Wednesday, June 22, 2011

Getting Unemployment Benefits For Minnesota Union Workers During A Shutdown

In case you've not heard the state of Minnesota is headed for a government shutdown on July 1, 2011 if the legislature and Governor Mark Dayton do not agree to a new budget. While it was known that thousands of Minnesota workers would be out of a job for awhile on July 1 due to layoffs they would possibly not be able to immediately collect Minnesota unemployment benefits because they would be paid severance or vacation pay that had accrued. However a new deal reported in the Star Tribune http://www.startribune.com/politics/statelocal/124325529.html signals a deal between the state and Minnesota unions that would allow the workers to continue receiving health insurance benefits and not receive vacation or severance pay so fast. This would allow those state workers to apply for Minnesota unemployment benefits much sooner than previosly thought. Since unemployment benefits are to be paid during the government shutdown this may be a better option if you add the benefit to the insurance that would continue under the new agreement.