4 month contract work and unemployment benefit

by DJ
(Los Angeles, CA)

Dear Chris,
I have a question about my unemployment benefit, if I take a 4 month contract work.

I was unemployed since 2/09 in california. I finally have a chance that I might be getting a 4 month contract work. I am still receiving the unemployment benefit and I am on the second extention.

Would I still get the unemployment benefit AFTER I am done with 4 month contract? I know I will not be getting the unemployment benefit from EDD during that 4 months, but what about afterwards?

Should I call EDD and tell them that I do not need the unemployment benefit and reapply after the 4 month contract is over?
or should I be continuously on the unemployment benefit, but claimed as I am earning money?

The 4 month contract does not provide the employer paying the unemployment tax.

The problem is if I go with the latter, the end of 4 month contract COINCIDE WITH MY 99 WEEK BENEFIT. what should I do?

Thank you so much for your time and look forward to hearing your advice.
Regards,
DJ


Answer
Work DJ .. work. If you are almost to the 99 weeks .. you need to work .. do not count on another extension come November.

If the employer is not paying UI tax .. it is not covered employment .. it sounds more like self-employment.

It's no big deal as far as I'm concerned. You've always been self employed .. all at will employees are self employed .. it's just that we give up control of our life to an employer for the "regular paycheck" and benefits .. which include UI under certain conditions.

We should know by now that if you want to move forward from here, it's not a good idea to keep the same attitude we use to have. You can no longer rely on employers in the same way you could 10 or 20 years ago.

You have to rely upon yourself.

Sorry, I have no "unemployment benefits advice".