Myths About Unemployment
To clear up the many misconceptions about unemployment, here is an easy break down about what it is (and what it is not). For more detailed information, view the Overview or any of the individual state pages on the left.
Unemployment Is:
- Administered by each state separately under loose Federal guidelines.
- Designed to help you pay your crucial bills while you look for a new job.
- Available in many cases to those who have been downsized, even if they are not completely unemployed.
- Funded entirely (in almost every case) by a payroll tax on employers. Employers who create a lot of claimants pay higher taxes in many cases.
- Based upon your previous earnings.
- Available to military personnel and government workers at the state and Federal level.
Unemployment Is Not:
- Social security.
- A loan that needs to be repayed.
- Based on an individual claimant’s need.
- Something that you are automatically entitled to.
- Designed to completely replace your paychecks.
