lost my job recently which caused me to push my planned at thru-hike from next year ('04) to this year ('03). i just got my first two unemployment checks so here’s my question (if anyone out there has faced this dilemma before). do i have to quit my claim and forfeit my benefits before i leave or is it possible to continue collecting while on the trail? i’d appreciate any and all input and advice. thanks!
bald eagle
Someone to remain unnamed claimed unemployment and subleased his house. It worked except for the two workshops he got randomly picked for. He had to leave the trail to attend some workshops that he was overqualified for. I believe its illegal but… He had to leave the trail for other reasons, but he still collected the checks while on the trail.
TB
TurkeyBacon
I honestly hadn’t considered collecting benifit checks until I read your post. My plans included the financial needs of my family while on the trek. In my home State of Indiana, you must fill out and sign a small form stating you are activley seeking employment, in order to keep getting you check every week.
I think it boils down to ethics my friend.
May your load be light… :smokin
BrianWest
The trail is a great place to meet people, and if ethics say you must be actually seeking employment, then everyone you meet on the trail, you should ask them if they know of any employment opportunities which would suit your work experience and knowledge. Additionally emails and computer work at trail town libraries lets you stay up to date on the job market and job opportunities. And if you can carry a pocketmail device or a laptop computer on your hike, then you are never out of touch with the job market and looking for a job, which will fit you and your requirements. Just because you are unemployed and collecting unemployment checks does not mean you need to quit living and quit hiking. Close to 100% of all AT hikers are unemployed, albeit most of them are not collecting unemployment or any other types of checks. Get out there and hike.:happy
Maintain
Don’t let ethics or morals get in your way! Do whatever benefits you the most. The taxpayers are suckers and will gladly hand over their money for you to have fun with. You’re entitled to use the money of honest hardworking people – money that could go to those truly in need.
If you’re not serious about starting a job, I hope you get caught and punished.
However, Maintain’s initial comments may be right – if you’re genuinely seeking employment in trail-related activities, or even hiking to just to gain education so you can get a job or start your own business, then more power to you. A lot of AT hikers hike because they’ve reached a transition point in their lives where they need to start over with something new. But leeches should be picked off and discarded.
Taxpayer
a few points. i had no intention of collecting unemployment on the trail, the question was hypothetical. and mr. taxpayer should know that he doesn’t pay other people’s unemployment insurance. one’s employer does that. i was unceremoniously shown the door at a job i helped build up from scratch so before you start with your references to leeches, know your facts and forgive me if i have to forfeit money that’s owed to me a bit grudgingly.
bald eagle
I agree with the thoughts of Brianwest. Your mental load will be heavy if you cheat/lie/or otherwise scam the system. You are right to try to obtain the money you are due, the problems will start when you lie about what you are doing. Life is hard enough without burdening yourself.(Keep the rocks out of your pack)
And, Maintain, ugh! Using thin logic and verbal semantics to justify cheating is a fools game. BTW, do you know of any employed thru-hikers? (quoting your statistic of “nearly
%100” unemployment) Maybe we could find bald eagle a job on the trail and kill two birds with one stone. (no pun intended bald eagle):cheers
zen monkey
After reading the posts on this subject I just had to write in my 2 cents. Here it is —
Do what ever is best for yourself and your family.
If you can get unemployment (which bald eagle is correct, it is paid for by the ex-employer) then by all means collect away.
Take care and good luck Bald Eagle.
P.S. Hiking the AT does not necessarily mean someone is “out of work”. Retired, vacation, military leave, and countless other options are available to hikers.
Twisted Morals
In some states you must physically show up at the Unemployment Office or turn in a form stating that you have been actively seeing employment every couple of weeks.
That can be hard to do if you are 2000 miles away. I have known people who hiked the trail while collecting from the state – not my style, but you are the one who must look at your face in the mirror every day.
Ginny
If you don’t then the money will go unspent. Your company sets aside so much money for unemployment each year. They pay into your unemployment funds while you are laidoff. It doesn’t really cost tax payers to fund the unemployed. I would rather see someone draw unemployment for a few months after working than get a free check for NEVER working.
I SAY DRAW IT AND ASK EVERYONE YOU SEE FOR A JOB. If you get questioned you can always saw you was searching and willing to quit the trail for a job of equal value of your previous one!
Mattitude
I was collecting unemployment from Colorado before I hiked the CT.
Their laws said I must be actively looking for a job. It also stated that I could collect for 6 months over the period of a year from being laid off. I did some temp work, so I stopped collecting, and then when I was hiking I stopped collecting again, but was able to collect after I finished hiking and started looking for work again. The people I talked to at the unemployment office were very helpful explain how everything worked.
You can also make job contacts while you are hiking… but keep track of who you talk to and who you send resumes.
One other note: When I was collecting unemployment people who were working liked to think they were paying my while I was out of work, I had to explain to them that the taxpayers did not pay for unemployment, the company’s unemployment insurance was paying for it… the company that treat me so poorly…
Leif
i was laid off in texas in 1982…collected the unemployment in ohio…check to see if you can physically show up in other states offices to meet your requirements…it is called insurance for a reason…IT IS NOT TAXES…they way that OUR money is abused and wasted by the government, i wouldn’t blame anyone for scamming a few bucks back…:cheers
FAUSA
I was sort of in the same situation a few years ago. It was somewhat of a moral dilemma. So I asked myself “Is this going to make or break me?” “Nahh” was the answer - and forgot about it and went on with my life. I guess it was a dilemma because, being from the old school of thought, I always believed that you should be paid for the work you do - so many these days are looking for the quick and easy bucks. This is not aimed at Bald Eagle. What’s due to you should be due. And if Bald Eagle is due, he should collect.
Old Timer
So sad to see today’s generation so incredibly inward looking. And I’m only half a generation older. Delude yourself into getting your “just” reward for not being needed by your current employer. Get all the free stuff while you can. When you’re treated badly, always blame others. Scam all you can. A strange way to view life. Very very sad. I have no desire to hike the AT ever again with such as you.
Taxpayer
Taxpayer I think you have the wrong computer forum. You want pissedoffold fart.com
Blue Jay
get a seasonal job like me and collect all summer no questions asked. My employer will allow me to collect all summer, because off a layoff. This is the price the employer pays if they want me back in september. also Taxpayer please post your all of your returns for last 30 years and well all see if your as honest as you say:smokin
Chef
right on chef…i work by contract…when it ends i am unemployed…if i can’t find another contract that is comparable, i am legally entitled…if taxpayer thinks that a person should sell 26 years of experience for less than it is worth, he/she can do it if they want, just please don’t moralize to me…W wants a $75 billion package to finance his war…so some of our elected/appointed officials are already loading it with pork…that is my/our money that they are wasting…remember, you do pay taxes on un-employment as well as money that you work for, so screw’em… :cheers
fausa
i wonder if taxpayer has ever paid for a shuttle on the trail ? we all know that shuttle drivers are largely independent and very likely do not put these collected fees on their tax returns…so taxpayer, how does it feel to contribute to the non-taxpaying underground economists ??
:smokin :cheers
fausa