As many of you are noticing, fewer courses are running. I want to pass on some resources related to unemployment. This is meant to be information and resource, and is not meant to be legal advice. I have a number of links below to cover the various circumstances that Adjunct Faculty have. If you still have a full time job and lost the part time employment, then unemployment does not cover that. If you lost your full time job or only have part time jobs and lost some or all income from part time job(s), then you may be eligible for partial or full unemployment benefits. It depends on how much you make as part time compared to unemployment payments.
Adjunct Faculty are eligible for unemployment between semesters due to layoff/lack of work status and no assurance of work as per our contracts. Unemployment is contingent on having no other income or the amount of their other income. Adjunct Faculty may be eligible during the semester if their income is reduced, depending on the amount of income.
The special unemployment for the pandemic is over so regular unemployment is what is available.
College employees are generally not school employees as that refers to K-12.
After months of issues with locked unemployment accounts, the DUA has finally posted instructions on their website on how to verify your identity if your account has been locked. I contacted my state representative who got my account unlocked twice for me. Others have contacted MCCC/MTA who have helped union members get their accounts unlocked.
If you are denied unemployment, you can appeal. Be sure to follow the number of days in the letter. MCCC/MTA union members can ask the union for free legal help with the appeal.
https://mccc-union.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/69/2019/03/Unemployment-Benefits-for-Adjuncts.pdf
https://www.mass.gov/how-to/request-weekly-unemployment-benefits
If you want to roll over your OBRA funds into a retirement account of your choice, you can when you are off contract.When your contract ends for teaching DCE courses(Adjunct Faculty), you can request that HR make the change in your employment status with OBRA ONLY. If you change only the OBRA status, your seniority and sick leave remain intact. This is different from terminating from the college altogether. HR will contact you to fill out a new OBRA form when you sign another employment contract with the college.You need to contact the retirement plan where you are transferring the money to find out their procedure: how the check is made out, where to send the check to, etc. For example, some retirement accounts will send the check to the account holder’s address made out to the retirement company and then the account holder will send the check to the retirement company to deposit into the retirement account.Once that is done, you can call OBRA to transfer the money: 877-457-1900Then OBRA will send out the check and the employee will follow the procedure of their retirement company.