Actually, Unemployment Compensation is a fully employer funded system, you didn't pay into it. If you had no intention of actively seeking work then you stole those benefits which are meant for those who are unemployed through no fault of their own and are seeking employment and will take work if offered.
Learn to read: I
did actively seek work (as mentioned in the thread). I even documented this, as required by law. I would have accepted any suitable work offered (as required to continue receiving benefits). I just knew that I wasn't going to
find work, because I was definitely starting school in 3 months (from the time I was released from activation). With each day the length that I would be able to work for any prospective employer shortened, as did my chances of any hiring me...as did the chances that any employer that
would hire me would offer more than my unemployment benefits. Because according to the regulations, I was not required to accept a position that paid substantially less than my previous position (though this varies with the length of unemployment).
So yeah, I met every requirement and followed the law. As already mentioned in this thread. Consider that before you start throwing out words like "stole."
The military pulled me out of school, sent me to Iraq, then gave me the boot with three months before I could start school again. Hence, I was
unemployed through no fault of my own, and
unable to find work at a suitable wage.* My bills did not suddenly stop because of these circumstances. I qualified for unemployment insurance benefits as a stop-gap, so I drew them. What's the problem again?
perhaps someone already addressed this (I haven't gotten a chance to read the entire thread), but the employer pays for unemployment benefits, not the employee.
To both you and 9mmHP, I say learn basic economics. Yes, the money technically comes from my employer. However, logic would suggest that the amount that employers pay towards unemployment insurance comes out of their employees paychecks; unless, of course, you're suggesting that an employer will just pay the employees what he would have if no such program existed and then takes the contributions out of
his profits.
Which is unlikely.
Regardless of who actually directly contributes the money, unemployment insurance is in the end funded by employees, in the form of lowered wages across the board.
Much the same way that, despite the fact that I rent, I generally still indirectly pay property taxes; my landlord (and all his competitors) almost certainly takes those into account when setting the amount of my rent.
* - Note again that I was actually unable to find temporary work at
any wage...I received no actual job offers, as I was up-front with all prospective employers with regards to the fact that I'd be quitting in three months to return to school.