File Unemployment

Due to the current economic situation, those who are obtaining unemployment benefits are now entitled to extend their benefits by 13 to 20 weeks. Customary unemployment insurance lasts for 26 weeks.  When there are elevated levels of unemployment in your state,  you will receive an extension of benefits. A soaring level of unemployment is described as a rate above 6%. Your state will inform you about the unemployment extension when your traditional benefits are about to run out.

Want to know how long does this extension provide benefits in your State?

Benefits Extension by State – Available Weeks

The following table shows number of weeks of extension allowed in each state. Everyone will be eligible for UI benefits. EUC and EB benefits are determined based on the current unemployment rate in the State.

State	UI	EUC	EB	Total Weeks
Alaska	26	37	0	63
Alabama	26	37	0	63
Arkansas	25	35	0	60
Arizona	26	37	0	63
California	26	47	0	73
Colorado	26	37	0	63
Connecticut	26	47	0	73
Dist of Columbia	26	37	0	63
Delaware	26	28	0	54
Florida	19	27	0	46
Georgia	19	27	0	46
Hawaii	26	14	0	40
Iowa	26	14	0	40
Idaho	26	37	0	63
Illinois	25	35	0	60
Indiana	26	37	0	63
Kansas	26	14	0	40
Kentucky	26	37	0	63
Louisiana	26	28	0	54
Massachusetts	26	28	0	54
Maryland	26	28	0	54
Maine	26	37	0	63
Michigan	20	36	0	56
Minnesota	26	14	0	40
Missouri	20	21	0	41
Mississippi	26	37	0	63
Montana	28	14	0	42
North Carolina	26	47	0	73
North Dakota	26	14	0	40
Nebraska	26	14	0	40
New Hampshire	26	14	0	40
New Jersey	26	47	0	73
New Mexico	26	28	0	54
Nevada	26	47	0	73
New York	26	37	0	63
Ohio	26	28	0	54
Oklahoma	26	14	0	40
Oregon	26	37	0	63
Pennsylvania	26	37	0	63
Rhode Island	26	47	0	73
South Carolina	20	28	0	48
South Dakota	26	14	0	40
Tennessee	26	37	0	63
Texas	26	28	0	54
Utah	26	14	0	40
Virginia	26	14	0	40
Vermont	26	14	0	40
Washington	26	37	0	63
Wisconsin	26	37	0	63
West Virginia	26	37	0	63
Wyoming	26	14	0	40

UI: Unemployment Insurance (UI) programs offer the basic unemployment benefits to eligible workers who become jobless through no fault of their own, and meet specific other eligibility requirements.

EUC: There are presently four Emergency Unemployment Compensation (EUC) benefits extensions available. Each Tier provides additional weeks of unemployment other than the basic state unemployment benefits.

EB: Extended Benefits (EB) are available to workers who have exhausted usual unemployment insurance benefits all through periods of high unemployment.

 

Unemployment Extension Tiers

As already mentioned, in the United States, there is a usual of 26 weeks of unemployment benefits, known as “regular unemployment insurance (UI) benefits”. There are two programs for extending UI benefits.

• Emergency Unemployment Compensation (EUC)
• Extended Benefits (EB)

Emergency Unemployment Compensation (EUC)

A Tier of unemployment is an addition of a certain amount of weeks of unemployment benefits. There are presently four Emergency Unemployment Compensation (EUC) benefits extensions available. Each Tier provides additional weeks of unemployment other than the basic state unemployment benefits.

• EUC Tier 1 offer up to 20 weeks or 80% of an individual’s maximum benefit amount from their original unemployment insurance claim, whichever amount is less. The individual should have had their initial claim filed May, 7, 2006 or later on and worn out their usual unemployment insurance benefits. February 26, 2012 was the last date a EUC Tier 1 claim may be filed. EUC Tier 1 is 100% federally funded.

• EUC Tier 2 gives up to 14 weeks of 54% of an individual’s highest benefit amount from their original unemployment insurance claim, whichever amount is less. An individual must tire out EUC Tier 1 benefits so as to obtain EUC Tier 2 benefits. An individual must wear out their EUC Tier 1 claim by benefit week ending March 3, 2012 (one week later than EUC Tier 1), so as to be entitled for EUC Tier 2 before March 6, 2012 ending date of the program. EUC Tier 2 is 100% federally funded. EUC Tier 2 was extended from 13 potential weeks of benefits to a 14 potential weeks of benefits. The additional week of benefits is not payable previous to November 8, 2009.

• EUC Tier 3 provide up to 13 weeks or 50% of an individual’s maximum benefit amount from their actual unemployment insurance claim, whichever amount is less. An individual must run out EUC Tier 2 benefits in order to receive EUC Tier 3 benefits. An individual must exhaust their EUC Tier 2 claim by benefit week ending March 3, 2012, so as to be qualified for EUC Tier 3 before March 6, 2012 expiration date of the EUC program. EUC Tier 3 is 100% federally funded. Under federal legislation, EUC Tier 3 is depending on states averaging a 6.0% UI Trigger rate over a three month period and is not payable before November 8, 2009.

• EUC Tier 4 offer up to 6 weeks or 24% of an individual’s maximum benefit from their original UI claim, whichever amount is less. An individual must exhaust their EUC Tier 3 claim by benefit week ending March 3, 2012, so as to be qualified for EUC Tier 4 before March 6, 2012 expiration date of the EUC program. EUC Tier 4 is 100 % federally funded. Under federal legislation, EUC Tier 4 is based on states averaging an 8.5% UI Trigger rate over a three-month period and is not payable before November 8, 2009.

Extended Benefits (EB)

Extended Benefits are obtainable to workers who have tired usual unemployment insurance benefits all through periods of high unemployment. The basic Extended Benefits program offers up to 13 extra weeks of benefits when a State is undergoing high unemployment.

Alterations to Extended Unemployment Tiers

There are no modifications to the tiers of extended unemployment benefits through May 2012. Jobless workers will continue to be eligible for up to a maximum of 89 or 99 weeks of unemployment through May, based on the state and its 3 month average unemployment rate.

The highest number of weeks of unemployment will be decreased to 79 weeks starting in June and 73 weeks starting in September. The maximum somebody is qualified for is based on a state’s jobless rate.

There are no changes to state UB. Unemployed workers will still be eligible for up to 26 weeks of state UC.

Commencing in June, unemployment benefits will steadily be reduced to a maximum of 73 weeks in high unemployment states and 63 weeks in states with a lesser unemployment rate. Other changes beginning in June include linking Tier 2 availability to a 6% state unemployment rate and rising the unemployment rate for Tier 3 to 7%.

Besides, EUC benefits, unemployed workers will continue to be eligible for up to 20 weeks EB which is based on the state unemployment rate.

Here’s a summary of how the tiers will alter, the number of weeks included in each tier, and the state jobless rate which sets off the extra tier of benefits.

Emergency Unemployment Compensation (EUC) Tiers through May 2012

• Tier 1: 20 weeks
• Tier 2: 14 weeks
• Tier 3: 13 weeks if the state unemployment rate is 6% or higher
• Tier 4: 6 weeks if the state unemployment rate is 8.5% or higher unless state doesn’t have EB, then 16 weeks

Emergency Unemployment Compensation (EUC) Tiers June – August 2012

• Tier 1: 20 weeks
• Tier 2: 14 weeks if the state unemployment rate is 6% or higher
• Tier 3: 13 weeks if the state unemployment rate is 7% or higher
• Tier 4: 6 weeks if the state unemployment rate is 9% or higher

Emergency Unemployment Compensation (EUC) Tiers September – December 2012

• Tier 1: 14 weeks
• Tier 2: 14 weeks if the state unemployment rate is 6% or higher
• Tier 3: 9 weeks if the state unemployment rate is 7% or higher
• Tier 4: 10 weeks if the state unemployment rate is 9% or higher

Maximum Number of Weeks of Unemployment

With the changes, the maximum weeks of available unemployment benefits depending upon location are:

From March through May – The level of UI benefits continue equal to an addition of present law, and high unemployment states losing benefits under the EB program would receive an additional 10 weeks. Between 89 and 99 weeks of total Unemployment benefits accessible in high unemployment states between the EUC and the EB program.

From June through August – The unemployment rate requirement would rise in three of the four tiers of the Emergency Unemployment Compensation (EUC) program. Up to 79 weeks of total benefits are obtainable in high unemployment States with a few states continuing to obtain extra EB weeks as under present law.

From September through December – EUC benefits would be lessened by 6 weeks in all States. This would limit total unemployment benefits at 73 weeks by this fall.

 

How to File for Unemployment Benefits Extension

1. Check your state’s unemployment extension qualification criteria. The rules for unemployment and unemployment extension are dissimilar in each state. Start exploring the unemployment extension eligibility criteria particular to your state. There are often two different unemployment extensions, one in state funded while the other funded by the government.
2. Gather all personal information necessary; and reapply. Collect all of your information you needed upon primarily filing unemployment; your work histories, your reason of unemployment, and your social security number. In order to obtain an unemployment extension, go to your state’s unemployment website, or call the employment security department. Apply for your unemployment extension.
3. Wait for the mail; the paperwork comes in the mail and your checks must keep coming. Once you have applied for your unemployment benefits, wait for the paperwork and the payments that will follow. Bear in mind that you can be inspected on your job search at any time; keep through job search records with reliable contacts to confirm receiving your application.