Let me get this straight...

You have to be laid off from a job AND be given state unemployment benefits to be eligible, right? In my opinion, this leaves out a LARGE portion of people who refuse to file for unemployment and those that are not eligible for unemployment benefits.

But it wouldn't be a 'gift,' if there weren't so many strings attached....

lol what an incentive...I'm sure some might jump on this but I never thought I'd see the day where job insecurity becomes a way for companies to draw in customers (besides the standard of lowering prices to accomodate the economy).

I imagine a crap ton of people would take advantage of three free months if proof of unemployment wasn't necessary.

@Benjamin M Martin:

So they are supposed to magically know that you are not only laid off, but also haven't gotten another job? Because, let's face it, how else can they really know that you didn't get another job the day after you were laid off without proof from unemployment?

If you refuse to file for a benefit that is in place for that circumstance, then whose problem is that? Unemployment is there for a reason-I know it's hard to apply for help of any kind, especially when you've worked really hard, and led a responsible life. But I'm not sure why Virgin Mobile should pay for your phone if you refuse to file.

And generally, from the time I have spent working in various fields, when someone doesn't qualify for unemployment, there are reasons. I have known people who get fired for blatant misconduct and try, unsuccessfully, to apply for unemployment. I know there are exceptions, but I think that expecting a cell phone company to take those exceptions into consideration is a bit silly.

I personally like Virgin Mobile, and I think this is a good gesture on their part. But I think expecting the world from them (or even expecting them to account for the random exceptions to a fairly straightforward system) is a bit much.

@Benjamin M Martin: Honestly, why would anyone refuse to file for unemployment if they were eligible? It's insurance that your employer and paycheck pay into and it's factored into part of the risk of being employed.

Even so, why would one *refuse* to take unemployment based on principle, but then seek assistance from a utility company? It does not compute.

@Jennifer Duquette:

"And generally, from the time I have spent working in various fields, when someone doesn't qualify for unemployment, there are reasons. I have known people who get fired for blatant misconduct and try, unsuccessfully, to apply for unemployment."

I work a seasonal job and I know I will be laid off at the end of May. But since I only will be working a month and a half this year instead of my usual three months, I won't be eligible for unemployment. So wouldn't have a claim, and Virgin Mobile won't help me. Even though I know that with my city's unemployment rate being 8%, I'm not gonna find a job easily. It's no fault of mine.

@Benjamin M Martin:
The article says that you must show proof of *eligibility* for unemployment benefits, not that you have to be getting them. Big difference. Of course, that doesn't help people who for various reasons don't end up eligible.

@Coelacanth:

Having just lost my job two weeks ago, let me tell you that it is a major pain in the arse to file for unemployment benefits. In my state, you have to document at least 5 job contacts per week(with very detailed, has to be verifiable information) to receive said benefits. I also only qualified for about 1/3 of what I had been making. Right now, I only have one solid job lead and thus haven't wanted to fill out the mountain of paperwork. (Thank God my fiance just got a raise).

@Dilbitz: But your unemployment is planned, and if you can not afford to pay your Cell phone bill,maybe now isn't the time to get one. This is not some benefit that should go to the guy who says screw this job i am walking, and then wants Virgin to pick up the tab, or the guy who only works 2 months a year and heads to college the rest.

@ramfan1701: You dont have a job now. How hard is it to fill out 5 (ONE PER DAY) job contacts. If you made $3000 a week ( I doubt that) and made 1.3 that would be an extra $1000 for making ONE contact a day 5 days a week. I hope you don't strain yourself.

First time I read that headline I didn't see the "off" in the headline. I'm thinking, "Wow, win win!"

@ramfan1701: @Coelacanth: The reason why I don't have unemployment is because right after I lost my job, I found something that paid very little, but was beneficial to my career. So with that counting as "employed" I don't think I would have gotten anything.