Oct

Unemployment Benefits Yanked Over Measly Adsense Earnings

So you forgot you had those ads on your fishing blog that are earning pennies a day huh. Well you better remember about this “income” if you plan to file for unemployment benefits!

busted

An unemployed attorney in the state of New York could be in trouble for the revenue she’s earning from the ads posted on her restaurant review site. The New York State Department of Labor is investigating the eligibility of the woman who was receiving $405 a week in unemployment benefits. The DOL has stopped all pa

yments while they

decide if the ad revenue can be counted as any of the following:

a) Income

b) Residual earnings

c) Self employed revenue

Unfortunately a few dollars a day on adesense revenue is not enough to live off of even if you are Rewanda!

Of course, most people would have just kept quiet about the check, but “Karin”–the semi-anonymous blogger who’s the focus of the Forbes piece–is studying for the bar. She likely knew she had a legal obligation to report her earnings:

According to state regulations, anyone receiving unemployment benefits who works one day and earns less than $405 will have his check for the week reduced by 25%. Someone who earns more than $405 in a single week becomes ineligible for any payments for that week.

While the DOL tries to figure this out, she’s left with no benefit check whatsoever. Perhaps the focus shouldn’t be on what constitutes income, but how anyone is expected to live off just $405 a week.

I hope DOL sides in your favor Karin!