of workers impacted by COVID, and increased the value of those benefits significantly. It also created and funded a new unemployment benefit: the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance program.

The PUA program uses federal dollars to provide unemployment insurance for those who typically would not qualify under the state unemployment insurance programs—such as part-time workers, those without sufficient work history, and independent contractors. The Department of Labor confirmed in guidance released in late April that the PUA program does not restrict eligibility for full-time students working part-time.

This benefit allows students to continue receiving their unemployment benefits while in school and even allows them a training extension, if needed. A: Typically, students have to inform the EDD about their new training program before their 16th week of payment or if their claim is less than 16 weeks, the last week of their claim. To waive the requirement that they are ready to accept work and actively seeking a job, they must apply to the CTB program at the start of their application for Unemployment Insurance UI.

This form proves that the student is currently attending classes. Like most other states, individuals in Texas must be available for work, actively seeking work, and ready to accept work in order to be eligible for unemployment insurance.

However, the Texas Admissions Advisor shared that those enrolled in school can still seek unemployment benefits. Exemptions to this requirement are granted on a case-by-case basis, so reach out to a representative of the Texas Workforce Commission TWC in order to learn more. The Virginia Employment Commission VEC currently requires all people receiving UI benefits to be available for work, which typically means that you are available from 9 a.

You can contact the VEC Customer Contact Center at , to determine if your schooling or training will create an issue.