There is no hard and fast rule on the number of hours you can work and still collect unemployment benefit. It simply depends on the amount of money you have coming in each week. It is not possible, though, to work full time (40 hours) and still collect unemployment benefit. In fact, you wouldn't be able to claim unemployment benefit if working over 30 hours a week, even if you were being paid the minimum wage.
The minimum wage differs depending on which state you are resident. This varies from $5.15 per hour in Georgia (if tips add $2.10 to top the figure to $7.25) to $8.67 per hour in Washington. The Federal minimum wage in the United States is $7.25 per hour, hence Georgia can use the tip top-up system.
There are a number of states that adopt simple systems for people on unemployment benefits to encourage them back into work. In Illinois, for example, the partial benefits system allows you to work on a part-time or temporary basis and still receive unemployment benefits. Using this system, workers can earn up to 50 per cent of their benefit payment and not incur any reduction in their benefit. Anything over the 50per cent of their benefit payment will be reduced accordingly to the dollar. If then, you were employed and earning $200 per week and you received $150 a week in benefit, then you would lose $50 of the benefit payment, thus collecting a total of $300 per week ($200 earnings and $100 in benefits).
People in all states would be advised to keep a close eye on their weekly earnings and benefit claims, as any discrepancies are considered as fraud and carry large penalties, including disqualification from claiming benefits in the future, having to repay all overpaid benefits and possibly imprisonment.
The minimum wage differs depending on which state you are resident. This varies from $5.15 per hour in Georgia (if tips add $2.10 to top the figure to $7.25) to $8.67 per hour in Washington. The Federal minimum wage in the United States is $7.25 per hour, hence Georgia can use the tip top-up system.
There are a number of states that adopt simple systems for people on unemployment benefits to encourage them back into work. In Illinois, for example, the partial benefits system allows you to work on a part-time or temporary basis and still receive unemployment benefits. Using this system, workers can earn up to 50 per cent of their benefit payment and not incur any reduction in their benefit. Anything over the 50per cent of their benefit payment will be reduced accordingly to the dollar. If then, you were employed and earning $200 per week and you received $150 a week in benefit, then you would lose $50 of the benefit payment, thus collecting a total of $300 per week ($200 earnings and $100 in benefits).
People in all states would be advised to keep a close eye on their weekly earnings and benefit claims, as any discrepancies are considered as fraud and carry large penalties, including disqualification from claiming benefits in the future, having to repay all overpaid benefits and possibly imprisonment.
