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Claiming unemployment

Question:

I lost my job 2 months ago due to covid-19. I have been claiming unemployment. Every time I recertify they always ask if I am ready, willing and able to work of which I always say yes. In the interim I had a baby so I didn’t claim 1 week. Because I felt physically better the following week I went back to reclaiming my benefits. Although I still shouldn’t be working this early post partum, I feel like I could if I had to in order not to lose out on the extra werkly 600 dollar unemployment money.
Now the DOL of NY noticed I missed a week of claiming and asked me if I still want to. Am I allowed to claim the befits for that week that I felt I couldn’t work or is it considered lying and/or stealing from the US government?

Answer:

Answer from Horav Y Fleishman shlit”a

I would think it is osur since you couldn’t really work then. If they ever got wind that you had a baby that week it could also cause a chillel Hashem but either way I don’t think you should claim.

 

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