subject: A Look At Illinois - Are Teachers Eligible For Unemployment Benefits? [print this page] First time teachers in Illinois have often wondered this question - are teachers eligible for unemployment benefits?
The best answer to this question is yes. The only way to qualify for academic staff to qualify for unemployment insurance and its benefits is that they have insufficient non-academic wages between and within an academic term in accordance to the teacher's constitution and bylaws.
Let's take a look at the Handbook of Illinois Unemployment Benefits:
A claim is actually based on wages earned in the course or duration of a teacher's stay in an institution as a teacher, administrator or researcher or even if you are on holiday as they have the reasonable assurance of returning back to work, thus the expression. As indicated above, teachers can benefit if they do not have enough non-academic salaries within an academic semester. An application will be rejected if the staff is a bus driver, cafeteria worker, cook, a sergeant or other non-academic staff. Academic staff may also be disqualified if he/she is still paid even under sabbatical.
Tips on Claiming or Getting Unemployment Benefits
Unemployment benefits are one way for teachers to protect themselves financially. In the course of being unemployed, preparation and careful planning are the best ways to stay protected. Most schools and institutions offer unemployment benefits for their academic personnel in case they lose their jobs within a certain time period. Teachers on the hunt for possible teaching jobs should always ask their future employers if they offer unemployment benefits for their teaching personnel.
If a teacher has a different job, he / she should consider the provision of unemployment benefits, which not only provides protection in employment but also warrants further financial protection.
One thing is to be a part of teacher unions since they are a great source in the search for unemployment insurance. There are plenty of these unions, which offer significant benefits, protection and rewards for its members, one of which is unemployment insurance. There is so much a union can do to protect its members.
An attorney will be provided by the union before a teacher loses his job, for free, to offer counsel and eliminate all chances of losing the job. The lawyer also represents clients in meetings, interviews and discussions on the agenda. Mostly lawyers asked by the unions, often save the job of a teacher.
Although there are still many things to do to get unemployment benefits from other sources, it is often very delicate and difficult to find. Through dedicated research and a bit of networking, it is possible for a teacher to qualify and apply for unemployment insurance or benefits.
