Does All Unemployment Now End at 6 Months? What If in College?

Gee whiz! I had no idea you could get unemployment if you're in school! Boy, did I miss that boat!

Do not lend any money that you expect/need to get back. If she needs money for school she can get a student loan like thousands of others. It is my understanding that unemployment goes back to 26 weeks rather than the extended 47 weeks. So if she has been getting the extended benefits they will stop.

Nothing will damage a friendship faster than owing, or being owed money. If her family won't lend her the money, there is a reason. By the time the tax return comes, she will need it for something else and you will be on the back burner. $1700 is a lot of money and pretty nervy of a friend to ask for that much.
Your husband says "no", better listen to him. Don't let her come between the two of you. She needs to get the money elsewhere, or she needs to get a job and go to school part-time if that's what it takes.

Never lend anyone money you can not afford to never get back.

I suspect your friend is lying to you, or maybe to herself. To be on unemployment, one usually has to be looking for work actively. If she is not able to document to the state that she is actively seeking work a certain number of hours each week, she is not qualified for unemployment benefits (in many states -- I don't know if it's the same in every state).

If she asks again, I would just say to her very directly, "I thought that in order to draw unemployment money, a person had to be seeking work, and that full-time students are not eligible for unemployment. Does the state know you are a student? Are you telling the state you're looking for work when you are not? Or maybe you are looking for work while you are also a part-time student? I would really like an explanation so I can understand what's going on." Then smile and stare blankly and expectantly at her and just wait. She either will have a real explanation or she will get all flustered because you called her out on cheating on the unemployment system.

Whatever she says, I would not give her one cent. Even if she has a great explanation of how she can be a student and draw unemployment in your state -- still, give her no loan or gift. Save that money for your own family's needs.

She is FORTY and acting like she's twenty with no kids or responsibilities. She must stop borrowing and get financial counseling (yes, it can be had for free, many banks do it for nothing if you are a customer), and she must talk to her college about loans and grants, etc. if she truly wants to stay in school. She needs to get herself together and that will not happen if you are an "enabler" who gives her cash.

If she's otherwise a real friend and not an unemployment cheat whom you should drop from your life immediately:

You can look up phone numbers and names for financial counselors; women's centers, which offer financial planning free for many women; even find and give her the number for the financial aid office of her own college (since she seems to be unable to find that phone number for herself). Give her that information if you want, but not any money. Ever.

If she's a single mom and poor, then she should qualify for financial aid. It sounds like SHE has some tough choices to make. It sounds like she wants to liver her life her way (without interference from others), but she would like others to pay for it.

Unemployment is for those who have been fired unjustly. It is to "tide them over" until they find gainful employment.

If she's going to school she's not looking for full time employment so I don't think she'd even qualify for unemployment.

So, she needs to fill out every financial aid form she can. If she is not working she should qualify for some. If she made an enormous amount of money while working then she may not qualify unless she can go through some displaced homemaker program and get free school.

I suggest she go sit down with a financial aid counselor at her school and find sources of aid she can apply for. There are always tons of scholarships if one is just willing to sit down and go through the lists.

I went to college for several years and never had to work a day. I was a full time student making A's and B's with a child in the home. I lived on campus in student housing and got food stamps.

I never had to go without or worry about where our next meal was coming from. I think if a person is going to go to college they should dedicate their entire day to school so they can make the best possible grades, do the extra curricular activities that will fill out their future resume's so they will be a desirable and sought after prospective employee.

My financial aid at OU was $25K+ for the fall and spring semesters. I got very very very very little in the way of loans, the rest was ALL free money. I got a full scholarship there based on my jr. college grades. So it's worth making every effort to make the best possible grades.

If someone is considering grad school too then they also need to be networking and spending time with their professors who will be in charge of the money and referral power for grad school. A student can make the necessary network connections so their future is easier by just being a good student and getting their names known to the professors who hold their future in their hands.

She doesn't need to move home, she needs to get financial aid or scholarships for non traditional students. If she needs housing then she needs to move on campus and have it taken out of her financial aid.

I don't make a habit of loaning money to friends or family. I will give it to them, I will NOT loan it. Loaning money is the worst way to end a friendship or family relationship.

To the best of my knowledge, unemployment for Texas is to 54 weeks. And Federal Unemployment is 99 weeks.

http://www.twc.state.tx.us/ui/bnfts/extended-unemployment...

http://www.dol.gov/dol/topic/unemployment-insurance/

From what I have read, I don't live in Texas, you can go to school full time and receive unemployment benefits and be extended IF you were laid off work through no fault of your own.

You need to follow your heart. If you have the funds to GIVE her, then do it. But do NOT expect repayment. Just don't let her use you as her personal ATM.

I think you have to decline loaning her the money unless you want to wind up on one of those Judge Judy type shows-because she says she thought it was a gift.

How would you feel if your hubby gave $1700 to a friend after you said no?

Obviously she had a very good job before-why did she lose it or did she quit? A woman with kids needs to think twice before quitting the job-especially if she is getting a divorce. What about the child support?

I was on unemployment once while going to school and I was still very active in looking for a job. I got the first 26 weeks and a second 26 weeks-only because I had been working for 11 years-got laid off for a few weeks-went back to work and earned a certain amount-and then got laid off permanently. So a total of 52 weeks.

I do know the federal unemployment extensions ended but I really don't know how many weeks you can collect-I hope it is not the 99 weeks like Wild Woman states but wouldn't be shocked if it had been. We need people to get back to work and not lean on the unemployment so much.

I don't understand how you can get unemployment when you are not spending your full time looking for full time employment.... you are in school instead. That sends red flags up for me that someone is gaming the system.

I am all for someone who truly needs help in getting help but I am tired of my money paying for people who prefer to stay on unemployment and welfare than do something positive about their situation. I am NOT saying your friend is gaming the system... it just looks that way in my eyes.

Also, don't lend ANY money to ANYONE that you can't write off because most people do not pay it back and it only creates problems between friends, families, etc.

Never loan money unless you are willing to throw it away and can afford and accept that.... instead... help her figure out a way to do it for herself. Maybe she needs to eat some crow and move back in with her parents if they are willing to help her.

Good luck

Some states will still pay unemployment if you are in school. Some even will pay for the school itself. Your friend should contact unemployment and see if they have a program where they will pay for school for her. Is they do, it might even extend her unemployment benefits.

F.,

Welcome to mamapedia!!!

Unemployment is 99 weeks...not 6 months...99 weeks is one year and 9 months.

So she is not seeking grants or student loans for her education? And she needs $1,700 to continue? If she's in school full time - how is she on unemployment as well? When my husband was unemployed, if he was going to school - he wouldn't qualify for unemployment. I guess each state has different rules...

Only loan money you cannot afford to lose. If it were my friend? I would pay the loan directly, not because I don't trust my friend, but because I would want proof on my tax return for charitable giving...

Lots of misinformation here. Yes, unemployment is now ending at six months.

Yes, you can collect unemployment and go to school. It didn't used to be that way, but was recently changed. Being a student waives the job search requirement.

I don't think you should loan her any money. As an unemployed, single mother, she should qualify for tons of grants to go to school. Tell her to fill out a fafsa (fafsa.gov, financial aid forms) if she wants to go back to school. There is no reason for her to pay for her tuition with your money when she will definitely qualify for grants.

never lend someone (friends/family) money unless you understand that you will probably not get it back.

Unemployment is not meant to pay for people's college. No you should not fund this woman, she needs to figure out her own stuff.
I have heard of people using their child support to help support them while they get through school but not unemployment.
You can be there for people and offer empathy and emotional support but you should not take on their financial responsibilities. She is probably the type that will drop you as a friend if you don't give her what she wants which is what users do, they move on to their next victim.

You will hurt your marriage if you go ahead with this. Do not loan her money. She's a poor risk for paying it back. I promise you that she's not collecting unemployment if she's not looking for a job.

Pretty sure unemployment has gone back to the state limit of 26 weeks - the feds pulled back, so there won't be any more 99 week stuff unless they re-establish that...

yeah they got rid of the federal unemployment (but state is still there) but if she paid less than the amount for 6 months it be less than that. NO, do NOT give the money. I know you want to be nice, but your husband already said no and you will not see that money again. She needs to suck it up and go back home. She needs to have a job while in college... no way around it.. How is she surviving on UI alone?
They did get rid of the federal so it is NOT 99 weeks.