If we get laid off, do we qualify for unemployment?
7 replies (most recent on top)
Thanks qdr for the heads up. I put in my paperwork for the lump sum rollover to IRA. I cannot wait for this transition period to be over and put Sears in the rear view mirror. I don't want to risk any pension guarantee 'haircuts' of my benefits. There are so many sub departments within HR and they don't all talk to another. I have been given conflicting information on several occasions. If Sears does file for chapter 7/11 or some reorganization next month or two it's only going to get worse.
And don't be surprised that after 12 months, at least in Illinois, IDES sends you a letter saying Sears never validated that you were laid off at no fault of your own and that IDES wants their money (unemployment) back. Then you have to call IDES and provide the paperwork from the day you were laid off (so KEEP it and make copies). Within 2 - 3 weeks I got a letter from IDES saying everything is okay.
And if you call late enough in the day, you might get an IDES person who says he is getting calls left and right all from Sears people. At least that will make you feel a bit better in that it isn't just your case.
And if you can, take any pension your might have as a lump sum (this year they certified as 80% funded which allows a full lump sum) and roll it over to an IRA.
37 years and once I got that check, I feel like I am fully paroled from that hellish place.
And kudos to Ken who in his Linkedin said "Thank god I am out of that place". Made me laugh.
In Illinois there is a 'waiting week' before you can collect UI benefits. You also have to download a log sheet from IDES where you are supposed to record the contacts you have made each week while collecting UI. If you post your resume on Indeed or Dice and set up a profile, you will probably get a number of inquiries via email or text alerts so you can record these as contacts. In some cases the agencies may call you for interviews. You must certify every 2 weeks, takes about 5 minutes. They (IDES) may or may not call you to review your job log. I know my daughter was called into the UE office to review her log but all they did was insure she had one and that it was being maintained, they didn't try to contact any of the names she logged. But as the previous poster said, file for unemployment the same day you get let go and if you have a decent resume, spend a couple hours updating it and post onto dice , indeed or other job site right away. Also read all of the paperwork that Sears gives you very carefully. I suggest just signing the waver and sending is as soon as you can... it suggests having an attorney read thru it but that's going to cost you 2 or 300 bucks... basically Sears is telling you they can stop severance at any time and you wave the right to sue them... but if you don't sign the waver they may not provide full severance or prevent you from filing for early retirement benefits in a timely manner so it's not worth it to hold out. Also log into all the Sears websites (88sears, the pay website and pension website) and make sure your UID and PW works. In my case they didn't and I had to reset everything and call the help desk. I suggest logging into the Sears websites one or twice a week as sometimes they will send you an important letter in the 'secure mailbox'. You also will be contacted to verify your spouse/domestic partner info and if you don't do it in a timely manner they will not be able to get Cobra. When u do get severance ...log onto the website every week/two weeks to make sure the check is deposited. For example, today. mine was not deposited and I spent an hour on the phone with HR (they are investigating). Thought I would pass this along to those who might be affected so they know what to expect. Always follow up with HR and don't assume things will work as promised... (trust but verify) ..... sometimes if one person tells me a fact I may call the next day to verify what they said is correct from another agent. I do this because if there are any screw ups , you might lose an important benefit. Keep a diary or log of the things that HR tells you and keep good personal records of what you have been told over the phone... good luck to everyone
In Illinois you do qualify for unemployment. If you do get laid off file for unemployment paperwork immediately because it takes some time before you get your first check. (I was laid off last year from HE).
I thought is was standard to receive unemployment income if you were laid off through no fault of your own after working a certain amount of time. But you have to be actively looking for a job too.
Rules differ from state to state
Absolutely