Should I file for unemployment?

[marypar]

At 66, I wanted to retire from my job - luckily I was given a package and am happy. Human Resources said I can file for unemployment even if I don’t want to work anymore because I would still be there if I didn’t get the package. HR said I can just say I’m looking if I ask people I know if there are any jobs. Others I have spoken to say it’s an entitlement and i worked for 48 years. The point is that I would still be there working if this didn’t happen, but I don’t know if it’s sinful to collect knowing I am not going to look for work. I know there are no jobs out there anyway, but I don’t want to go on interviews knowing I will not take a job. It is possible, i can file and get unemployment and send resumes and go on interviews and not get anything anyway.
Any advice? thanks

 

[mitex]

At 66, I wanted to retire from my job - luckily I was given a package and am happy. Human Resources said I can file for unemployment even if I don’t want to work anymore because I would still be there if I didn’t get the package. HR said I can just say I’m looking if I ask people I know if there are any jobs. Others I have spoken to say it’s an entitlement and i worked for 48 years. The point is that I would still be there working if this didn’t happen, but I don’t know if it’s sinful to collect knowing I am not going to look for work. I know there are no jobs out there anyway, but I don’t want to go on interviews knowing I will not take a job. It is possible, i can file and get unemployment and send resumes and go on interviews and not get anything anyway.
Any advice? thanks

If you need unemployment to support yourself and your family I’d file.

If you don’t however then don’t file.

 

[Cristiano]

At 66, I wanted to retire from my job - luckily I was given a package and am happy. Human Resources said I can file for unemployment even if I don’t want to work anymore because I would still be there if I didn’t get the package. HR said I can just say I’m looking if I ask people I know if there are any jobs. Others I have spoken to say it’s an entitlement and i worked for 48 years. The point is that I would still be there working if this didn’t happen, but I don’t know if it’s sinful to collect knowing I am not going to look for work. I know there are no jobs out there anyway, but I don’t want to go on interviews knowing I will not take a job. It is possible, i can file and get unemployment and send resumes and go on interviews and not get anything anyway.
Any advice? thanks

It was not your choice and I think that you have a right to collect unemployment. You have contributed to your unemployment plan through your employer. Sometime people have difficulties in deciding what to do soon after they have being laid off and maybe you are going through the same scenario even if you do not realize that. Depression, even if temporary, is a common occurrence among people that are laid off. However, as soon you know that your not having an emotional reaction and that you really choose not to look for a job because you decided that you are done with employment then I think that you have a moral obligation to stop collecting unemployment benefits.

 

[Joe_5859]

At 66, I wanted to retire from my job - luckily I was given a package and am happy. Human Resources said I can file for unemployment even if I don’t want to work anymore because I would still be there if I didn’t get the package. HR said I can just say I’m looking if I ask people I know if there are any jobs. Others I have spoken to say it’s an entitlement and i worked for 48 years. The point is that I would still be there working if this didn’t happen, but I don’t know if it’s sinful to collect knowing I am not going to look for work. I know there are no jobs out there anyway, but I don’t want to go on interviews knowing I will not take a job. It is possible, i can file and get unemployment and send resumes and go on interviews and not get anything anyway.
Any advice? thanks

I’m trying to reconcile “I wanted to retire from my job” with “I would still be there working if this didn’t happen”. Those seem like two opposite things to me.

If you wanted to retire, retired, and do not plan to get another job, it doesn’t seem like unemployment is the way to go.

If you were laid off because of company cut backs and you needed the job, then you would seem to qualify for unemployment. But if you needed the job, it would seem like you’d be looking for another one.

So I guess I’m confused.

We cannot lie just to receive extra money. You might try talking through this with your priest if your situation is not cut-and-dry.

 

[christofirst]

Are you retired, or are you looking for work? When I retired, collecting unemployment was out of the question, since I was no longer seeking employment (I have a pension).

 

[marypar]

If I didn’t get the package I would still be working. In my company, if you retire voluntarily you get nothing as far as compensation and benefits. You need to wait until they are cutting, which is what I did and therefore got the comp. After getting the package, I think I can manage without collecting, but my HR department said nevertheless, i should file.
But my conscience says otherwise. I’ll skip filing.
Thanks everyone.

maryann

 

[andrewstx]

Maryann. I don’t know what the retirement age for social security is, but if you stop working too long before you reach that age, you are denied your SS benifits.

I wast too sick to work before I had a stroke, then had it and I am unable to work now. I was denied SSdissability because I had not worked right up to the time of my stroke. Now I only recieve SSI.

Something to consider.

 

[cerad2]

If I didn’t get the package I would still be working. In my company, if you retire voluntarily you get nothing as far as compensation and benefits. You need to wait until they are cutting, which is what I did and therefore got the comp. After getting the package, I think I can manage without collecting, but my HR department said nevertheless, i should file.
But my conscience says otherwise. I’ll skip filing.
Thanks everyone.

maryann

Ask the HR folks to put what you said they said in writing. 99.9% sure they will decline.

Go down to the unemployment office and ask if you are eligible. Make sure you mention that you have no intention of ever taking another job.

Laws vary from state to state but I really don’t see how someone who voluntarily retired could be eligible.