Job search waiver requirements

The waiver

While taking CSM, you will be excused from the required 4 job searches per week for 6 weeks (which can be extended another 2 weeks to 8 weeks total).

The requirements

In order to receive the waiver, you need to demonstrate that you are engaged in CSM. Over the course of 6 weeks, you need to either:

• work on CSM for at least 42 hours (which CSM tracks) -- this is an average of 1 hour a day or 7 hours per week. You don't have to work the exact same amount each day or week, but your total time will be assessed at 3 weeks (about 20 hours) and at 6 weeks (42 hours).

         OR

• complete CSM. For instance, you might be able to complete CSM in the first couple of weeks, and then not have to do more.

If you do not meet either of these two requirements, you may not be able to receive unemployment benefits for the time you worked on CSM, and may have to return the money you have received on unemployment.

What if you need more than 42 hours to complete CSM?

If you have worked for 42 hour hours, but have not completed CSM, there will be a 2 week extension during which you will need to complete CSM, or work at least 14 hours (on average, 1 hour a day).

At the end of 8 weeks, if you haven't completed CSM, the job search waiver will end. However, you can continue to work on CSM, for free, with your personal coach, for as long as you want.

Note that CSM can determine whether you are actively working on it, or simply have the window open but are not engaged. The 42 hours is the amount of time that you are actively working on CSM.

What if you get a job in the first weeks while working on CSM?

If you get a job while working on CSM, you are in the clear. Your job search waiver will have been in effect, even if you didn't complete CSM or the required 48 hours.

And your CSM account and personal coach will be there if you want to finish CSM at any time -- you can continue right then, or continue a year in the future.

What if I don't like CSM and quit in the middle?

Unemployment insurance will act as if you never had a job search waiver.

• If it's in the first week, there would be no consequence as long as you complete the job search requirements for the week.
• If it's in the 4th week, for instance, (even if you've been working on CSM), then you may need to give back your unemployment benefits for the weeks that you had the waiver.
• If you leave to get a job, then there is no problem.

PLEASE TRY CSM!! But if near to the end of the first week, if you think that you're likely to quit at some point without getting a new job, you may want to quit and complete your job search tasks.

Even if you quit, your CSM account and personal coach will still be there for you if you want to give another try in the future.

You will need to take a pre-test and post-test

A requirement for taking CSM is taking the TABE test within the first 10 hours of taking CSM -- this is a national requirement for the Federal government to give money to WV Adult Education to pay for CSM and the personal coach. The results of the test are not public or shared with employers, and how well you do has no effect on the waiver, your unemployment insurance, or CSM.

You will also be asked to take a TABE test on completion.

Can I take CSM on my own without a coach?

In order to get the waiver for the job search requirement, you must take CSM through West Virginia Office of Adult Education -- they are the ones who fill in the proper forms to the unemployment office that tells that you have been taking CSM.

Typically, as long as you're putting in the required time and making progress on CSM, your coach will generally not interfere if you don't want them to -- they are there to provide help as you ask for it.

If you are interested in CSM, but don't want a job search waiver or a personal coach, you can sign up on your own here -- the cost is $54.

The process

Step 1: Fill out the form at the bottom of this webpage

Click here to be taken to that form.

Step 2: Complete intake through WV adult education

You will be connected with someone in WV adult education, who will help you complete your intake into their system. Depending on your location, the time of year, and your ability to come to the nearest adult education site, this might be:

• at the nearest adult education site
• at your home or nearby location (e.g. a library)
• done over the Internet

You will be informed of the location of the adult education centers near you.

As part of the intake, you will be requested to view a 22 minute video, and complete a set of online questions -- this can be done at home before or after your visit with adult education, or during your visit.

You will be assigned a CSM coach who will work with you to make sure that you are successful with CSM.

Step 3: Start the course the next Monday

If you do the intake on Tuesday through Friday, you will start CSM the next Monday. You will need to complete the 4 job searches that week to get your unemployment benefit. If you start on Tuesday, you may request to start that day at the option of your coach, but you must be willing to put in more than 1 hour per day.

If you do the intake on Monday, you can start CSM that day.

Step 4: By Wednesday or Thursday of the first week, you should decide if you want to take CSM

• If you decide that you don't want to take CSM, make sure to complete your 4 job searches for the week
• If you are unsure about taking CSM, you can delay the decision for a week. Complete that week's 4 job searches, and think about starting the next Monday.
• If you are sure about taking CSM, you don't need to do the 4 job searches that first week.

It makes sense to spend a few hours on CSM on Monday through Wednesday of that first week to make sure that CSM works for you! If you decide not to continue with CSM, this gives you time to complete 4 job searches.  

Step 5: Take the TABE test within the first 10 hours on CSM

The TABE test, which takes generally 90 minutes or less, should be completed within the first 10 hours on CSM. You can take the test either virtually, or at the closest adult education site during intake.  

Step 6: Halfway (3 week) check-in

At 3 weeks, you will be sent a document that adult education needs to complete saying that you have been working on CSM. Your responsibility will be to forward the document to the Office of Adult Education (you will be given the email address), which will send it on to the unemployment insurance office. You can either email the document, or take it to your local adult education office. You should do this quickly, as the unemployment insurance office must receive the signed document with 7 days.

Step 7a: At 6 weeks, if you haven't completed CSM

If you have not completed CSM at 6 weeks and have put in 42 hours, you make speak with your coach and request another 2 weeks time to complete CSM with the job search waiver.

Step 7a: If you get a job

You may quit work on CSM, but the course and coach are still with you then and forever. Remember, by completing CSM, you will be getting college math credit and a Certificate of High Performance that employers may value.