TAUP is offering free unemployment workshops to help our bargaining unit members. As a worker, you pay into unemployment in every paycheck. It’s insurance that is there to cover you when you need it.
It is important to understand your eligibility and how to apply to secure your benefits. The process is unfortunately complicated for school workers, and the pandemic has increased the time people have to wait before receiving a decision about their eligibility and their benefits. But even with that lag, if you are eligible you will be able to collect back pay, but only from the day you first applied, so it’s important that you do so as soon as possible. You are allowed to apply on the first day that you are no longer a Temple employee, based on the end date of your appointment letter.
Even if you are working, if you have experienced a drop of 10% or more in pay that’s due to a decision from your employer, you may be able to collect partial benefits.
Workshops are scheduled for the following dates and times:
- Saturday, May 1st, 11 a.m.
- Wednesday, May 5th, 7 p.m.
- Friday, May 7th, 6 p.m.
The recent American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (also called the COVID-19 Stimulus Package) has extended your benefits. Even if your benefit year will end in May of this year, you should be automatically enrolled by the state in the Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation program where you will continue to receive benefits until the first week of September.
If you have questions about the status of your eligibility, contact Jennie at jennie.taup@gmail.com