how do I talk to my friend about unemployment benefits....

He was just recently fired and started collecting unemployment benefits, then got a Job with his friend who gives him 40 hours of work and pays them cash under the table.

My problem with my friend is that he isn't paying into the system, he is getting g tax free money, and he is taking away from those who really need it..

I don't know a good way to start this conversation though...

or other govt. agencies, he will be in big trouble.
If he gets audited, it will be really tough to explain. He could even get jail-time.
( like you are being a real friend...helping him out)

why is it necessary to talk to him at all? If you had toe nail fungus, would you want him talking to you about that? Bald spots? Warts on your face? Private decisions require privacy.


Thanks for reading.

"How do I tell him in a way that will make me feel better about myself while simultaneously making him feel even worse about the shitty situation that's been thrust upon him?"

kills you doesn't it.

Enjoy your stay.

What he is doing is illegal. What's the difference in him stealing money (it is theft)and a person embezzling $100K? None, they are both engaging in criminal activity. Another goddamned thief. I hate thieves!

Is it ok to do something morally wrong because it is legal?

I would perhaps talk with him once and point it out, that he should be extremely careful, but beyond that I would stay out of it.

its grand larceny & insurance fraud and you will have to repay.

http://www.uticaod.com/news/x1274370642/Oneida-County-DA-announces-37-illegal-benefit-arrests

He did pay for those benefits for many years (they were deducted from his paycheck). He is not taking anything from you.

only by the employer. There is no deduction from employee pay for unemployment taxes.

if you're a Liberal or Democrat...

sP

... by supporting people who want to end unemployment, AND also directly stealing from those who need it.

We all work for unemployment insurance, its not a gift from the government. If he has to work under the table to make ends meet then its what the guy has to do.

...if he's working 40 hrs a week and taking money under the table. He is taking money out of someone else's pocket. That is theft! You obviously think it is okay to steal if you aren't making enough to pay your bills. It is no different than driving off without paying for your gas. Both can land your ass in jail. He'll probably never get caught, but he IS A THIEF.

Some bank robbers think what they are doing is a last resort, and justify it that way. Then they go thru remorse while they rot in prison.

So go report the guy he's working for, the babysitter next door, the guy that shovels snow each winter to make a few extra bucks. I just can't get that worked up about it.

for not withholding taxes. Of course, depending on the type of work your friend is doing, the boss can also just issue a 1099 at the end of the year.

the nub. Not only is the "friend" risking much collecting unemployment while working, the person paying under the table is risking much. The employer is not paying payroll taxes, SS, Workman's comp, all kinds of issues legal, so it really does effect everyone and it is everyones business. This is a really bad idea all around.

And by "state of the economy" I mean "the state in which the wealthy make the rules by which they protect their own wealth and screw everyone else." Of course I know that you're not advocating such a policy, but when that policy is the law of the land--as it has been for as long as money has been in existence--then there is inevitably going to be an underground economy to help support the victims of the "official" economy.

Whatever the legality of such activities, they will persist until it is possible for the average citizen to earn a living wage while working "honestly."


In the grand scheme of things, if a worker manages to scrape up a few thousand bucks per year tax-free, I simply can't get worked up about it when the CEO who fired him is scoring a $25M bonus for it.

to unemployment. Then he would lose both unemployment benefits and his job. That would help his situation tremendously. I'm sure he'll thank you for being such a great friend. With no income, maybe he could even move in with you when he's living out on the street.

Thanks for the laugh.

Good luck with your moral dilemma.

to him will make any difference in his actions.

If there really were such a readily available 40-hour job floating around, why didn't someone else already have it?

In any case, if this is a true story, that guy is in deep shit if the IRS ever finds out.

we have different "friends".

as when I was in third grade and a man at the side of the road asked me if I could check to see if he had a flat tire on the car he was sitting in. Something made me wary of an adult asking a kid a question like that. When he got out of the car he was wearing nothing from the waist down. The question was a trick to lure me in.

It's my feeling that I don't know you well enough to answer the question you asked and it makes me uneasy that you would ask such a thing.

Your comparison of your story to the OP, however, cracks me up. Good call. :rofl: :thumbsup:

promised. We have 17 out of 22 weeks to pay to those who are actually unemployed.

http://www.michigan.gov/uia/0,1607,7-118-40447---,00.html


UIA 2-Minute Fraud Reporting Form


Your information is important to us. All allegations of unemployment insurance (UI) fraud are taken seriously. Please take a minute to report suspected fraud involving Michigan's UI system. You may remain anonymous if your prefer.