How Long Can You Collect Unemployment

Learn How Much You Can Expect In Unemployment Benefits And For How Long

By Aaron Hotfelder, J.D., University of Missouri School of Law

Unemployment insurance is a joint federal-state program that provides temporary benefit payments to employees who are out of work through no fault of their own. If you’re applying for benefits, you might be wondering how much money might be heading your way.

What Are The Requirements For Filing A Valid Claim

You must have worked in employment subject to UI tax and received wages in at least two quarters of your base period. You must also have been paid wages totaling at least six times the average weekly insured wage during your base period. The exact amount of benefits and the duration of those benefits cannot be determined until you actually file your claim for benefits.

A Family Member Is Still Recovering From Covid But My Boss Told Me I Need To Return To Work If I Refuse Can I Still Get Unemployment Benefits

Yes. However, there are conditions you have to meet to remain eligible for unemployment benefits:

• The family member must live with you

• The family member must have tested positive for COVID-19 by a source authorized by the State of Texas

• The family member must not yet have recovered and

• 14 days must not yet have passed.

You May Like: File For Tn Unemployment

Can Independent Contractors Collect Unemployment

Learn more about the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance Program and its qualifications and application process.

The SMB Guide is reader-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn anaffiliate commission. Learn more

The federal government has extended unemployment benefits to include independent contractors, self-employed individuals, and gig workers in response to COVID-19 .

Pandemic Unemployment Assistance Program Benefits:

Section 2102 of the CARES Act establishes supplementary unemployment benefits through the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance program.

The PUA makes unemployment insurance available to individuals who are not eligible to receive regular unemployment benefits under state or federal programs. This is provided that these individuals find themselves not able to work due to COVID-19.

I Was Paid In Cash Do I Qualify

Yes. If you were paid only in cash, you may still be eligible. But you could have issues proving you were previously employed and how much you earned. Be prepared to provide tax documents and any other documents showing your earnings. Normally your employer has to report your wages to the Texas Workforce Commission for you to qualify, but since the federal stimulus bill does not require wage history, you should still qualify if you can prove you were working and stopped working because of COVID-19. If you cannot prove how much you earned, the TWC will give you a minimum benefit amount.

Read Also: How To Apply For Unemployment In Missouri

My Unemployment Claim Expired Because My Benefit Year Ended What Should I Do

You must reapply for a new claim if you earned enough wages in the last 18 months and are still unemployed or working part time. We will notify you when your new claim is processed. This usually takes two to three weeks.

• If youâre unsure if you have enough wages as reported by an employer, log in to UI OnlineSM and select File New Claim. We will do one of the following:
• Immediately tell you that you do not have enough wages to establish a new claim.
• Provide instructions on how to submit a new application.

For more information, refer to the unemployment benefit calculator.

If you served in the military, worked for a federal government agency, or worked in a state outside of California within the last 18 months, you must reapply for a new claim by phone, mail, or fax.

You do not need to reapply if you did not earn enough wages in the last 18 months to establish a new claim. Visit Eligibility Requirements for more information. To learn more, visit Benefit Year End.

While You Receive Benefits

If you do meet all the various qualifications to receive unemployment, be aware that compensation comes with conditions. While you are receiving unemployment, you must be actively seeking a new joband states can request proof of your job search.

If you turn down a suitable position , your unemployment benefits may be terminated. Also, during the Great Recession that bottomed out in 2009, many states changed their laws to prohibit receiving severance and unemployment benefits simultaneously.

Don’t Miss: Sign Up For Unemployment Tn

What Information Do I Need To Apply

To complete the online EI application, you will need the following personal information:

• your Social Insurance Number âif your SIN begins with a 9, you will need to provide proof of your immigration status and work permit
• your mother’s maiden name
• your mailing and residential addresses, including the postal codesâif you do not have a usual place of residence, you must apply in person at your local Service Canada Centre and
• your complete banking information, including the financial institution name and number, the branch number, and your account number, if you want to sign up for direct deposit.

When you apply for sickness benefits, you must also obtain a medical certificate signed by your doctor which indicates the expected period of incapacity. Be sure to keep this certificate in a safe place, since we may ask you to provide it to us later. We will let you know if we need you to submit your medical certificate when you complete your online application.

You will also need the following employment information if you are or were an employee:

If you are a self-employed person who has registered to access EI Special Benefits for Self-Employed People, you will also need to provide your medical certificate as well as your net self-employment earnings for the previous tax year .

What Will The Information I Provide Be Used For

Wage information and other confidential unemployment compensation information may be requested and utilized for other governmental purposes, including, but not limited to, verification of an individual’s eligibility for other government programs. 20 C.F.R. § 603.11.

Read Also: Unemployment Application Pennsylvania

What Kind Of Work Must I Accept

You must accept any suitable work during your first 10 weeks of the benefit period based on such factors as your experience, customary occupation, prior earnings, etc. During the remaining weeks, any suitable work must be considered. NOTE: Suitable work will be any work offered that pays 120% of your weekly benefit amount beginning with the eleventh week after you file your claim.

What Is The Difference Between Eligibility And Qualification

Eligibility involves working and earning enough money within your base period to establish a claim for benefits, and meeting the requirements of searching for work and being able and available for work. Eligibility is determined weekly. Ineligibility is a postponement of benefits until you meet the weekly requirements. Qualification involves being separated from work through no fault of your own. Disqualification is a loss of benefits. It is possible to be eligible and disqualified for benefits. It is also possible to be ineligible and qualified for benefits. You must be both qualified and eligible to receive benefits.

Also Check: Qualifications For Unemployment In Tn

My Boss Told Me I Needed To Come Back To Work But I Am Considered High

The TWC has said that workers can refuse an offer to return to work and still receive unemployment benefits in the following situations:

• They or someone they live with is 65 years or older.

• They have a medical issue, like heart disease, diabetes, cancer, or a weakened immune system, or are at a higher risk for getting very sick from COVID19 .

• They live with someone who is at a higher risk of getting very sick from COVID-19 .

• They have tested positive for COVID-19 by a source authorized by the State of Texas and have not recovered.

• They live with someone who tested positive for COVID-19 by a source authorized by the State of Texas and that person has not recovered and 14 days have not yet passed.

• They were exposed to COVID-19 through close contact and are quarantining for 14 days.

• They are the primary caregiver for a child they live with, and that childs school or daycare has closed and there are no alternatives.

The TWC has said that any other situation would be looked at on a case-by-case basis. If you have a question about your particular situation affecting your eligibility for unemployment, please call TRLA. We can help you try to figure out whether you may be able to stay on unemployment, and also whether you have the right to paid or unpaid leave. For more information about paid or unpaid leave that might be available to you, please visit our website.

What Ls An Issue

An issue is an act or circumstance, which, by virtue of State or Federal law/regulation, could affect your eligibility for UI benefits. Whenever an issue is discovered, benefit payments may be interrupted until the issue is resolved. There are three possible resolutions to an issue:

If you have an issue on your UI claim, while awaiting a resolution, you should continue to file your weekly certifications.

Read Also: Www Njuifile Net Tax

How To Get Cobra

Group health plans must give covered employees and their families a notice explaining their COBRA rights. Plans must have rules for how COBRA coverage is offered, how beneficiaries may choose to get it and when they can stop coverage. For more COBRA information, see COBRA Premium Subsidy. The page links to information about COBRA including:

• 3 Ways the American Rescue Plan Helps People Who Lost Jobs Afford Health Coverage]

What Are The Requirements To Qualify For Unemployment Benefits In Florida

What are the requirements to qualify for unemployment benefits in Florida? To be eligible to receive FL unemployment benefits you must meet the following criteria:

• You must be either partially or totally unemployed and have lost your job through no fault of your own. This means you were not fired for malicious misconduct or that you quit for personal reasons.
• You must have earned the required minimum amount of wages during your base period. Your base period is the first four quarters that have been completed beginning 18 months prior to you filing a claim.
• You must be ready, willing, available and able to work. You must also be actively seeking work and be able to document your efforts.

Recommended Reading: Applying For Unemployment In Louisiana

I Received A Notice That I Have To Repay The Benefits I Received What Can I Do

It Is not uncommon for the TWC to say someone is qualified, pay them benefits, and then later decide the person never qualified and demand repayment.

If you receive a notice that you were overpaid benefits and must repay them, you can appeal this decision. You have 14 days to appeal from the date it was sent. The notice you receive will tell you the date by which you must file your appeal. Just like with any other decision that you can appeal you will be given a telephone hearing to argue why you were not overpaid. No late appeals will be accepted.

It is also likely that you received a decision saying you never qualified in the first place for benefits and that is why you were overpaid. You need to appeal BOTH the determination that you never qualified for benefits and the decision that you were overpaid.

You can appeal online at by logging on to your account. This is the same account you used to apply for benefits. You can also fax your appeal to 512-475-1135. You can find the TWCs appeal form here: .

How Long Do Extended Unemployment Benefits Last A State

For the millions of Americans whove lost their jobs in this pandemic, unemployment benefits can be critical to covering the bills while seeking new work.

Displaced workers received some additional relief under the CARES Act, passed by Congress this spring, which included supplemental weekly federal unemployment benefits and also extended unemployment benefits for some for up to 59 weeks.

But if youre among the millions whove lost income or a job because of the coronavirus pandemic, whether you can collect benefits for that long depends on what state you live in. Heres what to know.

With increased levels of unemployment, the lines at food pantries have been longer. Unemployment was … 7.9 percent in September.

Recommended Reading: Does Filing Unemployment Hurt Your Credit

What Is Unemployment Insurance

If you lose your job, unemployment insurance is a guaranteed payout, usually weekly, for a set amount to tide you over until you find new work. Eligibility requirements and benefits vary widely from state to state you can get all of the details about your state’s specific unemployment benefits on the US Department of Labor’s website. For example, qualified Florida residents can claim up to $275 for 12 weeks of unemployment benefits.

Prior to the passage of the CARES Act, unemployment benefits were designed as a temporary stopgap to help people who were out of work to pay for basic expenses like housing, food and utilities. If you were self-employed or owned a business, you would typically not qualify for regular unemployment insurance. That has since changed.

Coronavirus updates

• News, advice and more about COVID-19

Where Do I Submit My Claim

In Florida, all applications for unemployment benefits must be completed online. The process takes 30 to 60 minutes to complete and must be finished within 72 hours of when you first start the application, or you will have to start over again.

What is the Florida unemployment website? Where is the Florida unemployment login? To file your claim you must login to the states CONNECT site for state unemployment benefits. Once you are registered, you can return to the CONNECT site to locate my Florida unemployment for updates on your claim status and more.

If you need help completing your application, or if you need access to a computer for online filing, you can go to any One-Stop Career Center for assistance.

You May Like: Apply Louisiana Unemployment

Calculating Your Weekly Benefit Amount

If you are eligible to receive UI benefits, you will receive a weekly benefit amount of approximately 50% of your average weekly wage, up to the maximum set by law. As of October 3, 2021, the maximum weekly benefit amount is $974 per week. Follow the steps below to calculate the amount of unemployment benefits you may be eligible to receive each week.

Step 1: List your total wages in the last 4 quarters in which you worked.

In this example, Quarter 3 and Quarter 4 were the highest quarters:

$8,840 + 10,000 = $18,840

Note: If you worked 2 or fewer quarters, use the highest quarter of wages.

Step 3: Divide the sum of the two highest quarters from Step 2 by 30

$18,840 ÷ 26 = $724.61

In this example, $724.61 is your average weekly wage.

Note: If you worked 2 or fewer quarters, divide the highest quarter by 13 weeks to determine your average weekly wage.

Step 4: Divide your weekly wage from Step 3 in half to determine your weekly benefit amount.

$724.61 ÷ 2 = $362.30, rounded to the nearest dollar = $362

In this example, $362 is your weekly benefit amount.

How Soon Do I File Unemployment After Losing My Job

• Last day at work. Regardless of the state you’re talking about, unemployment doesn’t kick in until a job is lost or laid off.
• Submit as soon as possible. Apply for unemployment benefits as soon as possible.
• Wait a week. Some states have to wait a week before registering unemployment.
• Severance pay.

Iceland real estateIs there a real estate market in Iceland? Reykjavik’s real estate has seen a in both prices and sales over the past five years. In the period between the second half of 2016 and the whole of 2017, real estate prices in Iceland rose by an average of 13%, with a jump of 15%.How much tax do you pay on rent in Iceland?Real estate investment in Iceland. Rental Income: Non-residents who receive rental income pay tax at

Don’t Miss: Il Unemployment Office Near Me

Are You Eligible For Ei Sickness Benefits

You may be entitled to receive EI sickness benefits if:

• you are employed in insurable employment
• you meet the specific criteria for receiving EI sickness benefits
• your normal weekly earnings have been reduced by more than 40% and
• you have accumulated at least 600 hours of insurable employment during the qualifying period or, if you are a self-employed fisher, you have sufficient insurable earnings from self-employment in fishing during the qualifying period.

What If I Have To Stop Working To Care For My Child

If you have to care for your child during the work week because their school or day care has temporarily closed due to COVID-19, you can claim unemployment benefits. The same is true if you now find yourself responsible for an elderly parent or other household member whose care facility has been shut down.3

Another option: if you work for a business with fewer than 500 employees, you might qualify for up to 12 weeks of paid family leaveat two-thirds of your normal pay, capped at $1,000 per weekif the coronavirus pandemic requires you to care for a child whose school or day care has closed.4

You cant qualify for unemployment insurance and family leave at the same time, so your choice will depend on which benefit works best for you. However, if you take family leave and are still not able to go back to work after it runs out, you are then eligible for unemployment.5

Read Also: Va Individual Unemployability Benefits