Do self-employed tradesmen have to attend mandatory career center appointments for unemployment benefits?
Hey everyone, I'm in a bit of a pickle. I've got this mandatory appointment at the career center coming up, but I'm not sure if I should even go. I'm self-employed as a tradesman and I'm not actively looking for work or putting in applications. Does anyone know if I still have to attend these appointments? It feels like a waste of time for someone in my situation.
24 comments


Diego Castillo
I was in the same boat as you last year. Unfortunately, you probably still have to go. The system doesn't really account for self-employed folks like us. It's a pain, but missing it could mess with your benefits.
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Logan Stewart
ā¢Ugh, that sucks. The system is so broken š¤¦āāļø
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Mikayla Brown
ā¢Yeah, I second this. Better safe than sorry. Just go and get it over with.
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Ruby Knight
ā¢Thanks for the advice. Guess I'll have to bite the bullet and go š
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Sean Matthews
You might be able to get an exemption if you can prove youre self-employed. Try calling and explaining your situation. Sometimes they can waive these requirements for special cases.
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Ali Anderson
ā¢Good luck getting anyone on the phone lol š¤£
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Zadie Patel
ā¢Actually, I found a method to get someone on the phone. I used this site's (claimyr.com) calling tool that dials the phone menu, stays on hold, waits for a live agent to pick up, then sends the call to my phone. It does cost $20, but it works. Here's a video about it: https://youtu.be/Rdqa1gKtxuE
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A Man D Mortal
ā¢Wait, seriously? Does that actually work? Sounds too good to be true.
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Zadie Patel
ā¢Yep, it really does. Saved me hours of frustration. Worth every penny imo.
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Declan Ramirez
ā¢Idk man, paying to talk to unemployment? Seems sketchy af
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Zadie Patel
ā¢I get the skepticism, but it's legit. They're not affiliated with the unemployment office, just a service that does the waiting for you. Totally optional, but it worked for me when I was desperate to get through.
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Emma Morales
Listen up, because this is important. As a self-employed individual, you're in a unique situation when it comes to unemployment benefits and career center requirements. Here's what you need to know: ⢠Mandatory appointments are typically part of the unemployment benefit requirements, even for self-employed individuals. ⢠The purpose is to ensure you're making efforts to find work or improve your employment situation. ⢠For self-employed people, these appointments can sometimes be used to discuss business development or strategies to increase your income. ⢠Missing an appointment without a valid reason could result in a loss or suspension of benefits. ⢠However, some states have special provisions for self-employed individuals. It's worth checking if your state offers any exemptions. Your best bet is to: 1. Attend the appointment 2. Explain your situation clearly 3. Ask about resources or programs specifically for self-employed individuals 4. Inquire about the possibility of waiving future appointments if they're not applicable to your situation Remember, the system isn't perfect, but working with it is usually easier than fighting against it. Good luck!
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Katherine Hunter
ā¢This is super helpful, thanks for breaking it down! šÆ
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Ruby Knight
ā¢Wow, thank you so much for this detailed explanation. I'll definitely follow your advice!
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Lucas Parker
just go lol its not that deep
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Donna Cline
I skipped mine once and they cut me off for like 3 weeks. Not worth the hassle tbh
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Harper Collins
ā¢Oof, that's rough. Thanks for the warning!
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Kelsey Hawkins
Anyone else think its ridiculous that self-employed people have to jump through the same hoops as everyone else? The system needs a serious overhaul š
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Dylan Fisher
ā¢Preach! š It's like they don't even understand how different types of employment work.
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Edwards Hugo
ā¢Fr fr. We're out here hustling and they treat us like we're not even trying š¤¦āāļø
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Gianna Scott
Have you tried reaching out to your local Small Business Administration office? They might have some resources or advice for self-employed folks dealing with unemployment stuff.
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Alfredo Lugo
Plot twist: go to the appointment and pitch your services to the career center staff. New clients, babyyy! š
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Sydney Torres
ā¢Lmaooo this is actually genius š¤£
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Ruby Knight
ā¢Haha, now that's thinking outside the box! Might actually try this š
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