unemployment benefit

The whole point of unemployment insurance is to help keep people from losing everything while they are looking for their next job. In California, the requirements are really strict and if you don't follow them, then you are disqualified. You MUST be looking for work and be available to work full time. They will often check up on you, too, to make sure you're doing everything right. You also have a limited time to receive benefits, usually one year. You can also work part-time and receive partial benefits as long as you are looking for full-time work. Yes, some people take advantage of this system, but it's really hard to do so.