When a outside agency causes a hardship that leaves a indivdual destitute to the point that it causes the individual to be unable to get to work.

Can I collect unemployment because I was unable to retain my job because the IRS attached my wages through garnishment and CAUSED me to quit my job because I could no longer meet my basic needs?

There are two issues here. First, any taxes returns owed to me had been applied to any debt they claimed I owed them. They failed to provide me with documentation that showed me any balance remaining or when the amount owed had been satisfied. Once I did not hear from them concerning this matter I believed it had been resolved. Second, since they are aware of when I am employed, why did they not address this in a more negotiable manner rather than a garnishment? Is there not a SOL on debt owed to them since they are a private company?

In essence, they forced me into poverty and consequently cost me a job both me and my employer were happy with. I did not want to quit a job that accommodated my limited physical capabilities and met my basic needs. Now their actions will disqualify me from unemployment because I had not been options to stay employed.

If you say so.

Chris – unemployment-tips.com

I totally agree with your assessment Chris… Wage garnishments are something that either come to be because you ignored a situation or throught child support.

Something that needs to be talked about at great length in California, though, is the funding cut to Child Care funding for the Stage 3 Calworks program. More than 60,000 families would be affected. Unless this funding is reinstated these “working” families, mostly single parents, will be forced back on welfare. Why? Very simply it is because they cannot work minimum and low wage jobs and afford to pay child care without some assistance. And then we end up paying more for their welfare checks than we would have by assisting with their child care because…….*drum role please* …..if they quit their jobs because they cannot afford child care, they cannot qualify for Unemployment!!!!

IRS is the outside agency. They demanded payment and arranged the deduction with payroll without notification of its actions. In addition, this stems from taxes back in 1999.

Chris,

I guess I’m going to have to assume what your question really is. You tell me if I’m wrong.

Can I collect unemployment because I was unable to retain my job because the IRS attached my wages through garnishment and now that is somehow preventing me from finding another job?

My inclination is to now ask why you are no longer working at the job that IRS originally started taking part of your wages from because unemployment benefits are based upon the reason either you or the employer ended the employment, not the fact that you owed back taxes.

I’m going to go out on a limb here and make a guess that you quit?????

That would not be a quit with good cause, but if you were fired due to the garnishment .. then it might become possible ..

Additionally, I’m wondering why you think the IRS is responsible for you not being able to get work.

Background checks including a credit report? I have no control over any employers hiring practices .. although I quite frequently, think some of their reasoning as to who is a good job candidate translates to the height of out of touch moronism.

Did you know that government agencies “cross reference” data they receive to detect unemployment fraud?

All states must report “new hires” and quite recently, in fact, the federal government has completed a central new hire reporting system. It’s just one of the ways they detect unemployment fraud.

Additionally, IRS records .. such as tax returns, 1099’s etc., can be used to detect fraud by failing to report earnings when claiming unemployment benefits.

What I’m trying to tell you Chris is that if the IRS is the one garnishing your wages .. you can’t avoid from them. The way to stop garnishments is to not avoid it, but deal with it by contacting those people who advertise that they can help you stop garnishments .. or working out a payment plan before it get to this stage.

And don’t try to tell me that you had no idea the IRS was after you .. and that this all came out of the blue to surprise you.

I’m sure eleven years of interest and penalties can really add up, but your problem will never go away until you take some kind of constructive action. And that would not be placing blame for your problems elsewhere.