Are Part-Time Employees Eligible for Unemployment Benefits?
Although part-time workers often receive fewer employee benefits than full-time workers, they still have a right to collect state unemployment benefits. Everyone who applies for unemployment benefits must meet the same requirements, whether you work part-time or full-time. The only barriers specific to part-time workers would be whether you meet the past wages eligibility and the availability to work requirement.
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Who Says You're Part-Time?
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Whether or not you're a part-time worker is determined by your employer's company policies. Depending on the company, part-time workers don't receive the same amount of benefits as full-time workers. Unlike full-time work and overtime work, the government doesn't set guidelines to define part-time work. While working part-time generally means working less than 30 to 35 hours a week, each company has it own criteria for the designation.
Applying for Benefits
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Part-time workers aren't automatically disqualified from unemployment benefits. To qualify, you have to meet the same eligibility requirements that any full-time worker would. First, you must have experienced a total or partial loss of work through no fault of your own. Then, you have to contact your state's labor department to file an initial claim (see Resources). It reviews your background to determine your eligibility and sends you an official determination by mail.
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Monetarily Eligible
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One of the biggest hurdles part-time workers face is the financial eligibility requirement. The state labor office looks at your base period to determine eligibility. The base period is the first four of your past five calendar quarters before you file for benefits. Each state has its own requirements for the wages you must have earned during this period to be eligible. Because part-time workers earn less than full-time workers, you could have trouble meeting the threshold, depending on your work history. Check with your state's labor office for the specific numbers regarding financial eligibility.
Available for Work
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The other concern for part-time workers is the available to work requirement for unemployment benefits. Because the point behind these benefits is for you to find replacement work, you must be available to work every day that you collect benefits. However, part-time workers often work fewer hours because they have other obligations. Whether it's school, child care or medical issues, nothing can keep you from being available for work if you want to collect unemployment benefits.
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