As a dislocated worker am I entitled to benefits? Can I use the funds however I please?
Do I have to go to school if I am a dislocated worker seeking services through MAWIB?
What kind of jobs do you find dislocated workers? Will I be forced to take a job if I don’t like it?
Will participating in the program interfere with my unemployment benefits?
Can I go to school while collecting unemployment insurance (UI) benefits?
Can I turn down a job and still collect unemployment insurance (UI) if I am waiting for school to start?
Can I work at a new job and still be eligible for the program?
Can I quit an income maintenance job to go into full-time training and maintain my unemployment insurance (UI) benefits?
Before I make a decision on training, a job refusal, quitting and/or any other issue that may affect my unemployment, who should I contact?
What happens if I am in school and get recalled by my old employer?
Can I get an unemployment insurance (UI) benefit extension if I go into training?
Do I have to go to school full time?
How many hours a week do I have to go to school to get the unemployment insurance (UI) waiver from work search and
availability for work?
Do I have to go to MATC?
Can I enroll in a bachelor’s and/or master’s degree program as a dislocated worker?
Are there any hidden fees I have to pay to use the services and programs provided for dislocated workers?
How long will you pay for my training?
Can I go to beauty school or real estate school?
Are the training benefits taxable?
Can I go to school out of state?
What if I move outside of Milwaukee County but still live in the State of Wisconsin?
Do you offer dislocated workers assistance with health insurance?
I plan to retire. Can you still pay for my schooling?
I am aware that I will be laid off soon but would like to start a training program now. Is that possible?
Q: As a dislocated worker am I entitled to benefits? Can I use the funds however I please?
A: Through the HIRE Center every effort is made to serve as many dislocated workers as possible who are eligible; however, the benefits are not an entitlement. The services and benefits you receive as a dislocated worker depends on which retraining and/or re-employment plan you and your case manager choose. The level of services provided at the center also depends on the availability of funding.
Q: Do I have to go to school if I am a dislocated worker seeking services through MAWIB?
A: No. Many dislocated workers seek our services for job search assistance. Finding a quality job is not easy and working with a case manager and job developer can be a big advantage. In some circumstances the on-the-job (OJT) training benefit can be a deciding factor in getting the kind of job you want. You do not have to go to school to take advantage of our dislocated worker services and programs.
Q: What kind of jobs do you find dislocated workers? Will I be forced to take a job if I don’t like it?
A: We help you find jobs that are comparable to the job you lost. While we can assist in your job search, you are in control of the kind of jobs you look for and ultimately accept.
Q: Will participating in the program interfere with my unemployment benefits? Can I go to school while collecting unemployment insurance (UI) benefits?
A: Taking advantage of the dislocated worker services and programs we offer should not affect your UI benefits. If you are attending training approved by your case manager you are still eligible for UI benefits.
Q: Can I go to school while collecting unemployment insurance (UI) benefits?
A: Yes, in certain cases. If you are attending school through an approved training agreed upon by your case manager, you can still be eligible for UI Benefits. You must notify the UI division when you enroll in training so they can verify that you are in an approved training class. Individuals attending approved training are not required to be available for work and the weekly work search requirement is waived.
Q: Can I turn down a job and still collect unemployment insurance (UI) if I am waiting for school to start?
A: Yes, if the schooling is an approved training and you have applied and been accepted by the training institution, and the school/training begins within 30 days. Otherwise, any time you refuse a job it may affect your eligibility for UI if it is determined that the offer was suitable. You must report any job refusal to the UI Division so that it can be investigated.
Q: Can I work at a new job and still be eligible for the program?
A: You may work and remain eligible for the program if you take an income maintenance job. Such a job must be taken for the purpose of surviving while you participate in a dislocated worker’s program or service. You will be required to sign a statement to that effect which also declares that you do not intend to keep that job after your employment and training goals are met. It is common for dislocated workers to have income maintenance jobs while participating in the program.
Q: Can I quit an income maintenance job to go into full-time training and maintain my unemployment insurance (UI) benefits?
A: A dislocated worker may quit an income maintenance job to go into an approved full-time training and still remain eligible for UI benefits; provided the UI division determines the job was not suitable. A job is considered not suitable if the required skill level is lower than what the worker’s dislocated employer required, and/or if the gross average weekly wage at the income maintenance job is less than 80 percent of the gross average weekly wage at the dislocated employer. Contact your case manager and the UI Division before quitting any job.
Q: Before I make a decision on training, a job refusal, quitting and/or any other issue that may affect my unemployment, who should I contact?
A: Contact the UI Division at its claimant inquiry telephone line. The toll free number is 1-800-494-4944. The Milwaukee number is 438-7713.
Q: What happens if I am in school and get recalled by my old employer?
A: If you are in an approved training, refusing the recall would not affect your eligibility for UI benefits or the dislocated worker services or programs you are enrolled in. However, your refusal of the recall may affect your insurance, severance, retirement and/or other employer paid benefits.
Q: Can I get an unemployment insurance (UI) benefit extension if I go into training?
A: Taking advantage of a dislocated worker program or service does not give you additional UI benefits beyond those that might be generally available to unemployed workers in periods of high unemployment.
Q: Do I have to go to school full time?
A: No. Part-time training is acceptable if it is approved by your case manager. Often part-time training is more suitable than full-time training. Your plan for retraining is worked out between you and your case manager. Often workers can benefit from just one or two courses that improve their possibilities for getting a suitable job.
Q: How many hours a week do I have to go to school to get the unemployment insurance (UI) waiver from work search and availability for work?
A: There is no set number of hours required if your training is approved by your case manager. However, it is not our intent for participants to use the program to avoid the job search process and availability requirements of UI. The program expects a good faith effort by participants to carry out their approved training plans.
Q: Do I have to go to MATC?
A: No. You may choose from a wide range of training programs that appear on a list of approved programs under the Workforce Investment Act (WIA). However, the amount of tuition and books you may use per semester is limited, so most of our participants find it financially sensible to take their retraining at a public technical college such as MATC, WCTC, Moraine Park or Gateway.
Q: Can I enroll in a bachelor’s and/or master’s degree program as a dislocated worker?
A: No, dislocated workers cannot receive funding to obtain an undergraduate or graduate degree. It is a policy that no training be funded that cannot be completed by a student within 104 calendar weeks whether it is full time or part time. This rule does, however, allow a student with junior status to finish a vocationally-oriented bachelor’s degree.
Q: Are there any hidden fees I have to pay to use the services and programs provided for dislocated workers?
A: No. The services in this program are provided free of charge.
Q: How long will you pay for my training?
A: Up to one year; however, depending satisfactory progress in school and level of participation in dislocated worker programs and services, you may be approved for a second year of funding. Further assistance needed to complete training may be authorized on a case-by-case basis.
Q: Can I go to beauty school or real estate school?
A: Not all training can be approved. Retraining must be for occupations that have high potential earnings and a forecast in the job market to be stable and grow. For this reason, beautician and real estate trainings are examples of programs that are seldom approved.
Q: Are the training benefits taxable?
A: No. However, unemployment benefits are taxable income.
Q: Can I go to school out of state?
A: Yes, out of state training can be covered if the requirements can still be met. At a minimum, you would need to keep in regular contact with your case manager.
Q: What if I move outside of Milwaukee County but still live in the State of Wisconsin?
A: Arrangements can be made for our program to continue to cover your retraining costs if you move to another area in the State of Wisconsin.
Q: Do you offer dislocated workers assistance with health insurance?
A: Unfortunately we do not have the resources to provide assistance with health insurance, and is confined to only provide information and referrals.
Q: I plan to retire. Can you still pay for my schooling?
A: Not if you are leaving the job market. If you collect retirement benefits from your dislocated employer but stay on the job market, you may be eligible for retraining benefits.
Q: I am aware that I will be laid off soon but would like to start a training program now. Is that possible?
A: It depends. If you are being laid off from a facility that is not closing, you will not be eligible to have training costs covered until the layoff occurs. However, if your facility is closing and the closing date is less than 180 days away, you may be eligible for retraining benefits, including tuition and books.
