Collecting California EDD Unemployment Insurance While Traveling Abroad
My question involves labor and employment law for the state of: California
I live in California and work for the state of California. I am a seasonal employee and work about 9-10 months out of the year and then the state lays me off for 91 days. After the 91 days I am rehired (technically i am still on the books but they don't schedule me), I have currently applied for unemployment and will be receiving it shortly.
I plan to travel out of the country for a month. Will I be able to still collect? I've read a few other forums about people saying you have to keep looking for jobs etc...but I already have a job. I am still on the books for the state of California and will be rehired after 91 days.
Any advice is greatly appreciated!
Re: Collecting California EDD Unemployment Insurance and Traveling Abroad
When you called the EDD and asked them this question anonymously, what did they say?
Re: Collecting California EDD Unemployment Insurance While Traveling Abroad
Let's say you are applying for jobs while traveling and an employer responds, "We need you to come in for an interview tomorrow morning," or "You're hired -- be here tomorrow at 8 AM". How will you get back for the interview or to start the job, and why should the EDD believe that you will actually do so?
Re: Collecting California EDD Unemployment Insurance While Traveling Abroad
The opinion that you are likely to be rehired in about 91 days is not relevant.
To qualify for UI you must meet the regularity requirements of seeking work and available for work ..no more..no less ..if you can continue to meet the requirements while in a different area ..so be it...I am aware that you can look for work in a different state and remain qualified....I do NOT as to different country. As Mr Knowitall correctly opines, if you turn down available work that is a disqualification
Re: Collecting California EDD Unemployment Insurance While Traveling Abroad
There is a situation in unemployment referred to as being "job attached." This means that you are seasonally unemployed, and the employer fully expects to call you back, you may even have a specific date to return, and during these periods of scheduled unemployment, the system does NOT require you to do job search activities and be available for other work. You do need to be amenable to coming back to work for your attachment employer at any time they request it, even if it means cancelling your last week of travel and flying home to be there the next morning.
But EDD is not in the business of grabbing up trained long term seasonal part time or intermittent employees and forcing them to go out on job interviews for other jobs while they are in the "temporarily off work" stage of their employment with this particular employee if they do not want to do so. The unemployment system has a different category for this type of claimant with slightly different availability rules.
So even calling the office anonymously and asking the general question would probably get you a more negative answer than may actually be the case. How did you plan to handle your weekly certifications during this time out of the country? I would suggest that you call the system, talk with a living person about your unique situation, and ask them if it's feasible. I know that our temporary employees who were "job attached" took their long vacations during the time they were off and receiving benefits, and many of them went out of the country for a few weeks on tours or cruises. Did they stop their claims temporarily or continue to file for those weeks? I honestly do not know.
You may be told to stop your unemployment during the time you are out of the country, and if this is the case, you'll have to wait until you return to re-open your claim and begin drawing benefits again. As it could very easily become a fraud overpayment if someone tried to report you for being out of the country, and you very well might get caught if you try to get by with it, I'd run it specifically past someone who works in this system and let them tell you what you should do. And if they say you should stop your claim while you're out of the country , and then reopen it when you return to the states, DO IT.