Unemployment compensation is nothing but a program initiated by the government to save the unemployed. Basically, it protects a worker if he/she loses his/her job, even if they don’t do something to be at the receiving end of such drastic action. This program springs in and helps such people through financial hardships. Pregnant women suffer from it more than anyone else. That’s why attorneys fight on behalf of such people to ensure they get the Unemployment benefits when pregnant they deserve. Now, the person, obviously, has to qualify to receive this compensation that comes in the form of a weekly check. It also involves helping the victim find a new job.
- The amount: As unemployment compensation, most folks receive about ½ of what they earned when they used to work. However, some people may receive more; especially if they have a child or spouse to take care of. Usually, qualified people keep receiving unemployment compensation for up to twenty-six weeks. Then again, an individual’s compensation may stop flowing after sixteen weeks. The employer may even deny you altogether if you didn’t perform as much as required for eligibility last year.
- Eligibility criteria: Whether you’re pregnant or not, you’ll be eligible for unemployment compensation if you fulfill the following criteria.
- Your employer fired you or laid you off even when you didn’t do anything to deserve it. You’ll also be eligible for compensation if you had to quit the job for an extremely compelling reason.
- You’ll be eligible if you can and are available to work for another employer based on your skills, training, education, and merit.
- You’ll be eligible if you have been working for an organization that paid taxes for unemployment compensation.
- You’ll be eligible if you earned enough to qualify for it.
- Partial compensation: Sometimes, individuals may receive partial compensation for unemployment if the hours spent on the job get reduced due to inadequate work quantity. Based on your job, you will receive up to forty percent of weekly compensation for unemployment without sacrificing any of the benefits. Whatever you earn over this amount will get deducted from the weekly checks you receive.
- Compensation denied: Indeed, you may not receive Unemployment benefits when pregnant if you don’t qualify for them. It doesn’t have anything to do with workplace discrimination, pregnancy discrimination, or something similar. If you continue reading, you’ll find out everything that prevents an individual from getting qualified.
- You won’t be eligible if you quit your job voluntarily without a compelling or valid reason.
- You won’t be eligible if your employer fired you on grounds of misconduct or refusal to work at a suitable wage in an appropriate environment.
- You won’t be eligible if you’re unavailable or unable to continue working.
- You won’t be eligible if you end up in prison after a conviction.
- You won’t be eligible if you participate with other employees in a strike against the employer or organization.
- You won’t be eligible if you’re a school employee who got laid off by the educational establishment temporarily or if you’re on customary vacation or a holiday period.
- For pregnant individuals: All the rules described here apply to pregnant women, just like everyone else. However, it’s worth mentioning here that even an ethical employer may not consider pregnancy as a cause powerful enough to make some quit a job voluntarily. If you simply avoid working during pregnancy, you won’t receive unemployment compensation. On the other hand, if the company fires you on grounds of pregnancy and if you’re able, as well as available for taking care of your duties as an employee, you will be eligible to receive compensation for unemployment. If your employer doesn’t comply, you should contact a lawyer specializing in pregnancy discrimination.
Applying for Compensation
If you’re eligible for Unemployment benefits when pregnant, you should create an application and submit the same via phone at the UC Service Center. You can search the internet for the phone number of the organization. It receives applications on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays between 8 AM and 4 PM. Folks with a valid Social Security Number can apply for it, but if the final digit is an odd number, you can place a call on Mondays.