If you’re a senior caregiver or nanny and you’re unemployed indefinitely, you can qualify for unemployment benefits. If you’re looking for temporary work but are afraid of losing your unemployment benefits, here is some helpful information that can help you determine if you can take temporary work assignments but keep receiving unemployment benefits.
Surprisingly, states have a formula that allow people to determine what their partial unemployment benefits will be. This will allow a nanny or caregiver to accept temporary employment, which will help keep skills current and help build a solid resume while looking for permanent full-time work. The exposure that temporary nanny work generates can translate into a job offer you never expected. And accepting temporary work is a way to stretch your maximum unemployment benefits over a longer time frame.
In general, unemployment benefits will typically be reduced or eliminated during the period of your temporary work depending on the level of pay for your temp job. If you earn less than the amount of your unemployment benefits, you will usually still be entitled to the difference between your temp pay and the amount of your unemployment benefits.
Example #1:
Natalia has significant work experience as a nanny, but right now she does not have a full-time job. She receives $500 each week in unemployment benefits, but was recently hired to serve as a nanny for a one-day event that will pay her $125. As a general rule, she can calculate her weekly benefit amount and subtract her temporary earnings to get her partial benefit amount. Add this benefit amount to the earnings she makes from the event and this will give her a total amount earned for the week. Figuring out this total will help her determine if it is worthwhile financially or not.
Example #2:
Sally has experience working as a senior caregiver who has received unemployment benefits for 5 weeks. She has been working with an agency to help find full-time employment, but recently a short-term position opened that would last for about 6 weeks. If she takes the position, she will earn more than her weekly benefit amount, so her unemployment benefits will be suspended for this time frame. When her short-term position ends, she can reopen the claim for unemployment benefits. Each state has different procedures, however, so it’s important to read how your specific state operates in this kind of situation.
For the most part, finding temporary work can be beneficial for nannies or senior caregivers that are looking to stay busy and build their resume while searching for the perfect full-time position. If you’re still wondering if taking on temporary work is a good solution for situation, contact us today for more information.
Wondering what the rules are in your state? Your state unemployment office will typically address these questions in their FAQs.