Or so I think at least.

I lost my teaching job last summer (budget cuts, low man on the totem pole, etc), and I couldn't find a job for this past academic year. I filed for unemployment, but I also found a school district to take me as a substitute. I usually worked one or two days a week at $85 a day. Every time I worked a day at $85, I lost $100 out of my unemployment for the week. Not a big deal cause it helped my resume and I could survive on the combo of unemployment and sub pay. Last month I found a job for this year, and I was told I could continue to receive benefits until the school year started. All is good.

Until today. I received a notice from the NY State Dept of Labor saying I could not receive benefits during the summer because the school that employed me as a substitute would take me back in the fall in the same capacity. Never mind the fact that I am making nothing off of them now. The real kick in the crotch though was the fact that they want me to repay the benefits I had been receiving - $1800 total. Fucking awesome.

No wonder a lot of people on unemployment don't look to hard for jobs. I would have been better off never subbing. I have already broken a glass and had three beers trying to figure out where I'm going to get the money to pay them back.

Lots of entitlement in this thread.

Maybe if you weren't such a dumb broad this wouldn't have happened.

It is so much to ask of the state government that they give me some type of heads up. You know, maybe discontinue my benefits immediately instead of putting a notice in the mail two weeks before the next academic year starts. This really needed to drag out for almost two months?

Sorry for your plight, kind sir. Maybe more beer and broken glass would help?

Good luck wth the job hunt man. My wife was cut a little over a year ago just when she was eligible for tenure. She ended up taking a job as a social worker for a not for profit and has completely given up on teaching. You might want to consider moving out of NY. Tough times here for teachers.

Maybe some looting?

Entitlement's a funny word though. It can apply to job satisfaction, abortion, heath care...

I've never looted, per se, but I am interested in free stuff.

Just go ahead and type "fuck" next time.

You've earned it, champ.

I believe New York will make arrangements for you to pay the money back. I think you can set up a repayment plan to get a certain amount of your paycheck cut out until you repay the total sum.

I had a similar situation with unemployment before, they didn't make me pay them back, instead deducted it from my first couple of checks the next time I was on it. (for the record, those were the only two times. lol)

Unemployment is payed mostly by employers right? its unclear to me. anyway, good luck, unemployment is a bitch. last year it took me 6 months to find a new job.

my advice, just don't let it all get to you and drag you down. you're about to be able to put a measurable worth on your skill and experience.

rock it with a cover letter. google 'cover letter keywords for an idea what ye should be saying in that letter.

be bold and mightgy forces will come to your aid best of luck

Thanks for the supports everyone. I've calmed down a little now (read: drunk) from my initial post when I first got the letter. I was never looking for a handout. I just wished things had been addressed earlier so I could have planned accordingly. Its good to know that I can set up a repayment plan instead of having to pay a lump sum all at once. Again, thanks for letting me vent and the kind words.

Lenny is going to hate this post.

*too

I can't imagine why anybody would want to be a teacher in New York these days, anyway.

"Alright. My profession is getting a lot of political stigmatizing, and is valued less and less due to that climate. But that's just not enough for me. I need to find someplace that REALLY doesn't care about teachers. Oh. Hey. I'll go to New York. Awesome."

Yea, that's about right.

Are you required to teach in some capacity every x number of years in order to retain your certificate there, too? Because that would be an added kicker....finding a sub position that amounts to pocket change that you can't afford to take, that you can't afford to not take, that's going to totally fuck your life up.

Unemployment that pays you something when you're not working very much, but nothing when you're not working at all? That makes complete sense!