Eligibility, Applying For And Getting Your Unemployment Insurance Benefits
Eligibility, Applying For And Getting Your Unemployment Insurance Benefits
Whenever we hear applying for unemployment benefits, we tend to cringe and/or turn up our noses. It’s understandable that the mere notion of getting unemployment benefits means that you’ve lost your job in the first place, but there’s no reason for feeling embarrassed. These are benefits that your taxes helped pay for when you were working. So what are you supposed to do? How about check for eligibility?
The purpose of unemployment insurance is to provide workers, who are unemployed through no fault of their own, with monetary payments for a specific period of time or until the worker finds a new job. It is provided by state unemployment insurance programs within guidelines established by Federal law. Eligibility for unemployment insurance, benefit amounts and the length of time benefits are available are determined by state law.
Unemployment Insurance Benefits Eligibility
You’re eligible for unemployment insurance benefits if you satisfy the following three conditions:
A.- You have earned enough money to qualify. To get unemployment benefits, you need to have earned enough wages in your “base period.” (A base period is a 12-month period when you were working. Your base period depends on when you apply for unemployment insurance). When you go to file for unemployment insurance, your caseworker will use this base period to see if you earned enough money to qualify:
| If You Apply In | Your Base Period Will Be |
| January, February or March | October 1 – September 30 |
| April, May or June | January 1 – December 31 |
| July, August or September | April 1 – March 31 |
| October, November or December | July 1 – June 30 |
The amount of money that you need to have earned varies by state so, you’ll need to check with your state unemployment office.
B.- You have lost your job through no fault of your own. To qualify for unemployment insurance, you must have left your job for one of these reasons:
1) You had to quit your job with a good reason (a good reason might be an illness or other personal issue). Your caseworker will determine if you had a “good reason.”
2) You were laid off
3) You were fired, but not because of any major misconduct like stealing, getting in a fight, using drugs on the job, etc.
C.- You have to be willing and able to go to work again. You must be ready and willing to get another job. To get the benefits, you must be ready, willing and able to work; not too sick, injured or disabled to work
The following circumstances may disqualify you from collecting unemployment benefits, depending on state law:
* Quit without good cause
* Resigned because of illness
* Left to get married
* Self-employed
* Involved in a labor dispute
* Attending School
Can I get unemployment checks if I’m working part-time? Yes, depending on your situation. You may still be able to get unemployment checks even if you’re working part-time if you meet the other eligibility requirements.
How to file for unemployment benefits
You apply for unemployment benefits at your local state unemployment agency.
What do I need to bring when I apply? Requirements vary from state to state but here’s a sample of the information you will need to have available when filing for unemployment:
Mailing address, including zip code and phone number
Your social security card or an official form of identification (If you’re an immigrant, bring proof of your official immigration status.)
Driver’s License number (if you have one)
Veteran/Military separation date
Mother’s maiden name (for security/access purposes)
Name, address, phone number of your last employer
Employer’s Federal ID Number (from your W2 form or pay stub)
Date started and date ended employment
How much you earned
Previous employer information, depending on how long you worked for your last employer. Typically, employer information for the last two years is requested.
You may be asked whether you want taxes withheld from your unemployment check. You also may be asked if you are owed vacation or holiday pay. In addition, the unemployment office will want to know the reason you left the job. The criteria for unemployment eligibility includes being out of work because of no fault of your own. If you quit or if there are questions on your termination, the application process may be more complicated. However, if your claim is denied, there is an appeals process.
Getting Your Unemployment Insurance Benefits
You will be asked to create a user name and/or password in order to login to your account to file for unemployment benefits.
Once you have filed your initial claim for unemployment benefits, you will be able to go to your account each week and apply for benefits. You can also check on the status of the claim to see when checks were mailed and to review how much unemployment compensation is left in your account.
Regular benefits are paid for a maximum of 26 weeks in most states. Additional weeks of benefits are be available during times of high unemployment.
Losing your unemployment benefits. You can lose your benefits if you don’t 1) register as directed with the Job Service, 2) report each week (or as often as you’re told to), 3) actively look for a job (and have proof that you’re looking)
Reduction in your unemployment benefits. The amount of your check can go down if:
1) You’re receiving a pension based on any previous work, including a Social Security pension. They’ll calculate your weekly pension amount and reduce your weekly benefit by that amount. If the weekly pension amount is equal to or greater than your weekly benefit amount, you won’t receive any unemployment benefits.
2) You’re still receiving severance pay from your employer.
3) You owe child support. Your unemployment check may be cut by 25 percent and that money would be used for your child support payments.
4) You receive earnings from another job.
Paying taxes on your unemployment insurance benefits. Unemployment compensation benefits are taxable income. You can elect to have 10 percent of your payments automatically withheld for federal tax purposes, or you can make estimated quarterly tax payments. Quarterly payments are due January 15, April 15, July 15 and October 15.
Filing for unemployment should be the first item on your agenda when you’ve been laid-off. It might take two or three weeks to collect a check, so the sooner you file, the faster you’ll get paid. A delay in filing will mean a delay in collecting.
Leave a Reply