Conference 7.286::digital

    I think that the previous answer may not be completely accurate.
    
    If a person is not entitled to any severance in addition to the 9 weeks
    then (s)he can probably start collecting after the 9 weeks.
    If a person is entitled to any severance in addition to the 9 weeks the
    facts seem to vary considerably.
    There have been reports of people who started collecting immediately
    after the 9 week period. There are other reports of people who did not
    start collecting until after their excess of 9 weeks ran out.
    The laws/benefits of unemployment vary from state to state. It has even
    been reported that people have been treated differently with respect to
    unemployment compensation in the same state but in different towns.
    I urge you to contact 
    
    	1) the termination rep in your group
    	2) the nearest unemployment office in the state where you live.
        3) try different offices in the same state?
    
    
    				herb

re .2

is it the state where you live or is it the state you work in that determines
what the rules are ?

-tom

    	I believe it's the state that you work in that determines the
    amount that you collect.  As far as collecting before or after your
    package your guess is as good as mine, I've heard people say both.

    Joe

    
    
    	In Mass. you cannot collect if you receive a severance package of
    money until the number of weeks is up.  We just had the unemployment
    folks in our plant and that's the scoop they gave us.  Secondly, some
    people in Mass did collect before the severance weeks were up, but a
    newly created law in Sept. of '92 has closed that loophole according
    to the state unemployment folks.
    
    	So, if you work in Mass, you will not be able to collect until your
    severance weeks are up.  I also believe you collect based upon where
    you work cause you file the claim against DEC/Mass.  So, you could move
    to Florida and then file a claim for unemployment against DEC here in
    Mass and get your checks in Florida.
    
    	Now I did ask these folks that if DEC gave me a 'gold watch' equal
    in value to my weeks of severance would I be able to collect
    immediately and their response was yes.  So, a non-monetary gift it
    seems would enable a person here in Mass to collect immediately.  Of
    course you would have to hock the watch, but at least you would begin
    to collect right away.
    
    	The other nifty thing with Mass is that you are entitled to 30 
    weeks of unemployment compensation where you have 52 weeks to collect
    on that.  So, say that you get a severance of 30 weeks total.  If
    you filed your claim the first week after you were let go, you would
    only get 22 of the available 30 weeks of unemployment comp.  Remember,
    you only have 52 weeks once you file your claim in order to collect the
    30 weeks of unemployment comp.  So, in the case above, you would be
    better off to wait to file your claim until your severance weeks run
    out.  Then from that point you would have 52 weeks to collect your
    30 weeks of unemployment comp.  The message here is if you live and
    work in Mass, don't file your unemployment claim until your severance
    weeks run out.
    
    	I also found this amusing since the state is reporting incorrect
    unemployment figures.  If you are terminated and don't file, then the
    state officially doesn't see you as layed off.  When you file your
    claim, then the state registers that data.  But given the fact that
    most DEC folks that are being let go will get at least 15-20 weeks of
    severance the state probably figures that by the time your weeks run
    out, you will have found a job, hence you will never show up as a 
    Mass unemployment statistic.
    
    bill..g.
    

    Response .6 says to wait until your package is exhausted before filing
    for unemployment benefits in Massachusetts because your 52 weeks of
    unemployment benefits run from when you file.  But I had heard
    previously that one needed to file immediately because a claim filed
    later would be denied.  That might have been for New Hampshire, but I
    thought it was Massachusetts.
    
    Anybody in this situation should investigate very carefully.
    
    
    				-- edp

My wife (who went through this 1.5 years ago) believes that you must file the
claim right away. However, you will not begin to receive any unemployment
checks until after the number of weeks in your lump sum.

Go to the unemployment office right away! From my experience, the DET (in MASS.)
is a nightmare with regards to redtape and helping people. If you don't 
learn and understand "the game" you can find yourself fighting to receive
benefits.


dave

    In Massachusetts, if you are let go. DO NOT go down and register for
    unemployment right away if you get a package, your 52 week window starts
    from the day you sign up and you are not elegible to start collecting
    until all your weeks of severence are used up, the kicker is if you get 
    say 35 weeks serverence and sign up right away you still cannot collect
    until those 35 weeks go by, but since you didn't wait to sign up the
    clock still clicks, and you've lost the ability to collect all your
    unemployment funds since as of today you can get 30 weeks but since
    you.ve already counted down 35 of the 52 week window you can only
    collect a max of 17 more weeks. I know it sounds crazy but thats the
    system, if you wait until you exhaust all your severnce weeks THEN sign
    up your 52 week window starts from there. This is straight from a
    unemployment rep here in Mass who was sent here to the Springfield
    plant to explain it all to us, needless to say this system has
    generated quite alot of contreversy.
    
    							John
    

rep: whoever


Well, I am still puzzled (what else is new :-)):


The 9 weeks are not severance, because you are actually still an Employee.
Digital pays you but they do not allow you to actually work.  Correct?

The N weeks beyond that is actually part of contract you have with Digital
saying you will not sue Digital.  That is a separate business deal, correct?
If you do NOT sign (create the contract) then you do not get this 'severance'.

So, exactly what IS this severance package?  Is Digital really giving one?

    
    re: DET
    
    	The Springfield Mfg. facility is scheduled to close.  I am part of
    that facility here in Mass.  The DET or whatever you call it (state 
    unemployment folks) came in and gave presentations on all phases of 
    unemployment.  The point being that those folks have told us you can
    file your claim anytime you want once you are released from DEC.  But, 
    you will only have 52 weeks to collect your 30 weeks of benefits and 
    your severance package (no. of weeks) have to run out before you can 
    start collecting.
    
    	If you file before your weeks of severance expires, the 52 week
    clock starts on that date.
    
    	All this informantion can be had from a pamphlet called, _Answering
    Your Questions About Collecting Unemployment Insurance_ from the
    Department of Employment and Training.  Sorry, but there isn't a
    part no. to reference, but you should be able to get one by calling
    their local office.  
    
    bill..g.
    

I apologize for giving incorrect information. Or only gave half the correct
information.

dave
 

    A Question?
    
    I have heard many stories on this issue down to collecting unemployment
    during the 9 Weeks.  
    
    If Digital gives us the 9 weeks plus the weeks per years of service. 
    Is this not between you and Digital, Compensation for years of service
    so to speak, do we not pay taxes etc... into the System "Gov't" to get
    our unemployment benefits?
    
    Why does the Gov't take advantage of this, to not pay us during that
    time and tap out what we could otherwise save or invest?
    
    I was told by a Sales Rep that it was written Law that one can start to
    collect unemployment the next day after you leave DEC.  That they will
    try to refuse you, but you can appeal and take them to court if they
    refuse.  If they were to call DEC during the 9 weeks, and ask if we are
    working for DEC, they would have to say no for the reason they have no
    work for us to do.  My best suggestion would be to get a hold of the
    Book showing the Laws by which your States Unemployment office must
    abide.  Go to file unemployment with knowledge of your rights. 
    Certainly they will not tell us what we can get, thats our Job.
    
    Does anyone know how to get a hold or where to go to look at these
    written Laws that govern unemployment.  Here in Georgia I've heard of
    people collecting during the 9 weeks.
    
    We must fight for the right to party!
    
    Edgar.
    
    

    Whne you can collect unemployment varies from state to state.
    Unemployment is State run and is different in each state 
    
    

    
    Something is not clear to me.  If you are eligible for 30 weeks of
    benefits and you file immediately and begin collecting, then after
    30 weeks, if you are still unemployed your benefits cease.  Yes?
    If so what difference does it make if you wait until the duration of
    your package runs out or file now since you'll still end up collecting
    the same amount of money?  In fact what if your package amounts to 
    say 20 weeks pay and after 15 weeks you find a job.  Then you're out
    the amount that you could have collected for those 15 weeks, no?
    
    Steve
    

    There is great advantage to both Digital and the State if
    you wait until after your severance benefits cease.

    - you may find a job and thus never collect.  BIG SAVINGS

    - most people go by the rule of always postponing expenditures
    	as long as possible

    I believe that as long as you recieve severance benefits from
    Digital, you still have a form of a 'relationship' with the
    Company.  Not employed, but you get certain Health insurance
    benefits.  Maybe Life Ins. also?  In Mass, the state does not
    want to beginning paying unemployment benefits until your entire
    relationship with Digital is terminated.
    bob

    
    re:-2, -1
    
    	Not only will the state save money if you don't collect, the
    state will also 'look' better to the outside world when it reports
    its unemployment figures.
    
    	I believe this is partly political.  Say that 5K get TFSO'd from
    DEC Jan. 1.  And just for arguments sake, say they all get 20 weeks
    severance.  And also say that they don't apply for unemployment
    benefits until the 20 week.  Now, for the first 20 weeks, the state
    will report 5K fewer unemployed then really are.  Then suppose that
    during those 20 weeks, 50% find employment.  The state will still
    make out since it will only report 2.5K more unemployed.  
    
    	So, not only will the state save money because they DO figure that
    you won't be a bum and the majority of folks will indeed find some 
    sort of employment before their severance runs out, and they will also
    look better 'statistic' wise since they only report those that have
    filed.
    
    	Personally, in Mass, I feel I am being penalized for my longevity at
    Digital, while someone else who may have only worked steady for a 
    year gets to collect day one.
    
    bill