Unemployment: How Does It Work?- Page 2

[RippedMan]

Posted: 3/12/13 at 11:50pm

Yeah, I was a server in the city. Not sure if that counts though? I made good money, and our tips were collected each week and direct deposited into our accounts and taxed and stuff. So would that count towards unemployment? I worked there for close to 8 months, and this theater contract is only for a few months, so maybe that's a better route to go?

[AEA AGMA SM]

Posted: 3/13/13 at 12:26am

I did find this on the Georgia Department of Labor website:

"If you reside in Georgia and have not earned Georgia wages in the past two years but earned wages in another state, go to a GDOL career center to obtain information for filing a claim against the proper state. We will also register you for employment services."

http://www.dol.state.ga.us/js/regular_unemployment_insurance.htm

What it comes down to is if you haven't actually worked in Georgia during the time that they would be looking at then it might just make your life easier to file in one of the states that you have worked in. They will have conditions that they will outline for your scenario (living in one state, filing under another state).

Any job that had you fill out a W-4 when you started and sends you a W-2 at the end of the year will count towards your unemployment coverage. You'll need to have at least the companies' contact info when you go to start your claim, and preferably their federal identification number (which you can find on the W-2 if you have it).

[RippedMan]

Posted: 3/13/13 at 1:34am

If I made more money as a server, then I am at this gig (that's theater, right?) then I should probably use that as my unemployment because I'll get optimum money back, right?

[AEA AGMA SM]

Posted: 3/13/13 at 1:38am

They will use all of your reported earnings from your base period. I'm not sure how tips factor into it, as I haven't worked a job like that.

[RippedMan]

Posted: 3/13/13 at 12:02pm

Hm. Okay. It's not a super big deal to like "get all I can get," but I'd still like to be smart about it. I'll figure it out.

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

Posted: 3/13/13 at 1:40pm

There are also requirements for how long you worked before you can earn unemployment. And if you left your server job (meaning you weren't laid off or fired) I don't know that you can collect for it. You really need to talk to an unemployment office.

[tazber]

Posted: 3/13/13 at 2:15pm

Taxes on tips is tricky. It depends whether or not your restaurant
reported all the tips you made (cash and cc). Most restaurants don't. They tax you on whatever amount will bring your gross up to minimum wage.

If you left of your own volition then you are not eligible for UE benefits from that job.

[AEA AGMA SM]

Posted: 3/13/13 at 2:26pm

"If you left of your own volition then you are not eligible for UE benefits from that job."

But that's only if that is the job you are using to initiate your claim. I have left a couple jobs (one a day job at a PetSmart in Kansas City, the other stage managing a TYA tour) to take positions on other shows, and then filed after the second show closed. They still pulled the wages from the jobs I quit and used them in the calculation of my weekly benefit (this was for two different clams filed over the years, one filed in Missouri, the other in New York).

[RippedMan]

Posted: 3/13/13 at 6:13pm

Gotcha. I can't even start the process until my show closes, right?

[AEA AGMA SM]

Posted: 3/13/13 at 6:17pm

That is correct, since you won't be unemployed until then. You can, of course, start calling to ask questions and figure out which filing option (in terms of which state) would be best for you.

I will say that the advantage to filing in NY state is that there are many theatre personnel who file, so they are a little more understanding in terms of what qualifies as a job search (i.e. you won't have to fight with them over the fact that an audition is indeed a job search)

[RippedMan]

Posted: 3/13/13 at 11:41pm

Hm, interesting. Does anyone know if I'd have to show up in person in NYC, though? I had a friend warn me against using them because they often will make you show face.

[Bettyboy72]

Posted: 3/14/13 at 2:34pm

My friend got unemployment from NYC and eventually moved to Ohio. He never saw anyone face to face. All online.

[Kad]

Posted: 3/14/13 at 2:53pm

I briefly took unemployment this summer during a time when the theatre I worked for was dark between shows. As Bettyboy said, it was all done online. It was very simple and straightforward.

[AEA AGMA SM]

Posted: 3/14/13 at 7:49pm

Whether you get called in for something or not will depend on your circumstances. If you are filing but using an out of state address NY will obviously not expect you to come in for meetings, verifications, counseling, etc, but you will be expected to register with the find work program in the state you are listing as residing in and that state can call you in for those kinds of things if they so choose.

I've managed to never get called in, personally, but I think that has to do with a couple of factors, either having a set date that I know I'm going to be working again because I already have another contract lined up, or because there are weeks when I'm only claiming a partial week because I'll pick up over-hire work with a couple companies around town doing things like monitoring auditions and that sort of stuff.

New York will also submit your name to the jury duty pool if you are filing a claim (and I assume if you are using a NY address for that claim).

[RippedMan]

Posted: 3/15/13 at 1:03am

Gotcha. I'll probably file in NYC, even though I'll be in the South for a bit.