Disclaimer: This shortform contains advice about navigating unemployment benefits. I am not a lawyer or a social worker, and you should use caution when applying this advice to your specific unemployment insurance situation.
Tip for US residents: Depending on which state you live in, taking a work test can affect your eligibility for unemployment insurance.
Unemployment benefits are typically reduced based on the number of hours you’ve worked in a given week. For example, in New York, you are eligible for the full benefit rate if you worked 10 hours or less that week, 25-75% of the benefit rate if you worked 11-30 hours, and 0% if you worked more than 30 hours.[1]
New York’s definition of work is really broad and includes “any activity that brings in or may bring in income at any time must be reported as work… even if you were not paid”. Specifically, “A working interview, where a prospective employer asks you to work—with or without pay—to demonstrate that you can do the job” is considered work.[1]
Depending on the details of the work test, it may or may not count as work under your state’s rules, meaning that if it is unpaid, you are losing money by doing it. If so, consider asking for remuneration for the time you spend on the work test to offset the unemployment money you’d be giving up by doing it. Note, however, that getting paid may also reduce the amount of unemployment benefits you are eligible for (though not necessarily dollar for dollar).
Disclaimer: This shortform contains advice about navigating unemployment benefits. I am not a lawyer or a social worker, and you should use caution when applying this advice to your specific unemployment insurance situation.
Tip for US residents: Depending on which state you live in, taking a work test can affect your eligibility for unemployment insurance.
Unemployment benefits are typically reduced based on the number of hours you’ve worked in a given week. For example, in New York, you are eligible for the full benefit rate if you worked 10 hours or less that week, 25-75% of the benefit rate if you worked 11-30 hours, and 0% if you worked more than 30 hours.[1]
New York’s definition of work is really broad and includes “any activity that brings in or may bring in income at any time must be reported as work… even if you were not paid”. Specifically, “A working interview, where a prospective employer asks you to work—with or without pay—to demonstrate that you can do the job” is considered work.[1]
Depending on the details of the work test, it may or may not count as work under your state’s rules, meaning that if it is unpaid, you are losing money by doing it. If so, consider asking for remuneration for the time you spend on the work test to offset the unemployment money you’d be giving up by doing it. Note, however, that getting paid may also reduce the amount of unemployment benefits you are eligible for (though not necessarily dollar for dollar).
Unemployment Insurance Claimant Handbook. NYS Department of Labor, pp. 20-21.