I Was Furloughed By My Employer But They Have Now Reopened And Asked Me To Return To My Job Can I Remain On Unemployment
No. As a general matter, individuals receiving regular unemployment compensation must act upon any referral to suitable employment and must accept any offer of suitable employment. Barring unusual circumstances, a request that a furloughed employee return to his or her job very likely constitutes an offer of suitable employment that the employee must accept.
While eligibility for PUA does not turn on whether an individual is actively seeking work, it does require that the individual be unemployed, partially employed, or unable or unavailable to work due to certain circumstances that are a direct result of COVID-19 or the COVID-19 public health emergency. In the situation outlined here, an employee who had been furloughed because his or her employer has closed the place of employment would potentially be eligible for PUA while the employer remained closed, assuming the closure was a direct result of the COVID-19 public health emergency and other qualifying conditions are satisfied. However, as soon as the business reopens and the employee is recalled for work, as in the example above, eligibility for PUA would cease unless the individual could identify some other qualifying circumstance outlined in the CARES Act.
When Will There Be Another Covid
Thats a good question. After weeks of debates in Congress, Bidens American Rescue Plan made it to the House through a parliamentary tool called budget reconciliation. The House voted Saturday to pass the legislation meaning it will go to the Senate next. Once there, it will be debated and then voted on. If the Senate approves the bill in any form , it will head to Biden for his signature.
Where Do I Submit My Claim
Online: You can access your unemployment insurance claim and information online through the New Mexico Workforce Connection System.
You can file a claim online 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
All individuals applying for unemployment benefits online must create an account for the New Mexico Workforce Connection Online System. This login gives you access to both the Unemployment Insurance Tax & Claims system and the New Mexico Workforce Connection job search platform.
In person: Your local New Mexico Workforce Connection Center may have limited hours for in-person assistance with filing a claim.
Phone: You can contact a Customer Service Agent in the Unemployment Insurance Operations Center at 1-877-664-6984, from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday.
English and Spanish-speaking customer service agents are available to assist you in filing your claim, following up, and submitting weekly requests for benefits/weekly certifications.
Appeals: If you have any questions about the appeal process, call the UI Operations Center at 1-877-664-6984.
You can also contact the Appeals Tribunal directly by calling 505-383-2700 or at the following toll-free numbers:
- From New Mexico: 1-800-227-7325
- From outside New Mexico: 1-800-545-0533
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Eligibility: Who Qualifies For The Extra $300 Unemployment Benefit
To be eligible for the $300 a week benefit, you need to be receiving unemployment benefits from any of these programs:
- Unemployment compensation, including regular State Unemployment Compensation, Unemployment Compensation for Federal Employees , and Unemployment Compensation for Ex-Service members
- Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation
- Pandemic Unemployment Assistance
- Mixed Earner Unemployment Compensation
- Payments under the Self-Employment Assistance program.
Low-wage, part-time or seasonal workers may fail to qualify for the extra $300.
When Do New $300 Weekly Unemployment Payments Arrive A State
Its been a few weeks since Congress passed a $900 billion stimulus package, extending federal unemployment relief programs. The coronavirus pandemic stimulus bill also included extra unemployment payments of up to $400 a week, contingent on the kind of work you do.
But depending on where you live, you may still be waiting for that benefit. Heres how to figure out if you qualify, when to expect your first paymentif youre still waiting for onehow much you can expect to get, and for how long.
The $300 extra weekly federal unemployment benefits have begun going out in most states now.
Yannik Mika for Unsplash
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Can I Still Apply For Unemployment Insurance
Each state handles and regulates its unemployment benefits differently, so whether or not you qualify for unemployment will depend on a variety of factors in your state. According to the Department of Labor, there are three general criteria to be eligible for unemployment benefits:
- Youre unemployed through no fault of your own. In most states, this means you can only receive unemployment benefits if theres a lack of available work not if you voluntarily quit or are fired from your job.
- You have to meet hour and/or wage requirements. Each state has its own guidelines for the amount wages earned or hours worked before you can qualify for unemployment.
- You meet any additional requirements in your state. Additional unemployment requirements can vary significantly depending on where you live.
What About My State Taxes Do I Still Owe State Tax On My Ui Benefits
It depends where you live. In some states, such as California, UI benefits are not taxed at all. Many other states follow federal law, so that you will be able to exclude the first $10,200 of UI benefits on your state tax return, as well. In about a dozen states, though, we are not aware of any special rules for UI benefits, and you may have to include your UI income on your state return. Those states are the following: Georgia, Hawaii, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Maine, Mississippi, North Carolina, Oregon, Vermont, and West Virginia. Wisconsin also allows some low-income households to exclude a part of their UI benefits. In Ohio, the situation is complex and depends on the outcome of pending legislation, which may result in Ohios adoption of the $10,200 exemption. Because of changes New York made in April of 2020, New York law will not include the $10,200 exemption, unless the New York legislature changes course and reverses its earlier decision.
Once the law is signed by President Biden, states should issue guidance to workers about any changes resulting from the law for state income taxes.
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What Should I Do Once Unemployment Benefits Run Out
Nows the time to focus on what you can do to better your financial situation and develop a plan moving forward. Here are a few actions you can take to get started, which we have collected over time from experts:
- Start looking for a survival job to help cover your necessary living expenses, even if it doesnt align with your long-term career goals.
- Reassess your budget and make it as lean as possible by cutting back on non-essential spending and other potential costs. If you dont have a budget, start one by following these tips.
- If you have an emergency fund, now is the time to rely on it.
- If you dont have an emergency fund but have a 401, you may be able to tap into it penalty-free via loans or even special hardship withdrawals through Sept. 30. If you arent eligible, consider withdrawing from your 401 only as a last resort.
- Ask your circle of friends, family, or work colleagues for help if youre struggling financially. They may be able to temporarily help you out or guide you on what to do next if you talk to them about your situation.
- Reach out to organizations in your community for assistance, such as local food banks, charities, and nonprofit centers.
- When possible, restock your emergency savings. Even if youre contributing only $5 a week back to your fund, it will build up over time.
If youre feeling overwhelmed or guilty about your finances, give yourself some grace and practice self-care. Your mental health matters just as much as your financial health.
If You Need Financial Assistance After You Received The Cerb
As of September 27, 2020, there are some temporary changes to the EI program to help you access EI benefits. These changes will be in effect for 1 year. Find out if you qualify:
If you received the CERB through Service Canada
After you received your last CERB payment, you must continue completing reports. In most cases, you did not need to apply for EI benefits. If you were receiving the CERB when it ended in early October 2020, we would have automatically reviewed your file and your record of employment , then started a claim for EI regular benefits if you qualified. If you did not qualify, you would have been notified by mail.
In a few cases, some workers needed to apply for EI benefits, including those who received CERB through Service Canada but stopped receiving it before the CERB ended in early October 2020.
Additionally, you needed to apply for EI after your CERB ended if:
- you have a SIN that starts with a 9
- youre self-employed, or
- you declared that you returned to work full-time on your CERB report
If you need sickness benefits instead of regular benefits
You can declare on your reports that youre unable to work for medical reasons and you could receive up to 15 weeks of sickness benefits.
If you received the CERB through the Canada Revenue Agency
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What Happened In States That Cut Off Enhanced Unemployment Benefits Early
Governors in roughly two dozen states ended federal aid early over the summer, claiming that the extra unemployment benefits were disincentivizing people from finding work and led to labor shortages. Around that time, the economy and the job market were beginning to show solid signs of growth. Jobs were added to the economy overall, although many retail and dining businesses struggled to hire employees and continue to struggle.
Several studies over the last year have disputed claims that jobless benefits deter people from returning to work. Labor Department data released in August shows people living in states that cut off benefits early havent rushed back to work. Job growth in states that cut enhanced jobless benefits has been parallel to states that kept the benefits.
In a Arindrajit Dube, a University of Massachusetts economist, found in states that ended federal programs early, adults receiving extra unemployment benefits fell by 2.2%, but employment didnt increase. At the same time, employment rose by 0.2% in states that didnt end extended unemployment insurance prematurely.
Because COVID-19 cases have started to rise again due to the Delta variant, theres a newfound uncertainty around the economy and job market.
When Will New Unemployment Benefits Start Flowing It May Take A While
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States will have to create a new system to pay out the unemployment benefits provided by President Donald Trump’s latest executive action, and that could leave the 28 million unemployed Americans waiting weeks to see the additional $300 payments.
Trump’s plan diverts disaster relief money from the Federal Emergency Management Agency to pay for the new benefit, which is different from the now-expired $600 weekly federal boost approved this past March by Congress. Because the money is coming from a different pool, it’s subject to different rules and needs its own process.
“It would have to be created from scratch and run parallel with Pennsylvania’s existing unemployment benefits programs,” said Penny Ickes, the communications director for the Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry, in a statement sent to CNN.
“This is not something that any state will be able to do quickly,” she added.
Eligibility rules changed, too, under the executive action. It excludes people receiving less than $100 a week from their state’s existing unemployment benefits. It also provides just half of what jobless Americans had been receiving.
Trump administration officials have said states will be able to get the new system up and running within two weeks, but some experts are skeptical.
“I don’t think anyone will see this money in August,” said Andrew Stettner, a senior fellow at The Century Foundation, a progressive think tank.
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What If I Made Less Money This Year Do I Qualify For More Stimulus
Yes. If your income was lower this year than your previous year on file with the IRS, you can claim that money back on your taxes. For example, if you made $150,000 in 2019 income, but you were laid off in the first round of layoffs in 2020 and only made $20,000 this year, you can recoup that difference.
File early and file electronically, the IRS does plan to get these funds out, says Pancotti.
What Can The Claimant Do If He Or She Believes A Job Offer Is Not For Suitable Employment
If a state raises an issue of failure to accept suitable employment, the state unemployment insurance agency must provide the claimant with an opportunity to provide his or her side of the story and to rebut any evidence provided to the state before making a final determination.
Most state laws allow for refusal of suitable employment for good cause, which is defined in state law. Criteria for good cause may include, but are not limited to, the degree of risk to an individuals health, safety, and morals the individuals physical fitness, prior training, experience, and earnings the length of unemployment and prospects for securing local work in a customary occupation and the distance of the available work from the individuals residence.
Claimants may file an appeal if they disagree with a states determination regarding suitable work. Please contact your state unemployment insurance agency for additional information.
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Are Unemployment Benefits Ending
Yes, all pandemic unemployment benefits ended Monday on Labor Day, with no grace period to file beyond this date. Payments will be made through the week ending on Friday. At that point, many unemployed Americans will see their benefits cut by $300 a week.
Since the onset of the coronavirus pandemic, the federal government has delivered more than $800 billion in unemployment benefits.
Unemployment checks, originally $600 and then lowered to $300, were enacted last year under the CARES Act by former President Donald Trump. For the first time, independent contractors and gig workers who had lost income due to the economic downturn received unemployment known as the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance.
The government also continued to boost unemployment through the Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation in states with reduced unemployment insurance, paying on average an additional $334.
In many cases, jobless Americans could collect both.
Through the American Rescue Plan passed in March, President Joe Biden extended all of these programs, including the maximum duration from 24 to 53 weeks. In states with high unemployment, people could receive up to 86 weeks of benefits.
How Many Weeks Of Pandemic Benefits Can I Receive
The American Rescue Plan extends the main programs for those who lost work during the pandemic through Labor Day in the following ways:
- PEUC and PUA benefits will be paid through the week ending September 6, 2021, and cut off after that point with no grace period.
- The maximum duration of PEUC benefits have been increased from 24 to 53 weeks. PEUC benefits are paid to those who were initially eligible for state benefits but exhausted them before finding a job.
- The maximum duration of PUA benefits were increased from 50 to 79 weeks. Those in high unemployment states could receive up to 86 weeks of benefits. PUA benefits are paid to those who are ineligible for state benefits, including the self-employed, but can demonstrate they lost their job for a specific COVID-related reason
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When And How Will I Be Paid My New York State Unemployment
It takes about three to six weeks from the time you file New York unemployment claims to when you receive your first payment due to processing and reviewing of your New York unemployment application. You will not receive benefits during this time, but if you are approved, you will receive back weeks of benefits owed with your first payment.
It is important to note that the first full week of your UI claim is an unpaid waiting week. You will not be paid any benefits during this period. If you work at all for any reason or do not serve the full week for any other reason, the unpaid week will roll over to the next week. You must still claim this week so that you can begin receiving benefits the following week.
However, New York is currently waiving the seven-day waiting period for those who are out of work due to COVID-19.
While you are waiting, you need to be responsive to any requests made by the Department of Labor. You should also claim weekly benefits as long as you are unemployed and are eligible for benefits. This is the only way you will receive any back weeks owed to you.
You can also receive benefits by direct deposit into your bank account. Physical checks are no longer mailed. To sign up for direct deposit, you can register on the New York State unemployment website.
What To Do Now
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Keep filing your certifications
- Through Sept. 4, keep filing for weeks that you want to receive benefits. If your normal certification is after Sept. 4, to be paid for that week you need to certify on your regularly scheduled day and time.
Watch for – and respond to – future messages
- If you are affected by the end of the Federal pandemic programs, we will send you information in your MiWAM account or by mail. Respond to any of our requests for information. Even if you have stopped claiming benefits or found a job, we might still need to contact you. If there are additional changes to your account, you’ll receive a notice with information about how you can meet the deadline to protest or make an appeal. Continue to check your account for the next year to assure no new claims have been filed in your name. If you suspect fraud, report the fraud or identity theft through your MiWAM account. Links can be found on the MiWAM homepage. Or you can call the fraud hotline at 866-500-0017.
Don’t throw away your new debit card
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