Can you still receive unemployment if you work part time

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Your unemployment benefits can be affected by a part-time job or a temp job.

A part-time job is usually one in which you work less than 40 hours per week. A temp job might be full-time or part-time, and it may affect your unemployment benefits either way. 

You are allowed to earn up to 50% of your weekly benefits amount from any job that is part-time, either permanent or temporary. Your benefits will be reduced if you earn more than 50% of your weekly benefits.

For example, if your weekly benefit amount is $300, you may earn up to $150 per week from your part-time job. If you get more than $150, your benefits will be decreased and you will not get your maximum possible amount.

Your benefits may be reduced by any vacation or holiday pay you get. Your benefits may also decrease if you're unable to work, typically by 20% of your eligible amount. But you will still receive any dependent allowance money you are eligible for.​ Dependent allowance money is money you can be paid if you have a spouse who doesn’t work, or a child.

Note that these reductions in your unemployment benefits can be combined to make you ineligible for benefits. For example, say your weekly benefits amount is $150 and you earn $100 in part-time work. If you have no vacation pay, then you will be eligible for reduced benefits because the money you get from part-time work ($100) is less than your benefits amount ($150). But if you also get $75 from vacation pay, then you won’t be eligible for benefits. The money you get from part-time work and vacation pay ($175) is more than your benefits amount ($150). This makes you ineligible.

The Illinois Department of Economic Security (IDES) is in charge of unemployment insurance. You can contact IDES at (800) 244-5631 or visit their website.

Self-Employment

Note that unemployment benefits are based on wages received from an employer. Income received for services performed in self-employment is not considered. But when certifying every two weeks for regular benefits, you are required to report all income. It doesn't matter if it is regular wages from an employer or money earned from your self-employment.

IDES provides answers to these and other common questions.

Last full review by a subject matter expert

February 24, 2021

Can I Work Part-Time and Receive Unemployment Benefits?

Unemployment insurance can be a lifesaver for workers who have lost jobs and income through no fault of their own. Millions of Americans learned this the hard way during the COVID-19 pandemic, when people who never expected to be unemployed suddenly lost their jobs.

Unemployment benefits vary by state, and each state sets its own rules and regulations based on certain federal laws and guidelines. Some states will allow those collecting unemployment to work part-time and still receive benefits.

Here’s what to know.  

Unemployment Insurance

Unemployment insurance is a benefit provided by the state government to those who find themselves out of work through no fault of their own. The insurance fund is paid into by workers and employers through taxes. It pays out-of-work workers a certain amount to help them cover basic expenses while looking for new employment.

According to the job posting website Indeed.com, you may qualify for unemployment if you:

  • Lost your job through company layoffs
  • Lost work hours significantly
  • Are placed on a temporary furlough or a “zero-hour” schedule

You are not eligible for unemployment if you quit your job, voluntarily reduce your hours or are fired for just cause.

Your actual weekly benefit is determined based on your earnings at the job you lost. It is only some percentage of those earnings, not the entire amount. The percentage is different in each state.

The length of unemployment coverage also differs by state. Each state limits how long you can claim unemployment to between 12 and 26 weeks of unemployment eligibility per year. There is no requirement to use all of your unemployment eligibility at one time. Many people move in and out of unemployment several times. So you can take a temporary job and suspend unemployment during the job’s term, then return to collecting unemployment when that job is over.

Most states require those collecting unemployment to prove they are available for and actively looking for full-time work to qualify for unemployment benefits.

Unemployment and Part-Time Work

Indeed.com says that most states will allow you to collect unemployment if you work part-time. These benefits are considered partial unemployment benefits and are intended to help those who lost full-time employment but found some part-time work to support themselves and their families while they look for full-time employment.

A part-time job is generally a job where the work schedule is less than 30 to 40 hours per week. “Different governmental organizations have varying classifications for part-time vs. full-time work. For instance, the Bureau of Labor Statistics considers part-time at or below 35 hours per week, but the IRS classifies part-time at or below 30 hours,” says Indeed.com. Individual companies can also determine what they consider full-time and part-time employment.

Part-Time Employment Examples

Part-time jobs typically pay hourly wages instead of salaries. They are also covered by the federal Fair Labor Standards Act's coverage, which sets standards for equal pay, hourly limits, minimum wage and overtime pay, break time and more.

Indeed.com lists the following examples of common part-time employment jobs:

  • Receptionist
  • Barista
  • Bank teller
  • Cashier
  • Cook
  • Delivery driver
  • Customer service representative

Report Part-Time Wages

Those who work part-time must keep careful records of how much they work and report those hours and wages to their state’s unemployment office. The state will consider these wages as it calculates your partial unemployment benefits.

Failure to report wages and earnings may cause you to lose your benefits. It may also be considered insurance fraud, a crime. The state may also make you repay any unemployment benefits you received, along with penalties, says Money.com.

Quitting a Part-Time Job

Money.com warns those on unemployment to take a part-time job only if they are sure they won’t quit it. Quitting a job is considered voluntary unemployment, and may cause you to lose your unemployment insurance coverage.

Some states may allow you to quit for a justifiable reason, but those reasons vary from state to state. So check with your state’s unemployment insurance department for clear instructions.

More Information

Because each state has different rules for collecting unemployment, including whether part-time work is allowed, it’s important to contact your state’s unemployment office for the information that's relevant to you and your work situation

Your state’s Department of Labor website should have information about unemployment insurance, contact information and links to sources that can help with a job search, including:

  • Job postings
  • Job fairs
  • Job-interview preparation and techniques
  • Job training, education and seminars

What disqualifies you from unemployment in Florida?

You are receiving unemployment benefits from another state. You made a false or fraudulent misrepresentation to obtain benefits. You are receiving income, such as retirement pay, or severance pay. You are not monetarily eligible (i.e., you do not have enough wages in the base period).

How many hours can you work and still get unemployment in Texas?

You may earn up to 25% of your Weekly Benefit Amount before we reduce your benefits for that week. If you earn more, then we will reduce your benefit payment by the amount that is over 25%. If you earn more than your weekly benefit amount plus 25%, we cannot pay you benefits for that week.

How long do you have to work to get unemployment in Florida?

The base period for your claim is the first four of the last five completed calendar quarters before your benefit claim begins. You must have earned a minimum of $3,400 in the base period of your claim. Your total base period wages must be at least 1.5 times the wages in the quarter having the highest earnings.

How much money can you make and still collect unemployment in California?

If your weekly earnings are $100 or less, the first $25 do not apply. Any amount over $25 is subtracted from your weekly benefit amount and you are paid the difference, if any. For example: Your weekly benefit amount is $145.