Ask Terry Questions Unemployment

Unemployment

By Terry Savage on March 29, 2021 | Wild Card

Hi Terry! Thanks for all your help, especially in your Tribune columns. I am a personal trainer. The gym where I worked was permanently closed due to COVID. I also had my own (very small) business where I was training clients in their homes. During this past year, I have been zooming some of those clients while looking for work at gyms. I have been filing for unemployment. I have found a gym that will charge me rent to train my clients. I will not be an employee. Only one client so far is willing to workout in the gym, but I know that will change once more of them are vaccinated. My question for you is, do I continue to file for unemployment? Any guidance you can provide will be appreciated. Thanks so much!!

Terry Says

You are obligated to report income — net of costs (ie gym rental). But if the income is small, it shouldn’t impact your PUA. On the other hand, IDES is so messed up that changing anything could cause them to stop all your payments. And they have recently announced that they might stop paying PUA, now that unemployment levels are dropping.
I’d never advocate breaking the law, but honestly, under these circumstances I would just keep certifying until you are netting more money than your costs.

And by the way, for over a year my trainer has been working with us on Zoom twice a week. I think it’s a lot easier (and safer) than going to a gym. I invested in some weights, banks, and a medicine ball. Doubt I’ll ever go back to the gym.

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