A Tenneseean that served my country for 20 years in need of unemplyment benefits

by Max Jones
(Murfreesboro TN)

I retired from the military 6 months ago, I did 20 years and receive retirement benefits, I live in TN and I am a resident and has never changed my residency while in the military. I have been looking for a job since coming home and no luck, I was recently at a VA Job fair and a guy said I could get unemployment benefits, I was shocked because I had never been told this before retiring back in May. Would I qualify for benefits and how much could I receive while still looking for employment?



Hi Max,

Here's what I know about unemployment benefits for ex-service members.

The statutes of the state filed in control the adjudication of the claim .. this includes monetary determinations concerning "deductible income" such as pensions, disability payments, etc. .. and weekly benefit amounts. That information can be found at the USDOL

Whether an individual is entitled to collect benefits based on the reason for separation from the military is supposed to be guided by directives of the UCX program, which is specific to unemployment for military.

Since I don't know much about unemployment for ex-military personnel .. I'm going to bat the ball to where those directives are located.

ETA Handbook 384 (Military Unemployment Guidelines)

I hope it helps Max and of course it would be greatly appreciated if you could let us all know what you learn. Though nformation can be found, it's the dissemination of the information that takes time.

The handbook itself has references which you might follow up on to get a better understanding about how the program works.

Chris