[quote=briansd1]From what I understand, you need to certify that you’re looking for job in order to get your unemployment check.

Now if you lie, then that’s another story.

Unemployment is insurance and not welfare. It’s funded by premiums (taxes) paid by employers. But of course the extensions are government bailouts.[/quote]

Well, it’s a grey area. Because technically, you can look and never “find” what you are looking for because it’s not a “comparable position”. For instance, a high level SW architect probably can say he/she couldn’t find a comparable position despite how he/she could probably work (underemployed) at 1-2 levels below. So often times, some of the folks end up passing. For some of these folks, who aren’t exactly crunched for cash, they rather not dilute their perceived experience by moving down (for now). And in some twisted way, it sort of makes sense, unless you absolutely are living paycheck to paycheck.

I think reality is that we haven’t gone down to *that* level for unemployment (yet). And if it gets to that level, I’m sure there’s always the option of applying for a green card in india,china,korea, or japan…oh wait…