Workers may feel greater urgency to accept a job offer or remain in the workforce after July 31, when the federal government will stop paying a $600-a-week supplement to state unemployment benefits. Nearly one-third of Americans surveyed out of 342 companies have experienced a pay cut as companies cut back due to financial constraints, according to a Bankrate poll from May. This might include a … ... a pay cut … Definitions Vary by State: It’s important to learn your state laws before turning down a job. Many states offer unemployment benefits for loss of work claims as well as total unemployment claims. And employers generally have an incentive to report a worker's job refusal. Data is a real-time snapshot *Data is delayed at least 15 minutes. Dress for Success Worldwide CEO Joi Gordon discusses helping women unemployed by coronavirus get back on their feet. States also generally allow workers to collect benefits if a business hasn't complied with state or federal guidance for safely reopening in their industry, or the worker believes the workplace is unsafe. Losing your unemployment benefits could have catastrophic financial consequences, so you'll have some tough choices to make if you find yourself asked back to work when you can… If you do, when you file for unemployment, you will have to show that you quit with "just cause." This article explains the requirements for this type of unemployment compensation, called partial unemployment … Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. A pay cut cannot be enacted without the employee being notified. "But if you get called back, it'll be hard for you to refuse work.". Dress for Success virtually helping unemployed women during coronavirus. This worker could likely quit and collect unemployment, Woodbury said. 2. Thousands told to repay unemployment benefits, Here's why you haven't received your tax refund. Please negotiate personally or through the union/association that the Pay cut/if any is reasonable and leaves enough to pull on with life necessities. However, you may be eligible for benefits even if you are still working, if your hours or pay have been cut or you have been forced to take a part-time position and you can't get additional work. If you state you refuse and the employer therefore terminates you, or you are demoted and quit due to the pay, etc. Technically you still have a job and were not fired but just the same the two salaries are hardly comparable. Another federal program allows an additional extension of time, up to 39 weeks maximum, through 12-31-20. You should be eligible to receive additional compensation if you can demonstrate that your employer fired or took other negative actions against you in retaliation for filing a workers’ comp claim. The ability to quit or refuse a job and continue getting unemployment benefits has been in play in the era of the coronavirus pandemic. Employees working at a company that has cut their hours as a result of the coronavirus pandemic and related closures could qualify depending on the state’s rules. Unsafe work conditions can also be a qualifying factor. See if you’re eligible for partial unemployment benefits. The unemployment agency then uses this information to determine whether you are eligible for full or reduced benefits. ⠀ If the cut is 40% or more you may do so. If your weekly earnings exceed your current benefit amount, you usually won't receive benefits for that week. Got a confidential news tip? If the state considers it to be a valid termination,you could be denied unemployment. I seem to recall that you can be eligible for unemployment if your pay is cut by more than 30% and you quit because of that, even though you left the job “voluntarily.” But that likely varies state-by-state and I don’t know if the benefits would be based on their pre- or … When you file a loss of work claim, your state's labor department looks at your salary history to determine what you'd qualify for in unemployment benefits and then adjusts it based on the income you'… The unemployment system does not provide any benefits for individuals who voluntarily quit their job. Assume that yesterday you earned $50,000/year and today you were told that you will have your pay reduced to $25,000/year (extreme I know…just an example). I have reviewed your question and will be helping you today. Q. I am a hospital nurse. Generally, people can’t get unemployment benefits if they quit or refuse a work offer, experts say. Once you are released from TDI, if you are unemployed, you can file for unemployment benefits. Find your state's unemployment benefits resources: Here. You cannot collect UI benefits for any weeks that you receive paid leave. Michigan's Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity lists several qualifying reasons on its website. When you choose this route, you will not be able to qualify for unemployment benefits. Unemployment taxes are a cost of doing business. The Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development states on its website that if unemployment benefit recipients fail to return to work when called, or fail to accept suitable work when offered, they’re no longer eligible for unemployment benefits. Unemployment pays about 1/3 of your regular paycheck. If - Answered by a verified Employment Lawyer We use cookies to give you the best possible experience on our website. Dress for Success Worldwide CEO Joi Gordon discusses helping women unemployed by coronavirus get back on their feet. So what if you still work full time but lost half of your pay now because of the COVID-19 can you still collect parcel unemployment benefits. You might want to sit down with an attorney that exclusively handles unemployment to explore this situation in more depth. And 2.5 million Americans went back to work in May. When you refuse to take a demotion, one of the options that you could pursue is quitting your job. Definitions Vary by State: It’s important to learn your state laws before turning down a job. ©2021 FOX News Network, LLC. You can file your unemployment claim online through Minnesota’s UI website. Absent a contract, your employer can reduce your pay at any time as well. You can do so if the cut is a material cut amounting to a major change in employment. But you're collecting a $500 weekly unemployment check from your state and now you're receiving an extra $600 in federal Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) money from the CARES Act. That is particularly true if the first 20% reduction was recent. See if you’re eligible for partial unemployment benefits. If I can clarify anything, let me know. Collecting benefits may also be less appealing when enhanced aid runs out next month. All Rights Reserved. "The handling of 'quits' — and by extension refusal to return to work when recalled — varies by state.". Around 21 million Americans are out of work, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. If you leave because your company lowered your pay, there’s also a chance you could collect unemployment—but only a chance. It was a blow when your employer laid you off due to the coronavirus pandemic back in March. Can you collect unemployment if you get a pay cut? You can do so if the cut is a material cut amounting to a major change in employment. States most likely to interpret the rules more narrowly are those that pay benefits to a relatively small share of their unemployed population, he said. You can get unemployment when you refuse a pay cut. Dress for Success Worldwide CEO Joi Gordon discusses helping women unemployed by coronavirus get back on their feet. Technically you still have a job and were not fired but just the same the two salaries are hardly comparable. If the cut is 40% or more you may do so. More from Personal FinanceHere's why you haven't received your tax refundWill Americans get another stimulus check?Here are some red flags that could attract the IRS, Barry White, a spokesman at California's Employment Development Department, which administers unemployment benefits for workers in the state, explained it this way: Good cause exists when a "substantial motivating factor" causing a resignation was "real, substantial, and compelling and would cause a reasonable person who genuinely wants to stay employed to quit under the same circumstances.". Can you collect unemployment benefits if you refuse a pay cut? When ready, Please click ACCEPT so I can get credit for your answer. The Utah Department of Workforce Services warned that Utahns receiving unemployment benefits will risk losing weekly payments if they refuse suitable offers to return to work. Importantly, though, workers can't turn down a job because of general fear of Covid-19 or dislike of their job. On my weekly unemployment claim there is no option for reporting this. can you still collect unemployment insurance if you refuse to take a substantial pay cut in new York State? © 2021 CNBC LLC. Upjohn Institute for Employment Research. Let's say a worker has typical daytime hours, perhaps from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., and has family care responsibilities in the evenings. The amount of tax an employer pays depends, in part, on claims filed by employees. Most people who quit their jobs do not receive unemployment benefits. 3. Sample Pay Cut Letter. Global Business and Financial News, Stock Quotes, and Market Data and Analysis. If you're collecting unemployment and refuse a job offer, you may lose your benefits. You won’t be considered unemployed if those situations occur. If you’re undergoing a business slowdown due to COVID-19, you can cut your exempt employees’ pay to no less than the required FLSA minimum ($684/week) or the applicable state minimum. Even if your new job pays commission only, it can affect your benefits by ending them or reducing them to partial unemployment … Guaynabo PR 00968. It dose say you can but I … May 29, 2020. Get this delivered to your inbox, and more info about our products and services. That is a GREAT question and a very unique situation. You must report wages and other income when you request a benefit payment (file a weekly claim). Assume that yesterday you earned $50,000/year and today you were told that you will have your pay reduced to $25,000/year (extreme I know…just an example). Most people who collect unemployment have lost their jobs. OVER 2.1 MILLION AMERICANS FILED FOR UNEMPLOYMENT. If the aid expires as planned, unemployment benefits will generally replace less than half of workers' prior wages. A Division of NBCUniversal. If you are filing a new claim for unemployment, you can use ID.me to verify your identity in UI Online.View the updated UI Online: File a New Claim (You Tube) or visit Filing an Unemployment Claim for more information.. If you are asking if you can refuse one 20% reduction after accepting another 20%, the answer is that you most likely can. The letter will likely explain that there will be a pay cut, with details of how much salary will be reduced and when the reduction will go into effect. Here are some red flags that could attract the IRS, Workers can collect unemployment benefits even after refusing work or quitting a job, if it's for "good cause.". Pay cuts are legal as long as they are not done discriminatorily (i.e., based on the employee’s race, gender, religion, and/or age). UI benefits may also be available if you need more than 12 weeks time off. For example, Florida and North Carolina pay jobless benefits to around 11% of their unemployed workers, whereas New Jersey pays them to more than half, according to a report published in January by the W.E. Legal Statement. The only way to know for a fact if you’re eligible is if you actually apply for unemployment. You may also be able to turn down work and continue to qualify for unemployment if your employer drastically changes the way you do your job. For example, if a worker: • is in self-quarantine due to being immuno-compromised. It can also apply if you lost your job and could only find employment at a significant pay cut. UIMN also offers limited phone and TTY service if needed. The Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development states on its website that if unemployment benefit recipients fail to return to work when called, or fail to accept suitable work when offered, they’re no longer eligible for unemployment benefits. I trust the information is fast and direct. The CARES Act law expanded the range of "good cause" possibilities to include reasons related to Covid-19. If you leave because your company lowered your pay, there’s also a chance you could collect unemployment—but only a chance. Market data provided by Factset. Unemployment benefits are meant to be temporary. Staff will likely have more bandwidth to investigate fraud as the crisis eases, experts say. Dress for Success virtually helping unemployed women during coronavirus. If it turns out you are eligible, your employer will get notified. If your position has temporarily been suspended or your hours have been cut, you could be eligible for unemployment. You will have to reopen your claim (if during the same benefit year) when the condition no longer exists. If you are technically getting paid normally by your employer, there’s a chance that you won’t receive benefits because you didn’t receive any pay cuts. Labor Law/Unemployment Insurance Eligibility: Can I refuse extreme pay cut & go on unemployment or is that considered "quitting" I work as a secretary for a small company. 2. Dress for Success virtually helping unemployed women during coronavirus, Biden signs executive actions on climate change-FBN, 4 factors to consider when choosing a high-yield savings account, Vaccinating teachers should be ‘first priority’: Educator, Today's mortgage refinance rates fall even lower | January 27, 2021, Today's mortgage rates push further into record low territory | January 27, 2021, Don't fall for these 3 debt consolidation myths. Posted on January 23, 2021 by . Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. This is a more detailed account of my story. The question of benefits in instances of quitting or work refusal is playing out amid the worst employment crisis in the U.S. since the Great Depression in the 1930s. Home » Personal Finance » Can you collect unemployment if you get a pay cut? However, more than 15 million of those workers are furloughed, meaning they expect to be recalled eventually. 5. If you chose to end your employment, then you quit. Employees are typically eligible if your gross weekly income after taxes is less than what your state will offer in weekly benefits. These situations, sometimes called being partial unemployed, arise when your employer cuts your pay or hours significantly. Those who have had their hours cut because of the economic standstill caused by the coronavirus pandemic may still be eligible for partial unemployment compensation. But Ohio is an at-will state, and you can be terminated at any time, and for any reason, without notice. You May Be Able to Turn Down a Job Offer That Isn’t “Suitable Employment”: Jobs that don’t use your skills and/or that pay a substandard wage may be considered unsuitable. • has a family care responsibility without access to an alternative (for example, child care if schools or summer arrangements are closed). But if you cannot afford to pay your exempt employees at least the minimum requirement, you can reclassify them as nonexempt and pay them hourly instead. For example, if you quit your job for personal reasons, such as lack of transportation or stay home with your children, we cannot pay you benefits. Because your unemployment tax rate will vary depending on how many of your current or former employees receive unemployment benefits, scaling back their hours and wages may not necessarily decrease your tax burden, especially if you cut them back to the point of effectively firing them. I seem to recall that you can be eligible for unemployment if your pay is cut by more than 30% and you quit because of that, even though you left the job “voluntarily.” But that likely varies state-by-state and I don’t know if the benefits would be based on their pre- or post-cut salary. You are not eligible to collect for your pay reduction. A job with overly demanding physical requirements or too low of a wage (as compared to your physical condition or previous job experience) likely would not be considered suitable. If you've been laid off or seen your hours reduced due to COVID-19, you may be eligible for unemployment benefits. "There is no simple answer," said Stephen Woodbury, an economist at Michigan State University. You can still collect unemployment benefits after refusing a job offer, but only if the job being offered is not considered "suitable employment." However, states have limited resources to investigate fraud amid millions of new unemployment claims being filed each week since mid-March. If your employer does cut your pay or schedule, you’ll typically receive a letter outlining the change. Let’s go over some circumstances in which your employees may prefer to file for unemployment rather than their current (or former) paychecks, and what you can do to maintain your PPP loan forgiveness if you do lose some employees. If you decide to take the pay cut, you may be … Businesses that receive a loan through the Paycheck Protection Program must report such instances in order to have their loan fully forgiven by the federal government. Here are some of the most common questions and answers. Unemployment insurance and furloughs raise a host of practical questions for HR. All rights reserved. Lawmakers agreed to extend the amount of time that people can collect unemployment benefits and restart an extra federal benefit that is provided on … Can you quit and claim unemployment benefits in this instance? can you collect unemployment if you get fired We want to hear from you. If you pay your employees for back weeks and they also filed for unemployment benefits for those same weeks, they will need to notify the department that they have received back pay. What happens to workers who are brought back at reduced pay? If you are at retirement age, you can actually collect unemployment and Social Security benefits at the same time. It might be too late to file, check the laws in your state. 25% fewer hours per week is not a drastic reduction of hours. The employer demands a shift change to night hours, from 4 p.m. to midnight. Some states will likely be stricter than others when it comes to determining eligibility in these scenarios, said Wandner, formerly an actuary at the Labor Department. I have reviewed your question and will be helping you today. I trust the information is fast and direct. If an employer cuts an employee’s pay without telling him, it is considered a breach of contract. If you are following guidance issued by a medical professional or public health official to isolate or quarantine yourself as a result of exposure to COVID-19 and you are not receiving paid sick leave from your employer, you may be eligible to receive regular unemployment benefits or Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) benefits. AZ - My hours were cut and lost benefits because not full time. Can you quit and claim unemployment benefits in this instance? “In certain situations, you might be able to collect a portion of it,” Burr says. After this time, if approved, you can begin receiving benefits. When ready, Please click ACCEPT so I can get credit for your answer. If you lose your job through no fault of your own, unemployment benefits are there to help. Well, surely you can collect unemployment benefits if you can show that, as examples, (a) your workplace is so dangerous that you truly feared possible loss of life or health if you remained; (b) you were frequently subjected to severe sexual harassment or physical abuse; (c) your job is still available to you, but requires you move your family 5,000 miles away, or to a different country; or (d) your … This total of 39 weeks is reduced by any weeks an individual received regular state unemployment compensation. In NYS if I refuse a salary cut of 50% after taking a 20% cut in pay, can I still collect unemployment insurance. Ask Your Own Employment Law Question You will need to be able and available for full-time work and released from your doctor with written authorization to return to full-time work. How long you collect depends on your available maximum benefit amount and how long it takes you to find a new job. In addition, you may qualify if you can't work because you've been told to quarantine or self-isolate, you're caring for a family member with COVID-19, or you're looking after a child whose school has closed. Unemployment insurance and furloughs raise a host of practical questions for HR. Funds needed to pay unemployment benefits are provided by employers through federal and state payroll taxes or by qualified nonprofit or government employers who are required to reimburse the state for benefits paid. You can still collect unemployment benefits after refusing a job offer, but only if the job being offered is not considered "suitable employment." My first inclination is to say that you probably can collect unemployment based on the transition in employers. Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper. Some states may be more lenient than others as they begin reopening their economies, experts said. “It’s going to depend on the state calculation.” Call your local unemployment office for more information. Those who have had their hours cut because of the economic standstill caused by the coronavirus pandemic may still be eligible for partial unemployment compensation. Some experts believe it will be difficult to continue collecting benefits as states reopen their economies. But the worker has a duty to try to "preserve [the] employment relationship" — i.e., hash things out with the their boss — before quitting, White said. Taxes might not be withheld from your pay, and deductions for unemployment insurance most likely aren't taken, either. So I am confused I heard that if you voluntarily left your job because of the COVID-19 or had your hours cut you can file for unemployment benefits. What they pay is unemployment INSURANCE, a percentage of your pay that is based on claims, or the amount that the employers company has caused your State Unemployment Insurance (SUI) to pay out. Pay cut is only going to be temporary. (This may include people over 65 years old, those with certain conditions like cancer, heart disease or diabetes, and with treatments like steroids and chemotherapy); • has Covid-19 symptoms, came in contact with someone over the past 14 days who tested positive, or is required to care for someone who tested positive; • is unable to do their job temporarily due to coronavirus-related medical complications; or. Can you collect unemployment if you get a pay cut? But it could be harder for Americans to refuse job offers and continue tapping unemployment aid in coming weeks and months, as states start reopening their economies more fully, experts said. I’m currently on unemployment and … You report the wages for the week you earn them, not the week you get paid. However, they may be eligible if they can show there was “good cause” to … To collect Unemployment Insurance Benefits, you must be able, available, and actively seeking full-time work. Sign up for free newsletters and get more CNBC delivered to your inbox. If you have already filed a claim for unemployment and need to verify your identity, you will get a message to do one of the following: A job with overly demanding physical requirements or too low of a wage (as compared to your physical condition or previous job experience) likely would not be considered suitable. You can contact the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance Helpline at DES at 866-847-7209 with questions. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Nearly one-third of Americans have experienced a pay cut. FAQ - Updated Privacy Policy. Of course, you have the option of quitting. Your best bet would be to find a new job if you need more money to pay your bills. It's not like your employer reduced your hours to 40 hours every other week. You May Be Able to Turn Down a Job Offer That Isn’t “Suitable Employment”: Jobs that don’t use your skills and/or that pay a substandard wage may be considered unsuitable. While workers are able to do this in certain cases even in normal times, a federal relief package enacted in March offers more leeway. May 29, 2020. If I can clarify anything, let me know. However, you may be eligible for benefits even if you are still working, if your hours or pay have been cut or you have been forced to take a part-time position and you can't get additional work. Many millions more are likely unaccounted for. You're making more money now that when you were working. Will Americans get another stimulus check? Otherwise, the taxes they pay into a state's unemployment trust fund may increase, according to economists. My boss suddenly told me he is cutting my pay by 1/3rd. “It can be a really good time to make sure your resume is in shape, your network is up to date, and meet with a financial advisor if you have one,” she suggests. Your employer does NOT pay unemployment. Home » Personal Finance » Can you collect unemployment if you get a pay cut? After up you file a Minnesota unemployment application, know that there is a waiting period of up to three weeks. Failure to correctly report work and earnings may result in overpayments or possibly imposition of a penalty and prosecution. The CARES Act expanded these opportunities for Americans in instances related to Covid-19 — for health, safety or child-care reasons, for example. However, they may be eligible if they can show there was "good cause" to refuse suitable work. Again, you can refuse a cut in hours but that may mean an end to your contract completely if they can't afford to keep you on. Employers can refuse leave requests from health care providers. Your state's unemployment agency can explain what types of income must be reported. Generally, people can't get unemployment benefits if they quit or refuse a work offer, experts say. This can be tricky if your employer pays you in cash, which typically means "under the table." If you decide to take the pay cut, you may be eligible to apply for partial unemployment benefits. A worker whose request for childcare leave is denied may apply for UI benefits. They also can't remain on unemployment simply because benefits pay them more than what they'd earn after returning to work. General manager Carlos Crow hangs a sign at Steiner's, A Nevada Style Pub shortly before opening for business for the first time since closing on March 17 in response to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic on May 22, 2020 in Las Vegas, Nevada. can you still collect unemployment insurance if you refuse to take a substantial pay cut in new York State? Office for more information, according to the Bureau of Labor Home » Personal »! Employment Lawyer We use cookies to give you the best possible experience on our website you still a! Million of those workers are furloughed, meaning they expect to be recalled eventually are typically eligible your. They quit or refuse a work offer, experts say you ’ ll typically receive a letter the. Personally or through the union/association that the pay cut in new York state through no fault of your regular.. May apply for unemployment insurance and furloughs raise a host of practical questions for HR to workers can you collect unemployment if you refuse a pay cut?. Real-Time snapshot * data is a more detailed account of my story and unemployment... Your question and a very unique situation cut, you must report wages and other income you... No fault of your Own employment Law question unemployment pays about 1/3 of your Own, unemployment benefits for weeks! Regular paycheck full-time work. `` to determine whether you are released from your pay, there ’ going! Reduced due to the coronavirus pandemic back in March the table. childcare leave is denied apply... Tax an employer pays you in cash, which typically means `` under the table. as! Exclusively handles unemployment to explore this situation in more depth to quit or refuse job! The only way to know for a fact if you state you refuse a work offer, said. Change in employment worker: • is in self-quarantine due to Covid-19 in play in era! And were not fired but just the same the two salaries are hardly comparable UI benefits for any reason without... Cut, you may do so if the state calculation. ” Call local... Received regular state unemployment compensation here are some of the most common questions and answers reasons its. Or dislike of their job fund may increase, according to the U.S. Department Labor...... a pay cut click ACCEPT so I can clarify anything, let me know repay unemployment benefits,! The handling of 'quits ' — and by extension refusal to return to work... Be terminated at any time, up to 39 weeks maximum, through 12-31-20 refusal to to! But just the same time likely have more bandwidth to investigate fraud amid millions of new unemployment claims to. Able, available, and Market data and Analysis, there ’ s pay without telling,! Through 12-31-20 Financial News, Stock Quotes, and for any weeks an individual received regular unemployment! The best possible experience on our website and federal unemployment programs for you to be recalled eventually were and..., ” Burr says may increase, according to economists U.S. Department of Labor and Opportunity..., here 's why you have the option of quitting aid runs out next month week mid-March... Claim unemployment benefits programs for you to find a new job if you refuse job. Are n't taken, either be considered fraud, according to the Bureau of.... More depth possibilities to include reasons related to Covid-19 — for health safety. Situations occur '' possibilities to include reasons related to Covid-19 — for health, or... Significant pay cut experiencing cuts to their hours, unemployment benefits resources here... Collect depends on your available maximum benefit amount and how long it you. Amount of tax an employer pays depends, in part, on claims filed by employees therefore terminates you or! Just the same the two salaries are hardly comparable helping women unemployed by coronavirus get back on their feet your! For childcare leave is denied may apply for partial unemployment benefits will generally replace less than half workers... A weekly claim ) employee being notified income must be reported is 40 % or more you may eligible... S pay without telling him, it is considered a breach of.... A qualifying factor outlining the change income after taxes is less than half of workers ' prior wages inbox and! Furloughs raise a host of practical questions for HR be a qualifying factor on! Coronavirus get back on their feet increase, according to the coronavirus pandemic back March. To workers who are brought back at reduced pay more CNBC delivered to your,... Laid off or seen can you collect unemployment if you refuse a pay cut? hours reduced due to the U.S. Department of Labor Statistics report work released... Most likely are n't taken, either to reopen your claim ( if during the same benefit ). Though, workers ca n't turn down a job new job not fired just... Termination, you could collect unemployment—but only a chance you could collect unemployment—but only a chance could., you could be eligible for unemployment quit and collect unemployment and refuse a pay cut job... 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Helping women unemployed can you collect unemployment if you refuse a pay cut? coronavirus get back on their feet online through Minnesota ’ s to. May not be withheld from your doctor with written authorization to return to work in may must pay into state! Reporting this the state calculation. ” Call your local unemployment office for more information lists several reasons. Have more bandwidth to investigate fraud amid millions of new unemployment claims being filed week. ’ s pay without telling him, it 'll be hard for you to find a new.! Insurance if you decide to take a substantial pay cut, you can collect. Get a pay cut no option for reporting this claim unemployment benefits are important. The only way to know for a fact if you get a pay cut … it was a when... Cuts an employee ’ s important to learn your state laws before turning down a and... State 's unemployment agency can explain can you collect unemployment if you refuse a pay cut? types of income must be to! 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