Unemployment question. Say you worked at a GA bowling

[Laura PourMeADrink]

alley or a TX barber shop.

Your Dipshit GOP governor who is in cahoots with trump, pence, jared...says the business you worked for can open up.

Is it too soon to tell or have these states decided on stopping or continuing unemployment benefits if:

1) the barbershop/theater you were working for chose not to reopen yet.

2) the barbershop/theater you were working for opens but you are afraid to go to work?

[SheltieLover]

1. Great question

I suppose this is determined by each state's laws regarding unemployment insurance.

Here are a couple of links to sites addressing this issue:

https://www.wmcactionnews5.com/2020/04/22/employment-lawyer-answers-questions-about-returning-work-economy-reopens/

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-usa-georgia-worker/americans-too-scared-to-go-to-work-risk-losing-unemployment-aid-experts-say-idUSKCN2251RD

Bookmarking.

[Laura PourMeADrink]

8. Thanks for those articles! This is all such a complicated mess.

Remember when everyone had their panties in a wad because Congress wanted a couple more days to pass Care Act? In retrospect, they did damn well considering all the moving pieces.

[SheltieLover]

11. YW!

My thought, which is pure speculation, is that repukes found some loophole which would allow them to steal any unused unemployment funds. If they get to kill working people & make money, they get really excited & they sure are pushing reopening, clearly long before it is safe.

IMO, no one should be forced to return to work until ALL people - healthcare workers & 1st responders at the top of the list, of course - have an adequate supply of N-95 or N-99 masks available.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

2. My understanding is that if your employer reopens

and you don't go back to work because you are afraid of getting sick, you are deemed to have quit and are not eligible for unemployment benefits.

[Laura PourMeADrink]

5. Guess there's also the complication of reduced workload

too. In better times, say you employed 20 people, and now you only need (and reemploy)10, then the remaining 10 could still be seemed "laid off"?

[dewsgirl]

3. I believe TX was one of the states I read about yesterday,

doing exactly this.

[Laura PourMeADrink]

6. Yet the business themselves could do the employee a favor

to combat this travesty and deem them laid off? As opposed to fired because they won't come to work?

[rampartc]

9. not a chance

businesses are masters of gaming unemployment law.

[Laura PourMeADrink]

10. But I thought that a business has no liability if a former

employee files claims. No skin off their back?

[forthemiddle]

4. The way the CARE Act was written

If you have to stay home because you have Covid19, or you are caring for someone with Covid19 you are eligible for unemployment even if your workplace is open.

If however you choose not to work, you are not eligible.

I believe there are exceptions which you can appeal on a case by case basis, maybe a doctor’s excuse because you are high risk, but I’m not 100% clear on that. I imagine you would can’t do that online though, you would have to work with a caseworker.

[jmg257]

7. UI is pretty basic. Under normal circumstance, if you are able to work, and are offered

employment, you are supposed to take it and are not eligible.

If you get vacation pay, you don't collect UI, if you get sick pay, you don't get UI.

If you now work part time, you are not eligible for those hours.

The PUA may help, if you don't qualify for regular UI...

Overview
Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) is a federal program that was included in the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act. The program provides support for Americans who are unable to work due to the Coronavirus pandemic, but do not qualify for traditional Unemployment Insurance (UI).

Through the CARES Act, if you qualify for PUA, you will also be eligible to receive:

Up to 39 weeks of PUA benefits.
An additional $600/week until 7/31/2020.
The best way to apply is online. DOL has a streamlined application that allows you to apply for either traditional UI or PUA, depending on their eligibility. You do not have to complete a separate application for PUA.
Eligibility
You should apply if you are unable to work as a result of the coronavirus pandemic and any of the following apply to you:

Self-employed;
Independent contractor;
Work for an app-based company (i.e. “gig worker”);
Farmer;
Diagnosed with COVID-19 or have COVD-19 symptoms and are seeking a diagnosis;
Living with a household member who has been diagnosed with COVID-19;
Providing care for a family or household member diagnosed with COVID-19;
Primary caregiver for a child unable to attend school or another facility due to COVID-19;
Unable to reach place of employment due to an imposed quarantine or were advised by a medical provider to self-quarantine due to COVID-19;
Scheduled to commence new employment but cannot reach the workplace as a direct result of COVID-19;
Became a major breadwinner because the head of the household died from COVID-19;
Quit a job as a direct result of COVID-19;
Place of employment closed as a direct result of COVID-19;
Have insufficient work history and affected by COVID-19;
Otherwise not qualified for regular or extended UI benefits and affected by COVID-19
You will not be eligible for PUA if you can telework, or if you are receiving paid sick leave or other paid leave benefits (regardless of meeting a category listed above).