Can active duty pay history be used after returning to reserve status?

Question

My husband returned from Afghanistan working active duty in the National Guard during that time. He returned back to his reserve status, and will not be separated for the service until 2018. We had the impression that he could use his past year of active duty pay as work history to receive maximum unemployment benefits. We are being denied that, because he is not separated from the military yet, so he is still currently employed by them. Is there some sort of loophole or code to change his denial? He went from full time to, drill pay once a month. That's going from an income of 3000$ to 150$ a month. At the Texas Workforce Commission, for eligibility of benefits, it says if your working hours are reduced dramatically, you can be eligible. Is that not the same thing?

Answer 1

This is a complex situation. Do not take short cuts or loopholes.

Generally, civilians are eligible to receive benefits if their working hours are reduced. Since your husband is still in military, not sure how it affects.

Each state has its own framework on dealing with servicemen and have an exclusive program. Please speak to the labor dept in TX for more info on this.