Pampered Chef and Claiming Unemployment

[pckellyd]

I am currently claiming UE, have been since November of 08. When I was considering PC I called and talked to them. In PA you are to deduct all of your expenses that have to do with the parties and claim then income that falls during the week you get paid. This may sound like cheating the system, but once I deduct food expenses, postage, business supplies, etc for each show I'm not making nearly enough to come off UE. My goal is for my business to be successful enough to replace my UE amount by the time it ends. Slowly but surely I'm getting closer.

Through UE you are allowed to make up to a certain amount each week (around 20% of your check for the week) w/o it taking away from what you recieve. After you go over the 20% your weekly benefit decreases dollar for dollar. I don't think I'm abusing the system since I'm using it for what it's there for. I don't limit my shows because I'm afraid I'll make too much money. I do what I can and still have never made enough on a payday to impact my benefit after subtracting expenses.

 

[Chefgirl2]

Thanks for this thread. I have two people in the same situation.

 

[scottcooks]

Don't Do It!

If you are recruiting someone who is worried about losing unemployment benefits, you are recruiting the wrong person. Either they begin and want to go as far as they can as fast as they can, or they are starting with one foot on "kitnapper" and the other on a banana peel... It's a frame of mind.

The welfare frame of mind is "don't mess up my benefits". The better recruit frame of mind is "get better benefits".

Could someone do a couple shows a month and slide under the radar? Maybe for a while, but do you want to take part in that?

Sorry-- I'm not trying to be snobby or disrespectful, but it's like a recruit lead saying they only want to do shows within a few block radius, or only from online sales, or something. I would not support it.

The whole point of unemployment is to help them while they get back to work. Supporting someone to 'only work enough so ...' is abusing a system that is meant for something else.

 

[kcmckay]

I also have someone considering PC but on unemployment.
I live in New York and my director found something for me, and it also said something about expenses being deducted from the PC income I believe. I will find it and post it back here.
But this is a VERY good question (My director said this too when I asked her) because we are going to encounter more and more people on unemployment that might be interested in PC.

Kelly V.

I didn't see anything posted about this and since I'm in NY I'd like to know what you found. I want to be able to have an informed discussion so that my recruit will be willing to sign after her party or even before if she wants that show to be her grand opening!

 

[KellyRedHead]

HI Katie-

I am not sure what else she found out, other then what i mentioned. Your best bet would be to call the unemployment office.
The one I had interested in PC didn't go any further and she never signed.

If I find anything out I will pass it along to you.

Kelly V.

 

[cookingwithdot]

It varies from state to state. I claimed my commission for the first time last week, although I became a consultant on 9/28. Technically, I didn't not EARN any money until I hosted my first party. So once I knew the sales and could determine my commision, I claimed it. And yes, they had a lot of questions and I had to fax them back a lot of paperwork once I told them I was working in self employment. I live in WA and this is how they do it:
Example
UI check - $500.00
claim $155.00 commission
they take $5 off the top, so $150.00, then they multiply by 75% & deduct from UI check.
500.00
-112.50
387.50 for checkIt's a confusing formula - easier if it were just $1 for $1. I was wondering if I should claim $0 because technically, my net earnings are a negative amount if you consider what I have put into it ...AND I am currently looking for a full time job, so I plan on staying with PC even after I go back to work.

 

[dkitten13]

I thought this might be a neat addition for people to keep in mind...I read on CNN but can't find it now -something like 7000 people a day are losing unemployment benefits. Another thing to reaffirm that you should never dismiss a lead!

 

[pckellyd]

I think it's really unfair to dismiss someone who is concerned about loosing their unemployment. For most of us, we've had steady paychecks for a long time. Going on unemployment we're already loosing approx 40% of our income. Loosing more is a deal breaker for many people since transportation, food, and clothing for my job cost a heck of a lot less than 40% of my income. Until I built my business to a steady income, which I am still working on, loosing that guaranteed unemployment if i had nothing coming in from PC would have been a deal breaker. Also, if they looked at it in black and white terms (ie commission check is 200, so we deduct 200 from your uc) that wouldn't have worked either since I have money spent in supplies and postage for every show. Luckily in my state I am allowed to deduct expenses from my commission paid, so that if I don't make enough to pay my bills I've still got the uc safety net. I don't think keeping that in mind is a bad thing.