Forced to do extra work searches to get my unemployment.

I'm new to probation and I have a female P.O. / on my 3rd visit with her
She told me that I needed to do more work searches to obtain my unemployment checks because to her it was kind of light, and I was only doing 2 at first to obtain them then she said "thats kind of light dont u think" I said "No" then she said "I think so I'm going to add another 3 so now you'll have to do 5 a week. I told her how can you do that to me, there's not that many jibs to even apply to (20 jobs a month) as I have applied already to 50 jobs and no one wants to hire me SMH. She said what did you think your on probation, you thought it was going to be a cake walk and laughed at her own joke. How is she able to do that if she knew from my first visit that I collected unemployment, and didn't even bother to make a complaint about me finding unemployment nor did the judge (judge also knows of my financial situation,/ seems like she thinks I don't deserve unemployment when I did in fact worked very hard to obtain it.

M.H. racine , wi

Yes they can make you do that... in fact In PA and VA you HAVE to submit at a MINIMUM 5 per week or they will take away your benefits.

Your PO was right... 2 a week really isn't trying at all... 20+ per week is actually trying. Speaking as someone who has been unemployed more than once in his life.

I'm curious how someone can 'work hard to obtain' unemployment?
It isn't something that is deducted from your paycheck like half your SS is. The employer pays it all, and his premium goes up the more people collect it.

Hello M:

Probation rules and unemployment rules are NOT the same... She CAN'T stop your unemployment benefits or change them in any way.

She CAN violate you, though, and that'll put a crimp into your life. Legally, I don't think she can MAKE you do this, but I wouldn't pick THIS fight to have with her. There'll be others. Besides looking for work won't hurt.

excon