File Unemployment

If you have exhausted your unemployment benefits and still meet the eligibility conditions to receive compensation in Texas,  you will be able to receive extended unemployment benefits either by State or Federal Unemployment extension programs of Texas.

Unemployment Insurance (UI)

Texas Unemployment Benefit is the pay of fixed amount on monthly or weekly basis to the jobless workers who meet certain employment criteria. Every UI claimant is expected to enroll themselves with the Texas Workforce Commission once they are laid off from their jobs. Every State of United States expects its UI claimants to continuously search and accept new jobs. This may include submitting regular work logs each time a benefit claim is filed and accepting any work that pays at least minimum wage and a gross weekly pay that exceeds the weekly claim amount received.

Extended UI Benefits

In case you have proved that you are continuously trying for the new jobs and still facing trouble in finding a suitable job for which your sponsorship benefit is ending, then you may be able to get an extension on your existing benefits.

The total amount paid to the eligible claimant will usually be equal to what they are entitled under the regular unemployment, but note that the collection time will be extended.

Eligibility Requirement for Extended Benefits

There are some eligibility requirements to be fulfilled in order to claim the extension of the compensation like:

• Base period wages must be equal or 40 times more of your weekly benefit amount. (If your regular claim pays 26 weeks of benefits, then you meet this qualification.)
• You should have exhausted all your regular benefits on your most recent claim, or the claim year must be expired.
• You must also not be eligible to receive unemployment benefits in any other state.

Types of Extended Benefit

Basically there are two types of extended unemployment benefits applicable under Texas Workforce Commission. These programs make it possible for the long-term unemployed to continue receiving monthly assistance while searching for work.

• Emergency Unemployment Compensation (EUC); and
• Extended Benefits (EB).

Emergency Unemployment Compensation (EUC):

Emergency Unemployment Compensation offers an additional number of weeks. Texas currently pays EUC Tiers 1, 2, and 3.

For the Regular UI claim you will be able to get the benefit up to 26 weeks.

Tiers of Extended Unemployment Benefits

There are four tiers of unemployment benefits at present. A tier of unemployment is an extension of a definite amount of weeks of jobless benefits. Each tier offers extra weeks of unemployment in addition to basic state unemployment benefits.
Emergency Unemployment Compensation (EUC) Tiers through September 2012:

1. Tier 1: 20 weeks or 80% of your regular claim, whichever is less
2. Tier 2: 14 weeks or 54% of your regular claim, whichever is less
3. Tier 3: 13 weeks or 50% of your regular claim, whichever is less

You must exhaust each level (Tier) of benefits before applying for an extension.

Tier 1: If you run out of regular benefits by the deadline, TWC mails you a EUC application that you complete and return to TWC. If you are eligible for EUC, TWC mails you a letter showing the amount you are eligible for on your EUC claim.

Tier 2 & 3: If you run out of your prior EUC tier by the deadline, TWC automatically adds the next tier to your claim.

Extended Benefit (EB)

Under Extended Benefits, the additional extension of benefits is offered once EUC is exhausted.

Unemployment Extended Benefits program for Texas provides up to 20 weeks of additional compensation after all federal unemployment extension payments have been received. Eligible workers can receive either 20 weeks of benefits or 80 percent of an initial unemployment claim, whichever amounts to less.

Along with the state unemployment extension, the federal government may add to the available benefits by enacting an extended benefits program of its own.

Basic requisite to claim the unemployment benefit from Vermont is that you must have worked in the past for about 18 months before you are considered as unemployed. You can apply for the unemployment benefit either when you are jobless or when you work less than 35 hours per week in the State Vermont.

If you quit your job on your own, you can file the claim and get the benefit only on the condition that you quit because of your employer’s faults (such as breach in terms of your hiring agreement.) Vermont Unemployment Insurance law states that if you were fired for the misconduct, you may be disqualified for receiving the benefit for six to fifteen weeks.

Duration of Vermont Unemployment Benefit

In general unemployment benefit in Vermont lasts for about 6 months, 26 weeks or until you find a suitable job. If Vermont unemployment bureau officials feel that you are truly not trying for a job or refusing the suitable job offers, then they have all rights to suspend all UI benefits immediately without prior information. However, it is possible to gain the 26 weeks slab of benefit without finding a job but it is essential to try for the job. After this you can still continue to claim the Emergency Unemployment Compensation (EUC) and Extended Benefit (EB).

If unemployment rate increases then special state federal programs will be effective which provide the additional week benefit or extended benefit programs. Such programs are funded partially or fully by the Vermont federal unemployment trust fund.
As stated above, the Vermont Department of Labor is authorized to pay unemployment benefits under two active extended benefit programs:

•  Emergency Unemployment Compensation (EUC) and

•  Extended Benefit (EB)

Emergency Unemployment Compensation

Emergency Unemployment Compensation (EUC) is completely funded by the Federal Government of Vermont. This program is comprised of four tiers, for which of the two is qualified from Vermont Unemployment Agency. After the expiry of every tier eligible candidates can move on for the next tier as per the rule of EUC program. Below mentioned chart details on the current EUC Tiers that provides the details on the weeks of extension benefit:

                     Available Weeks                 Trigger

Tier 1                  Up to 20 weeks                                     none

Tier 2                 Up to 14 weeks                                      none

Tier 3                 Up to 13 weeks                                      TUR > 6.0% or IUR > 4.0%

Tier 4                 Up to 6 weeks                                        TUR > 8.5% or IUR > 6.0%

Extended Program

Extended Benefits is the additional extension of benefits that is offered once EUC is exhausted. Extended Benefit program provides up to 13 weeks of additional benefits for the jobless individuals.

Intention of both the programs Emergency Unemployment Compensation (EUC) benefits and Extended Benefits is to assist the potential eligibles.

Intimation and Information about Future Extensions

In both the cases, notices for both extension programs will be mailed with filing instructions.  If a recipient’s mailing address changes, then such change must be submitted in written to enable proper notification.

Individuals who have already received their full regular and extended benefits entitlement will be mailed filing instructions, when their additional benefits becomes available.  In addition, information about future extensions will be posted on this web page.

Once your regular unemployment compensation benefits have run out, you should receive a note from your unemployment office alerting you the option of extending your benefits. Until you get that, you will not be able to get any extended benefits. You can, however, confirm the existence of an extended-benefit rule in your state by contacting the unemployment office in advance.

Apply to get extended benefits by filing the appropriate forms and make sure you provide all of the extra required paperwork. You can continue to enjoy the unemployment benefit till the time you get a suitable job.

Unemployment insurance is the temporary earnings for the eligible jobless or part time workers. Claimants should be unemployed through no fault of their own and must be either looking for full time work, in approved training, or awaiting recall to employment.

Utah Eligibility Criteria

Losing job won’t be the sufficient condition to receive unemployment insurance benefits. There are some additional criteria you should meet to be eligible to receive the compensation. Here are those conditions:

• You must be partially or absolutely unemployed through no fault of your own.

• You must be an US citizen or legally authorized to work in the US.

• You must have sufficient earnings in the base period to establish a monetary entitlement.

• You must have worked and was paid wages for employment in at least two of the base period quarters that are being used.

• You must have earned at least $3200 in total wages in the base period and earned 1.5 times the high quarter. If you do not have 1 1/2 times your high quarter wages in your current base period, you may qualify under the same conditions by using your Alternate Base Period, which would be the most recent four completed calendar quarters.

• You must have a valid Utah claim.

• You must file a weekly claim.

• You must be able and available for full-time work.

• You must be willing to actively seek full-time work in the US.

• You must reside in the United States.

• Officials of Utah Unemployment Insurance Agency will obtain necessary information from you and your employer and will determine your eligibility for benefits.

Source of Utah’s Unemployment Insurance

Funding source for unemployment insurance compensation is benefited from the quarterly unemployment insurance taxes paid by employers. Employees need not pay or contribute any fund for the unemployment insurance fund.

Filing the Claim

Utah Dept. of Unemployment Services expects employers to report all wages paid to each employee on a quarterly basis. Unemployment tax is not assessed on wages that exceed the annual wage base; on the other hand, the employer must report all wages paid to them regularly.

Every business must complete a Status Report, Form 1, which informs them of whether they are subject to state unemployment tax and allows them to register their business. If subject to the tax, the employer files her reports on Forms 3 and 3H — Employer’s Contribution Report and Employer’s Quarterly Wage List, respectively.

First and foremost thing is to go online to Utah Department of Workforce Services and click on the option File New- for new claim or Reopen Claim option to renew the UI benefit.

Online application section has got four sections. Click on continue to begin the procedure of filling the application from personal information section. After you complete every section you can’t go back and do any edits, so be conscious while filling the form.

Wait at least two weeks before contacting anyone if you do not receive your unemployment check; sometimes it takes that long for processing. You can call 801-526-WORK (9675) with any questions regarding your claim.

Duration of Utah Unemployment Benefit

A formula is used to determine benefits amount based on your earnings in the last 4-5 calendar quarters. Multiply your total wages for insured work paid during the base period by 27%, disregarding any fractions of $1 and divide by your weekly benefit amount, disregarding any fractions. The result will be a preliminary determination of the number of weeks you are entitled to receive benefits. Utah has a minimum of 10 weeks and a maximum of 26 weeks of regular benefits.

Utah Weekly Benefit Amount

The highest quarter during your base period divided by 26 determines the benefit amount you will receive per week of unemployment, up to a maximum of $467 for new claims.

Now it is Nevada’s turn. Unemployment fund is dwindling away real fast. Only $533 million left in Nevada state unemployment fund and may not last till the end of the year 2009. FEMP09©

Nevada’s unemployment rate jumped a full-percentage point in December. The jump from 8.1 percent in November to 9.1 percent in December shocked the department. Worthey said the department was predicting an 8.6 percent unemployment rate average through this year, so when they say the December numbers, that caused officials to re-evaluate their expectations for the fund.

This problem has the potential to affect local businesses as well. Much of the money in the fund is paid by employers throughout the state. A company pays an unemployment fee to build the fund. As a company lays off more people, the higher their rate is likely to be the following year.

Because of the recent layoffs, experts say it is likely businesses will be paying more in the next couple of years for the unemployment fund.

You have lost that precious job that provided all the financial support. Now what? Obviously this is not the time to panic or being depressed. Take a step back, and relax – there is always another job waiting to be hunted for. You can use job search links on this site to look for new job, but the first thing you want do is to file for unemployment insurance benefits and allow the lengthy process to start while you look for new jobs. This guide provides all the necessary steps to apply for unemployment benefits.

Claiming Unemployment Benefits – Where to start?

State unemployment offices generally take a few weeks to process unemployment benefits claims, so it is important that you understand how to file for unemployment and file the claim at the earliest opportunity. Be aware that you will get back-credits from the second week of filing, even though state employment offices may take a long time to process your claim for the very first time. Here are the steps to claim unemployment benefits

1. Check your eligibility to apply and receive the unemployment benefits. Eligibility criteria are defined by state unemployment programs and you can use the unemployment eligibilityarticle to ensure you have met all the rules. Here is a quick test to check if you are eligible to claim unemployment insurance
   • You must be willing and able to work. You may need to claim disability insurance if you have physical disabilities
   • Your job loss must be due to employers inability to offer continued employment. If you were fired or lost job due to your own fault, you are not eligible to receive unemployment benefits
   • Your salary from the lost job was high enough to cover basic living expenses. Most of the part-time or seasonal jobs do not qualify you for unemployment benefits
2. Estimate Benefits Amount using our unemployment calculator. Based on your eligibility, this smart tool provides an instant estimate of benefits depending on the data collected from you.
   
3. Locate state unemployment insurance agency. You can use State unemployment instructions or the interactive map provided here to locate the state agency, their contact number, office address and the website if you choose to file unemployment online
4. Choose your filing method. Most state unemployment offices allow you to file your claims online or through telephone. It is advised to file online or by visiting the state agency as telephone method is prone to data entry errors and you do not want to delay claims processing when you file first time. You can always use the telephone method to extend unemployment benefits.
5. Prepare to file the paperwork. According to an estimate, about 50 percent of eligible people do not apply for unemployment benefits due to complex paperwork process. However many states have reduced the complexities as you can see from State of Michigan unemployment data gathering form which is as short as one page. Here is a list of things generally needed when you file the paperwork and be aware that some States may require more details
   • Name, social security number and other personal details
   • Name of all previous employers in the last 2 years and their details.
   • An approx. estimate of dates and duration of each employment. Generally employers do not provide this info to states.
   • If you are a member of an union, need name and local number of the union
   • Reason you left the job – it has to be involuntary to be eligible to receive benefits
6. After you have applied for unemployment benefits, wait for the benefit check and stay positive! It takes 2-3 weeks for state offices to process you claim and issue the check. Keep hunting for jobs in that period. Most importantly, do not sit idle. You can learn new skills, read new topics, or find a cost effective volunteering opportunity to keep you mind engaged. Remember you are just searching for a job; there is no reason to let yourself down.
7. Register for jobs with the state employment services.This is not mandatory but many state unemployment agencies offer employment services at free of charge if you register. They will guide you with job opportunities within and outside of the state. They will offer counseling services to find the jobs you like. They will also refer you to discounted training programs, or refer you to other agencies if you need special assistance
8. Continue to file for unemployment benefits every week or 2 to let the unemployment office know that you are still eligible for benefits. You are also required to report any wages earned, or the job offers received.

Claiming unemployment benefits from more than one state

You are required to file your claims in the state where you have worked, even though you are not living in that state now. If you have worked in more than one state or you are currently not living in the state where you worked during the year, you can still contact local unemployment insurance office close to you. They maybe be able to assist you with the claims

Once you file for unemployment benefits, you should continue your job search. Then there is this brave new world of work from home jobs that you can do online. People are making a leaving and some are able make a fortune out of such jobs that can work from the comfort of your home. Making money online is real and it takes virtually no investment.

Tired of looking for jobs? Explore ways to make money online. Here are a few e-books to help you learn

Eligibility for unemployment insurance is determined by state law. More than half of jobless workers do not claim unemployment benefits because either they do not qualify or feel the filing process to be very complex. Contrary to this, numerous people meet the criteria for benefits and state unemployment offices have also reduced the amount of necessary paperwork over a period of time. This article will make eligibility criteria clear for filing unemployment benefits.

Unemployment Eligibility Requirements

Based on your state there may be eligibility requirements for unemployment coverage including having worked for a definite period of time. The Job Service may need job seekers to apply for jobs, submit resumes, and turn down a position if it meets certain standards.

Other Eligibility Factors to determine benefits are:

• Must be monetary eligible
• Past earnings activity (labor force attachment)
• Conditions of job separation
• Be totally or partially unemployed
• If you are identified as likely to tire out unemployment benefits and are registered in the worker profiling and reemployment services program, you have to fully participate in all assessment interviews, orientation, and referred reemployment services.

The State Job Service Offices are brilliant resources to aid with a job search. Many free services are provided including career counseling, job listings, resume and cover letter writing help, and training. Take benefit of the assistance state job service offices can give you –it will make your job easier.

Monetary Eligibility

Unemployment Calculator

After filing an initial application for Unemployment Insurance benefits, you will obtain a Determination of Unemployment Compensation with facts about your monetary eligibility. The monetary determination is not an assurance of payment. It is to give advice to you and your employer that a claim for benefits has been filed, if qualified, what the weekly benefit rate will be and upon which earnings that rate is based.

Use our unemployment calculator to determine your eligibility.

Example 1:

Let’s take an example from the state of California. Anyone may file a claim for jobless benefits in California. However, not all those who file will be entitled. In order to be qualified you must first have adequate work and earnings to set up a claim (what’s recognized as Monetary Eligibility). The wages may be from work in California only, in California and another state(s), or from work with the federal government or U.S. military service in any state.

If in doubt, file the claim and allow the Employment Development Department (EDD) make the conclusion. If you cannot establish a valid California claim the EDD will tell you what your options are for getting a valid claim.

California glances at earnings grouped by calendar quarter. A quarter consists of three precise months; January, February, and March from the 1st quarter of the year, and so on. By law, the Employment Unemployment Department can only employ the four quarters that ended before the last quarter to assess earnings. These four earnings are called the Base period of the claim; it is the only period of earnings that can be used to decide present eligibility.

How the Base Period is Determined?

Wages are drawn from a one-year period (four calendar quarters) to compute eligibility. This one-year period is called the Base Period.

If your claim is effective with any Sunday in: January, February, or March - The Base Period will be the first nine months (Jan-Sept) of last year and the last three months (Oct-Dec) of the year before last;

If your claim is effective with any Sunday in: April, May, or June – The Base Period will be all twelve months (Jan-Dec) of last year;

If your claim is effective with any Sunday in: July, August, or September – The Base Period will be the first three months of the current year (Jan-Mar) and the last nine months (Apr-Dec) of the last year;

If your claim is effective with any Sunday in: October, November, or December – The Base Period will be the first six months (Jan-June) of the current year and last six months (Jul- Dec) of the last year.

The quarter you file and the previous quarter (the months in red and white) do NOT count at all toward the Base Period, regardless of how much you earned. Neither does any time before the Base Period, even if you worked for fifty years. Benefits are only depending on the Base Period, which is, in turn, decided by the date you file for benefits.

Example 2:
Let’s consider the earnings requirements in California for example
You can establish a legal claim in two ways in the state of California:

• Earn no less than $1300 in any one quarter of the Base Period, or
• Earn no less than $900 in your uppermost quarter of earnings during the Base Period plus in the rest of the Base Period earn no less than 25% of the highest quarter earnings.

For instance, if you received $1000 in your highest quarter, the claim would only be legal if your total earnings all through the other three quarters amounted to $250, for a Base Period total of $1,250:

$1000 + (25% x $1000) = $1250 in total Base Period earnings.

So even though you earned $100,000 in your highest quarter, but did not earn as a minimum $25,000 all through the rest of the Base Period, you would not be qualified! Or if you only earned $899.99 in each quarter, you will fail by one penny. That is the rule.

When you file a claim the EDD will send back you a printed copy of the determination of monetary eligibility. Test out cautiously to settle on if your employer(s) reported your earnings properly. You can constantly request a recomputation if the data appears wrong.

EDD will also offer the following information:

• The beginning and ending date of the claim
• Weekly Benefit Amount
• Maximum Benefit Amount

Weekly Benefit Amount

The sum of money to which a claimant may be entitled each week, based on the claimant’s covered wages paid during the base period.

Let’s consider an example from the state Mississippi:

The maximum Weekly Benefit Amount (WBA) allowed in Mississippi at this time is $235.00. Your WBA for unemployment insurance benefits depends on the total wages in the highest quarter of your Base Period and by dividing that amount by 26. The minimum WBA in Mississippi is $30.00. To estimate your WBA you must first determine what your wages are for the highest quarter during your Base Period.

To be eligible for benefits, you:

• Must have worked in no less than two quarters of your base period,
• Must have earned no less than $780.00 in the highest quarter of your base period, and
• Must have earned 40 times your WBA in your base period.

The highest amount of benefits that can be paid to you during your Benefit Year is 26 times your WBA, or one-third of your total Base Period wages, whichever is the lesser.

If you file a claim for benefits and it is determined that you do not have enough wages in your base period to be eligible, you may reapply again after the quarter changes, if you are still jobless. The quarters used to decide the base period change every three months, on the first Sunday of January, April, July, and October.

Who can be claimed as a dependent?

If you do not meet the criteria for the maximum weekly benefit rate, you may be entitled to a dependency allowance. Dependant’s allowance is additional money added to a claimant’s weekly benefit amount if the claimant supports a dependent.

If you would like to claim a dependency allowance when you file your claim, you will be inquired to give the social security numbers of your dependent children.

Your dependent child or children must fall into one of the following categories:

• Under 18 years of age.
• Under 21 years of age and a full-time student.
• A mentally or physically handicapped child of any age

You are required to give proof of dependency.

While you are receiving benefits, you must inform DUA (Department of Unemployment Assistance) if there is any change in the number of your dependent children or in your status of providing support. In total, 12 states pay dependency allowance.

For Example:

Total dependency allowance for Connecticut cannot be paid for more than five dependents ($75). California does not pay dependency allowances.

When to File for Unemployment?

Filing for unemployment must be the initial item on your plan when you have been laid-off. It might take a few weeks to collect a check, so the quicker you file, the faster you’ll get paid. A delay in filing will mean a wait in collecting unemployment benefits.

How to Claim Your Benefits?

In order to obtain unemployment compensation, workers must meet the unemployment eligibility requirements for wages earned or duration worked during an established (one year) period of time. Besides, workers must be firm to be unemployed through no fault of their own, so if you were fired or quit you may not be qualified for unemployment compensation.

Confirm with your State Unemployment Office for briefing on what benefits you are entitled to. You may be able to file over the phone. In various states, you can file online for unemployment.

In general, to file a claim you will need:

• Social Security Number
• Alien Registration Card if you’re not a US citizen
• Mailing address including zip code
• Phone number
• Names, addresses and dates of employment of all your past employers for the last two years

Disqualification from Unemployment

The following conditions may disqualify you from collecting unemployment benefits depending on state law:

• Quit without good cause
• Fired for misconduct
• Resigned because of illness (check on disability benefits)
• Left to get married
• Self-employed
• Caught up in a labor dispute
• Attending school

Check with the Unemployment Office if you have the above or any other special circumstances.

Frequently Asked Questions For Eligibility Criteria

Can I collect for voluntary termination of a job?

Yes, if the reason for leaving is justifiable and related to work or, in some circumstances, to domestic issues. Check with your state’s employment security office for clarification.

Will I qualify for unemployment if I was allowed to resign but received a severance package?

If you quit or get fired, then you are not eligible. Only hope is that you explain the situation to unemployment office (after you lose the job) and they consider your case under “good cause” provision.

If I start collecting social security does this stop my unemployment?

Unemployment insurance benefits are not counted under the Social Security annual earnings test and therefore do not affect your receipt of Social Security benefits. However, the unemployment benefit amount of an individual may be reduced by the receipt of a pension or other retirement income, including Social Security and Retirement benefits.

You should contact your state unemployment office for information on how your state applies the reduction.

Are elected officials eligible for unemployment compensation when terminated by a different employer?

The law does not allow using some types of wages to establish claims which include working as an elected official. Hence, may not be eligible to claim the benefit.

Can I file a claim if I already lost a week’s pay from my job?

Yes, because most states pay unemployment compensation benefits based on the amount of earnings for a particular week. However, it all depends upon your weekly benefit amount and, possibly, other factors. File the claim and see.

If I was contracted to work through a company and was let go due to loss of work can I file for unemployment?

Periods of self-employment don’t generally qualify for unemployment insurance claiming, as you’re not paying into the system. The other question likely is, do you qualify based upon your earnings from ex-employment other than the self-employment income? Depending on these factors it will be decided whether you are eligible or not.

Base period in a broader sense is the period of employment prior to losing the job. It is also referred to as base year. Base period is generally the first four of the last five completed calendar quarters prior to the effective date of the claim / unemployment. So what is a calendar quarter? Every calendar year is divided into four parts, known as “quarters”. Here are the 4 calendar quarters -

Coming to the Base Period, if the unemployment claim is filed in January, February or March of 2013, then the base period is October 2011 through September 2012.

Although base period is defined by state unemployment agencies, the following chart explains a definition adapted by many states.

Your filing Month and Year is

Your Base Periods are:

For the base period to be considered valid, the employment should be covered or insured. Covered / Insured Employment is when the employer would have contributed unemployment insurance taxes to the government. These taxes aid a worker while unemployed.

Base period helps determine the monetary eligibility, where the recipient should have earned a minimum amount in the base period to qualify for unemployment benefits. It also determines the amount of benefits a person is entitled to.

What happens if you have not worked for more than a year? You may qualify for the alternate base period. An alternate base period is the last four calendar quarters prior to unemployment. The alternate base period is not something you can choose to use. It can be used only if you cannot establish monetary entitlement using your wages in the traditional base period. This means, if you have not earned sufficient wages during your traditional base period, the state government will apply the alternate base period to the claim to determine monetary eligibility. Additional information like most recent quarter earning, proof of wages earned in the form of pay stubs and verification of wages earned during the quarter from your employer may be asked for in case of alternate base period. Here’s a chart explaining alternate base period -

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 or state specific pages.