| One of the difficulties seamen experience during | | | | the future, obviously his claim for unemployment |
| their Jones Act Maritime injury claims is obtaining | | | | benefits will be used against him to try to show |
| money to live on and to pay expenses with | | | | that he either lied in order to collect |
| during the claim. Very often injured seamen will | | | | unemployment benefits or he is misrepresenting |
| apply for unemployment benefits following a | | | | the seriousness of his injury in his Jones Act claim. |
| maritime injury. Often this can be a critical | | | | Under maritime law a Jones Act employer is |
| mistake and it can sometimes greatly damage | | | | required to pay maintenance benefits to an |
| their Jones Act claim. | | | | injured employee. Instead of attempting to collect |
| One of the main reasons filing for unemployment | | | | unemployment, a much better approach by an |
| can damage a Jones Act claim relates to the | | | | injured seaman is to file a suit to collect |
| basic requirement that in order to collect | | | | maintenance benefits arising out of his |
| unemployment benefits, most states require that | | | | work-related injury. The seaman only needs to |
| the employee represent and state in writing that | | | | show that he sustained an injury at work and he |
| the employee can still perform the essential | | | | has not reached "maximum cure" in order to |
| functions of their prior job. In other words, in | | | | collect maintenance benefits from his employer. |
| order to collect unemployment benefits the | | | | By collecting maintenance benefits, the injured |
| employee must sign documents stating that he is | | | | seaman may avoid having to file for |
| still capable of working for the company. If the | | | | unemployment benefits which could greatly |
| employee is also claiming to have sustained a | | | | damage his Jones Act injury claim. |
| serious injury which prevents him from working in | | | | |