How to Go to College & Keep Your Unemployment Benefits
- 1). Notify your unemployment case manager that you want to attend college classes. Tell the case manager your requested course of study and whether you plan to go full- or part-time. She will give you a list of approved courses in your state.
- 2). Ask the case manager about any programs for unemployed workers who are attending courses to increase their hirability. The federal President's Opportunity Training Initiative program provides funds for states to provide additional weeks of unemployment benefits to people who are attending approved training.
- 3). Enroll in college classes that your state unemployment office has approved. You can use federal Pell grants, student loans or out-of-pocket money to pay for the classes. Your state may also provide funds through the unemployment office.
- 4). Continue to look for work and keep up with the scheduled job search updates to your case manager unless he tells you otherwise. Some states have programs that allow unemployed workers to attend school without looking for work, but you must confirm this before you stop looking, especially if you are only attending college part-time.
Source...