Will a Part Time Job Mean No Unemployment Benefits?

Unemployment benefits are more important than ever in our nation right now.  With so many Americans out of work and struggling to find new jobs, thousands of families are relying on these benefits to help keep them afloat.  One thing that many people want to know is whether or not unemployment is completely discontinued if they take a part time job.

If you lost your job through no fault of your own, or you had to leave because it was unsafe or a medical condition prevented you from keeping it, you likely qualify for unemployment benefits.  Your pay and length of employment will usually determine your benefits, which are usually around a quarter to a third of your old wages.  In most places, people on unemployment are able to earn up to half of their unemployment wages through part time work without seeing any reduction in overall benefits.

Of course, it is possible to make more than this as well.  Typically, the amount you make, minus half of your unemployment wages, will be deducted from your benefit.  In other words, if you make $300 in unemployment per week and you earn $200 for a job, you would lose $50 of your unemployment ($150 is half and not deducted, so you only lose the remaining $50).

Going back to work, even part time, can be a good way to make extra money until something better comes along.  When you understand how unemployment benefits work, it can be easier to know when a good opportunity is awaiting and when to start looking for even part time employment.