I hope someone can help me with this question. I live in IL and I lost my job several months ago. I did qualify for and am receiving unemployment. I also have had zero luck finding a comparable job. Recently I called unemployment to inquire if I could take on a part time job and still receive benefits: if it was allowed, how that would work, etc. The benefits counselor advised yes and the amount of the earnings I could make without a reduction in benefits, as well as partial benefits if I exceeded that amount. Perfectly acceptable, he said. Fine.

The job I lost was a 6 figure income and I am hurting financially now and struggling to pay my bills, which is what prompted this. So I accepted a $9 per hour part time job in retail to help pay the bills for a 20 hour per week evening and weekend shift. I worked approx 2 weeks and did report the income (which was within acceptable limits) when I called to do my every other week certification as instructed.

Then, the part time employer put me on the schedule for full time hours as well as day shifts. I talked to him and stated that I was not interested in a full time job there and I needed to stay part time and for evenings and weekends as I was hired for. He was not receptive at all so I had no choice but to resign. The job was not suitable or comparable, nor was the income, and the hours he was scheduling me for interrupts my ability to interview for suitable jobs. Just can't do it.

Now, unemployment has suspended my benefits due to me leaving a job voluntarily! I have an appointment to call them and I plan to explain the circumstances, but I am worried that I will lose my benefits altogether. As I mentioned this was a part time job started after my benefits began and not related to my line of work or anywhere near my prior pay. Can I lose my benefits over this?:confused:

Yes, technically you can lose your benefits from this as you voluntarily quit your job. You can still try to appeal their decision, but they really don't care if you have a mountain of bills to pay or live in a cardboard box. They must obey the unemployment rules and guidelines and can't treat you any differently than anyone else.

Just an update- my benefits were not cancelled and I did not need to appeal. Because the employer changed my hours they deemed it substantially changed which caused undue hardship. I was not offered a full time position but had been placed on full time hours.

That's what I was going to say. You can resign a position if the terms of the position substantially change.

BUT>>>> I think they needed to be cancelled, you were offered full time work, part of being willing to collect unemployment is being ready and able to work full time.

And now instead of working and making money you are again unemployed.

And there is no disgrace in earning 9 dollars a hour, there are 100's of thousands of people who would feel blessed to get that job.

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Originally Posted by Fr_Chuck

BUT>>>> I think they needed to be cancelled, you were offered full time work, part of being willing to collect unemployment is being ready and able to work full time.

And now instead of working and making money you are again unemployed.

And there is no disgrace in earning 9 dollars a hour, there are 100's of thousands of people who would feel blessed to get that job.

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I understand what you are saying but I actually was [I]not[I] offered full time employment. I was not offered, but placed on full time hours and not elligible to receive the same benefits such as health insurance that others working the same hours were given. So, I am not sure why you would think that would be a beneficial thing.

I actually am working. I did accept a more suitable full time job (although still a quarter of what I used to earn) and am no longer on unemployment. I was not looking to dupe the system. I think you are being a bit judgemental. I can't support my family on $18,000 per year when I used to make $100,000. That is why unemployment has these provisions, so people who lost employment due to no fault of their own are not forced to take jobs that cause undue hardship. I have been a productive, hard working and tax paying wage earner my entire adult life. Thanks.