Kentucky Unemployment Benefits

Are you physically able to work?

Are you willing to actively look for a job?

Did your employer pay unemployment taxes ("Covered Employment")?

Did you earn at least $2944 in the base period in Kentucky?

Base period is the first four of the last five completed calendar quarters. If you are filing today, base period is Jan 2012 - Mar 2012 to Oct 2012 - Dec 2012

How did you lose your job?

Did you quit your last job due to unsafe working conditions, not being paid, discrimination and / or health and safety risks?

Were you fired for no fault of your own?

Were you laid off for no fault of your own?

State Name : Kentucky

   Wages Earned:

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Apply Online:
Applying online is the easiest and fastest way to claim benefits. Check for more specific details such as timings and requirements to claim benefits in your state.
CALL: (877)369-5984. You can file a claim by calling (502) 875-0442.
Visit UC Center:
You can’t seem to find assistance on call? No worries. Visit one of the UC center and let the specialist help you out. Please note that wait times can be longer but assistance is guaranteed.

you are not eligible

Disclaimer: The estimates are given in good faith and accuracy is not guaranteed. We are not liable for loss or damage caused by the tools on our website.

    State: Kentucky (KY)
    Phone Number: (877)369-5984. You can file a claim by calling (502) 875-0442.
    File Online: http://www.oet.ky.gov/des/ui/ui.htm
    Major Towns: Louisville, Lexington, Bowling Green, Owensboro, Covington, Hopkinsville, Richmond, Florence and Georgetown

    Current Unemploymnet Rate in Kentucky

    What is the Eligibility Criteria in Kentucky?

    There are some basic rules for eligibility. Even if you meet some of these rules partially, you should still apply for unemployment because state offices make a reasonable attempt to process your claim, as long as you provide a good justification.

    1. Must have lost job with no fault of his theirs
    2. Must be totally or partially unemployed.
    3. Must have received enough wages during the base period to establish a claim
    4. Must be physically able to work, available for work, and actively seeking suitable work.
    5. Meet eligibility requirements each week benefits are claimed.

    To learn more check unemployment eligibility article

    A "base period" is four consecutive calendar quarters that fall within the 18 month period before establishing a new benefit year.

    Claim your benefits

    How to File Your Initial Claim in Kentucky?

    1. If you have been separated from work, you can file your initial claim during your first week of total or partial unemployment.
    2. You can file your first claim in one of the two ways: by calling the TeleClaim Center or visiting a One-Stop Career Center close to you. Unluckily, you cannot file an initial claim online at this time.
    3. Have your entire information ready before filing your claim.
    4. If you have received severance pay upon your separation from work, you may still be eligible for unemployment benefits, so it is still important to call to file your initial claim during your first week of total or partial unemployment.
    5. If eligible for unemployment benefits, you can expect to receive your first payment in 3-4 weeks if there are no issues with your claim.
    6. In general, it takes approximately 3 weeks to process a claim; however, you will still need to claim benefits every week.

    Information needed is as follows:

    1. Your Social Security Number
    2. The year you were born
    3. Your home address and telephone number
    4. Whether you have filed an unemployment insurance claim in your state or in any other state during the past 12 months
    5. Your last day of employment
    6. The names and addresses of all of the employers you have worked for during the 15 months prior to filing your claim and the dates you worked for each of these employers. If you are reopening a claim, be ready with the same information for the past 8 weeks
    7. The reason that you are no longer working or that your hours have been reduced The names, dates of birth and social security numbers for any dependent children, if you are going to apply for dependency allowance
    8. Your alien registration number if you are not a U.S. citizen

    If You Are Not a United States Citizen

    You must give verification that you were legally eligible to work in your state and that you are presently eligible to begin a new job.

    How to File Your Weekly Claim?

    After you file your application for unemployment benefits, you must start filing your weekly claims. You require filing each week, even though you are:

    1. Waiting for a verdict about benefits,
    2. Waiting for your claim to become valid, or
    3. Appealing a denial of benefits

    You can file your weekly claim:

    1. Through the Internet - You can file your weekly claim online. You must have a User ID and PIN in order to file your weekly claim online.
    2. By phone – You must call the number given to you during the registration process.

    File every week that you want to claim benefits and keep on filing until you go back to work, run out of benefits or stop seeking work. You should claim at least one week before we can make a decision on your eligibility.

    How to Claim for an Extension?

    If you are presently filing weekly claims for unemployment benefits; carry on filing your weekly claim if you are jobless or working reduced hours. You will be informed by mail of your eligibility for the added benefits.

    In case you have been filing weekly claims and are still laid off or working reduced hours, you will have to file an application for these extra benefits online or by telephone. You will be alerted by mail of your eligibility for the additional benefits.

    To be eligible for EUC (Emergency Unemployment Compensation) benefits you must:

    1. Have an unemployment claim that began on or after May 07, 2006
    2. Have base period wages in the base period of this claim that is equal to at least 40 times your usual benefit rate
    3. Tired your usual benefits or your benefit year has ended and not be eligible for a new claim in any state
    4. Be unemployed or working reduced hours
    5. Be able and available for work and looking for work

    To be eligible for EB benefits you must:

    1. Qualify for EUC and then
    2. Exhaust all customary UI benefits and all available EUC Tiers
    3. Be out of a job or working reduced hours
    4. Be seeking work and submitting evidence of work search to DWD
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    Kentucky Unemployment Questions




    Reasons You Might Be Ineligible For Unemployment


    You may be an insured worker and still be ineligible or disqualified for benefits. Some of the common reasons you may be ineligible or disqualified are:

    -- You are not able to work, are not available for full-time work or not actively seeking full-time work.
    -- You have a medical reason to prevent you from accepting work.
    -- You are an alien not permitted to work.
    -- You have unreasonably limited the wages you will accept, the hours or days you will work, the locations where you will work or the jobs you will accept.
    -- You are not looking for work as instructed.
    -- You did not register for work with Office of Employment and Training, if required.
    -- You are involved in a strike.
    -- You are self-employed or the owner of your business (sole proprietor, partner, or Corporate officer).
    -- You are attending school (without prior approval of the Office of Employment and Training)
    -- You are a school employee between terms.
    -- You are suspended for misconduct.
    -- You refused suitable work.
    -- You do not have adequate transportation.
    -- You don’t have someone to care for your children while you work.
    -- You were terminated for misconduct.
    -- You quit your job for personal reasons or for reasons that were not considered “good cause” connected with the employment.
    -- You did not report, telephone, or provide information to the local office when instructed.
    -- You worked or earned wages in excess of the amount allowed to be considered “unemployed.”
    -- You failed to participate in required services under the Kentucky Employment Network (KEN) Program.

    NOTE: This is only a partial list of reasons you may be disqualified or ineligible.

    Combining Wage Claims If You Work At Multiple States


    If you worked in another state during the base period, you must file a combined wage or interstate claim. If you need help, ask your local office for assistance if you are filing a combined wage claim or interstate claim.

    Federal Military And Civilian Employment Questions


    If you served in the federal armed forces during your base period, wages earned during such service may be used in determining your eligibility for and the amount of your benefits. In addition to all regular eligibility and qualifying requirements, to be eligible to receive unemployment benefits based on military wages, you must have been discharged or released from military service under honorable conditions after completing your first full term of active service. You may be eligible for benefits if you were separated prior to completion of your first full term of service, but only if the reason for early separation is one approved by the U.S. Department of Defense.

    Federal Civilian Wages - Common Questions


    If you worked for the federal government in a non-military position, this service and all wages earned during your base period will be used to establish your benefit eligibility. Wages earned after your base period may be used in a subsequent claim if you are otherwise eligible. If you request a reconsideration, you must notify your local office within the time period for appeals noted on your determination explaining your benefit eligibility.

    What if I become unemployed again?


    If you become employed after filing your claim and are then subsequently separated from your employment (layoff, job ended, discharge, voluntary quit, etc.), you must file either an additional claim (if your new period of unemployment is within your original benefit year) or a new claim (if later) in order to re-qualify for UI benefits. You cannot simply resume claiming your weeks under your previous claim. Additional claims can be filed the same way (Internet or toll-free telephone) as a new claim.


    calculator

    How Benefits are calculated?

    To calculate your weekly benefits amount click here

    1. Work out your base period for calculating unemployment.
    2. Take a look at the base period where you received the highest pay.
    3. Calculate the highest quarter earnings with a calculator.
    4. Calculate what your weekly benefits would be if you have another job.
    5. Calculate your unemployment benefits for every week if the partial gross income is different.

    The minimum benefits amount in Kentucky is $39.

    The maximum benefits amount in Kentucky is $415

    A "base period" is four consecutive calendar quarters that fall within the 18 month period before establishing a new benefit year.

    To learn more Unemployment benefits article

Questions & Answers

2 Responses to “Kentucky Unemployment Benefits”

  1. Rod Johnson says:
    June 19, 2012 at 11:28 am

    I have been self employed for the past ten years. Due to current economic conditions I am now unemployed. Am I eligible for unemployment compensation as I have no current income source?

    Reply
  2. rashmi says:
    June 20, 2012 at 4:48 am

    Most self-employed workers who lose their source of income are not eligible for unemployment benefits. This is because unemployment insurance is funded by contributions from employers, and most self-employed workers do not make these contributions.

    However, there are some situations where self-employed workers may be eligible for unemployment benefits. You may be eligible, for example, if your business is incorporated and made unemployment contributions, or if you are unemployed as the result of a disaster, or if you are misclassified as self-employed.

    You should check with your unemployment office if you are not sure of your eligibility status.

    Reply

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