This article lists all the benefits that can be claimed by workers who have lost jobs. ©FEMP9
Common perception is that unemployment benefits are temporary cost of living adjustments. Financial assistance is just one part of unemployment insurance benefits. There are several other benefits such as career coaching, job search assistance, extension of unemployment benefits beyond standard 26 weeks etc. Before you learn more about unemployment benefits, check unemployment eligibility article to make sure you are qualified to receive unemployment benefits. In a nutshell, only those who are involuntary unemployed, willing and able to work and have earned enough wages in the past 4-6 quarters will be qualified to receive unemployment insurance benefits.
Unemployment Benefits – The Dollar Amount
The common question many people have is about the amount they get paid when they are unemployed. It depends on the state where you have worked and earned wages.
- Unemployment benefits amount range from 200 to 800 dollars per week depending on the state unemployment agency and your employment history. The average payout is around $300 per week, per person nationwide.
- On average, insurance benefits generally cover about 40% of workers’ previous earnings, while the range of coverage varies between between 30 to 50% depending on eligibility criteria.
- Unemployment benefits are subject to federal income taxes, so you are expected to pay taxes on these earnings
What determines unemployment benefits amount?
There are various factors involved in determining the dollar amount you receive. These are the important factors that determine the money you earn as replacement wages.
- State Unemployment laws – some states pay more and some less. For example, Massachusetts pays about 600 dollars while Arizona pays about of 200 dollars on average.
- Previous Earnings – if you have earned more than the average wages of all state workers, then you are likely to receive more in unemployment insurance benefits. This is because, your employer will have paid more payroll taxes to fund the unemployment insurance programs
How long do I receive Unemployment Benefits?
Most states pay unemployment benefits for an initial period of 26 weeks, but some states have more flexible rules. For example, Washington and Massachusetts pay up to 30 weeks. Congress can extend the benefits duration during economic downturns. In November 2008, Congress passed a bill to extend unemployment benefits by 13 weeks in addition to 26 weeks, in states where unemployment level is more than 6 percent. On average, about 35 percent of workers qualify for less than the full 26 weeks, because of uneven earnings or a brief work history.
The following factors determine the number of weeks of benefits an applicant can potentially receive
Past earnings levels: higher wage earnings will make you eligible to receive benefits longer
Employment history: Whether there were earnings in each quarter of the base period which is generally the first four of the last five completed calendar quarters before you filed your claim; whether earnings were evenly distributed among 4 quarters in the base year.
Unemployment Insurance – Other benefits
The purpose of unemployment insurance program is not only to provide temporary living assistance, but also to ensure job market is stable and sustainable. For this reason, most of the the State Unemployment Insurance programs offer several benefits other than the financial assistance.
Job Search Assistance
States Unemployment agencies help you find a suitable job by providing job aid tools. Such tools will help you seek job openings, build resume, research prevailing wage info. etc. Additionally, you can obtain industry and occupational trends, and identify career opportunities in new fields
Career Coaching
Many states offer career coaching services. Workshops and training sessions will be available for workers who have lost jobs so they can improve their current skills or learn new ones. Constantly expanding the skills will help you increase the chances of finding new jobs and and possibly achieve success throughout your career. Please be aware that not all programs are offered free, but nevertheless states will have negotiated fees with training institutions for you. contact state unemployment offices to inquire about the expenses and make the best use of these programs.
Note: If you are looking to apply for unemployment benefits, please refer to the guides on the side menu
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Is there information that show was each stat pays in benefits?
Bonnie – perhaps you are you looking for state unemployment benefits comparison? This article has it -
http://fileunemployment.org/unemployment-benefits-comparison-by-state
Can I start c ollecting UC after my severance pay runs out?
Winnie – you should be able to do so as long as you lost your job through no fault of your own.
If I am receiving unemployment benefits in state A and move to state B and remain unemployed, what is my status re: getting benefits in state B?
@Clifford – you will be eligible to receive benefits. Most states send you the payment to the new address, but some make you file in the new state.
I am drawing social security now and working full time if my Co. closes at the end of 2010 can I draw unemployment?
Thank you, Audrey
If a persons hours are cut from 40 hours to 32 hours a week, 4 days instead of 5, are they entitiled to any unemployment compensation?
Can you get both workers compensation and unemployment????
I have a job offer that starts at the end of summer, its minimum wage and 20 hours or less per week. Will I lose all of my benefits?
@Arae – You will lose some benefits, not all. Please download our FAQ document to learn more
Is there any way to find out if someone is collecting benefits?
Is long-term disability considered wages when filing for unemployment? I have been with the same company since Aug. 2007 but went on ST then LTD beginning in Jan. 2008. While I have been released to return to work (no income since Jan. 2010), I have not been able to find another position within the company and my time has run out. Soon (Sept. 2010) I will have an “end date” and will file for unemployment. I understand how base periods work and it seems that my base period will be ending in March 2010. There will be a 2 month period wherein I had no wages. The previous wages in that base period, though, are all from my LTD insurance. Is there any way for me to calculate an approximation of what benefits will be if these wages even will count?? Do those wages count even though they were paid out by an insurance company from my employer?
remember when you can only file for six months but you still got money to draw how does that work now that they extened longer can i still draw from it
the compancy that i work for, workes 10 hours day 4 to 5 a week my VA Dr. has limitet me to 40 houres aweek 5 -8 hours days, The comancy sayes that i can not com back untill the dr clear me for there schedule ( not going to Happen) can i file for unempolyment benfints
My initial 26 week unemployment is going to run out in December 15, 2010 in Texas. Is there another extension in which to file after this initial extension?
Please e-mail me the answer and instructions to do so.
I am retired military and hold a full time 40 hour week job. If i am laid off from my job, will i still be entitled to unemployment benefit even though i’m still drawing my retired pay
I have the potential to work a position full time but the duration will only be for two weeks. What will this do to my unemployment status. Will I have to refile after the income for the two weeks has been reported?
I was delined benifits for 13 weeks on a job where I was fired, I was cleared of any wrong doing but my ex=job said I broke a policy of theirs so do I get back those 13 weeks I lost, it made my benifits to be ended early?
On what date can I apply for unemployment before my servance runs out in April
I call MARVIN on wed. which is my day to call. MARVIN responds with your check will be deposited before the end of the next business day which would be thurs. More often then not, the check might go in on fri. if not fri. on mon. It is very frustrating when checks are written because you are told your benefit check will be there the next day. It happened before Christmas too!
MARVIN seems to be less then truthful.
I was an 1099 employee, worked from my home in Maine for a Company out of MD., I was let go so the Owner’s Dad could have a position after he retired. The Co. did not pay into unemployment, I paid State and Federal Taxes and want to know if any of this money I paid into the state of Maine goes to unemployment? Am I eligible to collect? Worked for this company 18 months!
I received a letter from the Tn Labor and Workforce stating that I would receive another 8 weeks of benefits, ending in June (?the end of my quarterly year, since I’ve been receiving benefits?). The problem is that the last 2 checks I have gotten were for different amounts, both being less than what I normally draw, and now this week, there is no check at all. Why did my benefits suddenly stop when I was already approved for another 8 weeks?
I just got done with the military and i was paying taxes to my home state in MA but i currently live in CA. Can i claim for MA unemployment since i was paying taxes my whole time in the navy?
I was just woundering if its possible to recieve such a small amount of 80 dollars a week?
I work from home in Tennessee for a company site in New Jersey. I lived and worked in NJ for this company for 3 years, then 3 years in TN. Where do I claim my benefits? Also, the parent company or W-2s are from Sterling VA.
My benefits have run out , however I still can not find a job to support myself and have a place to live. Is there anyway to continue the benifits. Jobs for $10.00 an Hour are plentyful, anything else is all but impossible to get.
My benefits have run out. Is there anyway that I can extend them since I still can not get a job that will support me i.e. housing, food, utilities etc?
I quit my job due to my husband getting a great job in another city and I needed to relocate. I was able to find a job in the new location. I was then laid off from the new job. I applied for unemployment and was approved. I have now received a letter requesting more information. The information is in regards to my work at the employer that I quit not the one I was laid off from. Is my unemployment in jeapordy?
interested in more personal details…in relation to all unemployment benefits…
will ira distributions affect my North Carolina unemployment compensation?