I was laid off last month and received severance. I will also apply for unemployment, and I know that unemployment doesn't start to pay until after the severance # weeks passes. Do I have to show that I'm looking for a job during that severance period, or am I able to take a break for a few weeks before starting my job search? I just want to make sure I can still qualify for unemployment in a few months if I don't start looking for a job right away. I'm in Minnesota if that matters.
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In Tennessee that was not the case. The Severance did not impact unemployment. You were able to get unemployment and once your payment hit that week was skipped.
@a6 That wasn't my experience in NY. My UI was denied due to the severance, but I was told I could re-apply after a specific date that NYS calculated my severance benefits would end.
Also in MN. I applied immediately. You won’t need to prove any efforts to find work while on severance, so take a deep breathe and recover from the trauma that is UHC/Optum. You will have to wait until severance runs out to collect, but they will help you with all that. I collected a full six months of UE after severance. There are a few things you’ll need to do to show you’re “looking” once you start collecting, but it’s things like getting your resume together, attending career-force educational sessions. Those were easy and actually helpful since I hadn’t applied for an outside job in over two decades. They offer tons of resources. That said, I didn’t actually apply for anything while collecting. If you do and are given an offer, you’ll HAVE to take it. If you decline an offer, you risk losing UE. Honestly better things are on the outside. Best of luck to you!
Apply for UE immediately. Let the state know you’re getting severance. They’ll help with the timing.
@a6
That wasn't my experience in Minnesota. You will not collect UE until number of severance weeks expires.
You can apply right away severance does not interfere with unemployment you can draw both at the same time
I'm in Minnesota. I have filed for UE about 4 times between 2001 and 2010. I was required to to into the closest Unemployment Center for a one-time 4 hour workshop but they never required proof of looking for a job after that. Again this was between 2001 and 2010.
@OP I’m sorry you were laid off. I hope there’s something better for you in store. I’m not sure how that works but I would just reach out to employee lawyers for advice. Did they lay off your dept? Did they give you any signs before hand? Did it seem they layoff people who have been with the company for a long while?