Grad School and Unemployment

[_Demeter_]

Currently I work as a front desk manager at a seasonal hotel. In the next few weeks, we will be closing until early April and I will have to file for unemployment benefits for the first time.

At the same time, I have recently applied for a Masters program, and I'm curious how that might affect my eligibility. It's a distance program that meets roughly one weekend a month (Fri, Sat & Sun). My understanding is that you cannot file for unemployment while in school because it will take away from your availability to work. But since this is such amount of class time, I wonder if I will still be able to receive benefits.

Does anyone have any experience with this? (I'm from Maryland if that helps)

Thank you so much for you help!

[zebra15]

my school has no effect on unemployment.

[EmsMom]

I recently went through something similar, but I was only working part-time and going to school either full time or part time (grad school).  It took me a couple of weeks but I did get approved.  I am considered ready and able to work, although I am only willing to work part-time.  But I guess since that is what I worked for the last several years,it is acceptable.  I have a fellow student who not only got approved for unemployment during her full-time grad school studies, but somehow convinced unemployment to pay for the tuition as well.  We are both older, non-traditional age grad students so that may have something to do with it.  Don't be afraid to appeal the decision if you are denied.