In the context of unemployment insurance, the “base period” is generally the period of employment prior to losing the job when the employer would have contributed unemployment insurance taxes to the government. Workers must have earned a minimum amount of wages in the base period to be eligible to claim unemployment benefits. Base period will also determine the amount of unemployment insurance benefits. ©FEMP9
Although base period is defined by state unemployment agencies, the following general definition is adapted by many states.
Base period is generally the first four of the last five completed calendar quarters prior to the effective date of the claim. So, if the unemployment claim is filed in January, February or March of 2008, then the base period is October 2006 through September 2007.
The following picture illustrates the base year much better. Courtesy: Ohio Unemployment Insurance Agency
- If the claim is filed in April, May or June of 2008, the base period is January 2007 through December 2007.
- If your claim is filed in July, August, or September of 2008, the base period is April 2007 through March 2008.
- If your claim is filed in October, November, or December 2008, the base period is July 2007 through June 2008.
Contact you local state unemployment office to find out the exact criteria used for base period calculations before filing for unemployment. Some states are flexible with base period requirements and allow you to “borrow” from quarters outside of base period if you do not have enough credits.
If you are looking to file for unemployment benefits, please refer to the guides on the side menu
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was layed off my job and need to sign up for benfits
Arthur
To file for benefits, you need to contact your state unemployment office. You may want to read this guide
http://fileunemployment.org/file-for-unemployment
If I wait for 1 week to file, I will be in another base period. If this is to my benefit, shouldn;t I wait?
Sandra – No, no matter when you file, you do not get unemployment benefits more than what you are eligible for.
OK, so my wife has worked over the last 4 months, and paid steadily into sdi (well more than the 300 dollars necessary to qualify)… She began work in July ‘09, and worked until mid October ‘09. She was hired at 4 or 5 months pregnant and is now (at the end of october) on maternity leave. She was denied SDI because she had zero dollars paid into sdi in the base period (Sept. ‘08 – Jun ‘09)…
How does that make sense? should she have gotten pregnant later? Are there any exceptions for her?
My daughter was a teacher for two years at a parochial school. When she left that school to enter the public school system she could not find a teaching position (She has a Masters Degree in Early Primary Education) she did not apply for unemployment compensation and began substitute teaching in a couple school districts. She is now realizing that she cannot make ends meet on the limited income she is able to receive while subbing. Would she be eligible to receive any additional help through unemployment compensation.
I mailed in the form stating that I have found a job. I am still getting checks and can’t find who to notify without taking time off of my new job to stop into Mt. Holly to let somebody know.
How old does a case have to be to reopen?
Everytime I click on a link that should take me to file for benefits, it shows page can’t be displayed. Is there no online application anymore?
Ann – which state you are trying to file with? What’s the URL
Can a part-time employee whose hours are further cut down apply for unemployment in the state of Missouri to make up the difference in the previous part-time hours?
Cindy – all you have is a part-time employment, you will probably qualify, but the UI amount you will receive will be reduced. You must meet other eligibility criteria such as involuntary termination from your previous job etc.
I was let go from my job of 2 yrs on 12/9/09. I was unaware that I was eligible for unemployment because @ the time, I had submitted my letter of resignation. Once I figured out I was able to receive it, I filed. That was was12/28/09. Since filing, I became employed 1/4/10. My claim has been approved but because my current weekly wages are more than the unemployment benefit, I am not receiving it. I was out of work for 4 wks so shouldn’t I be able to collect for the time I wasn’t working?
Any help in this matter would be greatly appreciated.
Carrie – Unemployment benefits are generally paid on going forward basis. They do not cover the period before you applied
So, if I’m understanding, I’ll not receive any unemployment b/c I waited too long to file and because my current income is greater than the unemployment I am eligible to receive?
I’ve been working for a company since December 1st, 2009. The division I’ve been working for is going to be liquidated this friday, the 19th, due to loss of the contract it existed on. I realize that I don’t have the required 20 weeks of continuous employment, but does the fact that the job and division were terminated by the company have any bearing on my being eligible for unemployment compensation?
Job and division terminated by the company have any bearing on your eligibility, but most states have some fallback options if you don’t have full 20 weeks. Please read base period requirements for your State.
If I worked part-time for over 3 years for the same employer and was fired can I file for unemployment?
@Jennifer – part-time employers generally do not pay unemployment taxes for you. If that is the case, you are not eligible.
Can I collect unemployment after my severance runs out?
Are employees eligible for unemployment benefits after receiving worker compensation for the prior 5 quarters and a settlement?
If one gets laid off and has been employed continuously during the entire 52 week base year is one’s compensation rate based upon:
1. The average for the entire 52 weeks, or:
2. The most recent 20 weeks.
Tks
@Howard – it is generally most recent period. However, you need to check with your state to be certain.
Despite most recent positive indicators, the job market remains bleak. I was laid off in Jan. 2010. The benefits in NY state provide 26 weeks. I am confused by the current extensions which seem to only apply to those who filed an initial claim prior to Sept. ‘09. While I hope to find suitable employment before the end of my claim, I am concerned that extensions are no longer available to those filing after Sept. ‘09. I also wonder how the April 12th ‘10 decision effects all of this.
Thank you for helping everyone Ray!
I was terminated middle of 8/09 from a job I was at for 4 years. I filled my unemployment claim immediately but my previous employer fought me therefore I had to appeal and appeal until the Hearing Process. I won my appeal and was found to have been unjustly fired.
The kicker is this: My “Hearing” was delayed until 2/25/10 and the ruling wasn’t sent until 3/26/10. During the Appeal process I found a job and worked from 11/09 – 2/10 (4mos) earning MUCH LESS than my previous job. I had to leave that job due to my father’s health and living situation. Now, Ohio Unemployment is telling me that I’m not eligible for the remainder of the benefits that i JUST received!?
Does this sound right? I’ve had a heck of a time with the State Employment CSR’s. No straight answers or exlpanations.
Please help! The Ohio Revised Code is killing me!
@Brady – are they denying the benefits based on the latest job you quit due to personal reasons? Can you tell them that was more like a temp/part-time job, so the reason for quitting that job will not matter?
I was on disability for 2 years the company I worked for did not keep me due to my injury. Now my benefits are over and I am being released into a job market that is nearly impossible to find a job. I applied for Unemployment and they(Las Vegas) denied me saying I was out of work to long but I was not allowed to work while I was on disability so I do not understand how they can deny me??
I am a teacher and I am about to be “excised” due to budget cuts. I have been told that I will be put on a subsitute list and will be the first party to be called when a sub is needed in the district. My question is- can I collect unemployment benefits on the days that I am not called in to help make up the difference in the loss of income?
I was recently “let go” after more than 2 years with my company. I am a resident of Delaware but worked in PA from 09/07 to 09/09 and most recently in NJ until 06/02/10. When I went to the DE Dept of Labor, I was told that I can’t apply for benefits there. The clerk told me because I earned significantly more in the first quarter of 2010 than in previous quarters, that I should wait until July 5th to apply in NJ because my benefit would be $600 instead of $400 in PA if I applied now. Is that true?
I know if you choose Substitute teaching, you cannot claim unemployment benefit at least in Texas and I am sure that is true in other states too!
Sometime, they put teachers in Substitute list so that they cannot claim unemployment!
I know if you choose Substitute teaching, you cannot claim unemployment benefit at least in Texas and I am sure that is true in other states too!
Sometime, they put teachers in Substitute list so that they cannot claim unemployment! Well, if you get a call everyday, that pay may be better than unemployment insurance.
I worked Aug-Dec at $9/hour then worked Jan-June at $30/hour until I got laid off June 16. According to the UI chart, if I apply for UI on 6/18, my base period will be based on $9/hour. If I wait to apply for UI on 7/1, then my base period will be based on $30 according to the chart. The UI website states that the base period depends on the date you file your claim. Does it not depend on what date you last worked? Can I wait 2 weeks to file so I get the better base period base on my normal wage?
Hi. I graduated in 2006. I have not been able to find work in my field and can hardly find work in general. I have been working for over a year part time (I live in NJ) 25 hours a week, and paid biweekly. I have been scraping by the last year hardly affording my rent/bills/food etc. They recently cut my very little hours down by an hour a day reducing my paychecks to nothing, I can not afford my rent/food or anything. Would I still be able to collect considering the circumstances ?
Just a quick question…I have been on unemployment in NJ since 7/09 and I was recently told be a friend that after one year, you will not be paid your benefits, even if it is showing that you still have money available in your claim. My friend said I would have to refile. Is this correct?
I filed for unemployment May 2,8 2010 in SC. I have had a phone interview 4-weeks ago and have a statement mailed to me from SC Unemployment on how much I can receive. Yet, it is now 6-weeks into this and I have not received any money. I am certainly eligable for unemployment and will receive the full amount. I file my work claim every week as expected. When I ck online, it says an unresolved issue call the unemployment office. I do and they keep saying every week it is in Columbia being reviewed. Yet nothing. Does anyone know how long it has been taking for everyone else is SC?
question ?
i was laid off from the company i worked for for two and half years i was laid off for 10 months then called back and i have worked for about two months doing the same job and was told today i would be laid off again friday, can i draw unemployment again? untill i fine a job or get called back again
i have been laid off since december of 2008 and there are no jobs in site. now they ask me to file a new claim for the state of indiana because its july and thats my month. but the base period they gave me was january 2009 to march 2009 i think. of course i was laid off them. if they extend federal benifits can i still draw
Can a person who is retired but went back to work and was laid off get unemployment? I was told that since I get a retirement benefit that I cannot yet a person who gets social security can get both. This does not seem fair. My retirement takes the place of social security. Any help out there?