Can You Get an Extension on Unemployment if Going to School in Another State?

People who lose their jobs are often able to receive unemployment benefits, paid weekly, to pay bills while they look for another job. However, the recipient must abide by a number of rules when receiving the benefits. Switching states, even to go to school, will not extend benefits.

Unemployment Benefits

To qualify for unemployment benefits, a person must meet the criteria set out by his state. Most states have similar rules. For example, a state will generally require that a person not have lost his job through his own negligence or because he quit. In addition, the recipient will usually have to be actively looking for a job and be available to take a job that he finds.

Going To School

A person who goes to school may be disqualified or deemed ineligible to receive benefits. This is because the unemployment agency may believe that his class schedule interferes with his ability to search for a job or, if he finds a job, to work it full time. However, if a person takes classes in the evenings or weekends, he can probably convince the agency that he is still able to get a job.

Swtiching States

When a person leaves one state to go to another, he will need to inform the agency from which he was previously receiving benefits in his old state. In some cases, he may start receiving benefits from an agency in the state to which he is moving. However, moving to another state will not allow a person to receive benefits for longer than he did before. Each state offers only a maximum of 26 weeks consecutively. Moving to another state will not allow a person to receive 26 weeks of benefits from one state and 26 from another.

Federal Extension

During times of economic turmoil, the U.S. Congress will often grant an extension to unemployment benefits paid to people who cannot find a job. In 2011, for example, individuals received up to 26 weeks of unemployment compensation from their home state, but an additional 63 weeks paid for by the federal government. Moving to another state does not disqualify a person from receiving this extension.