ANSWER: Although many unemployed workers want to believe that they paid into the unemployment fund and should at least be able to get that money out, it isn’t exactly true. Check your pay stub and you will see that the amount of uc taxes withheld equals less than 1 per cent. The rest is provided by the employers who pay into the fund according to a formula involving the number of people they have laid off at certain times. However, when the Congress puts an extension in place, it comes from your federal taxes.

ANSWER: Potentially, yes, because most states pay uc 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.

ANSWER: This is the employer for whom you worked immediately before filing for unemployment. It is not the employer from whom you wish to collect uc benefits, nor can you skip the most recent employer because you don’t want that employer involved in your claim, for whatever reason. If you got separated from an employer yesterday and filed a claim today, that’s the employer involved in the recent period of employment.

ANSWER: Yes. You can only get an extension after you have exhausted all regular uc benefits to which you are entitled.

ANSWER: This document contains the names of all the employers for whom you worked during the base year. The base year period can be found somewhere on the form and is marked as such. It also contains the amount of money you earned with each of those employers. It is your duty to make sure all employers and amounts are correct for the base year listed. If there is any mistake, either from missing employers or inaccurate earnings, you must contact the unemployment agency to get it corrected.

ANSWER: In most states you can collect 16 or 26 weeks depending on the amount of credit weeks you have. This is in one benefit year.

ANSWER: You want to file your unemployment claim, either an initial or reopen claim, immediately upon being laid off. However, if you worked (not got paid for) a whole calendar week, such as getting laid off on Friday, you will be told to wait until the next week to file.

ANSWER: Although you should file your unemployment claim right away, it’s up to you when you want to start the claim. You may want to wait until the next quarter to get a higher rate. You know you will be off work all winter and want to wait until then to file your claim. Or you may have other reasons. But you should understand that you may not be able to go back and claim the weeks you were off work and did not claim. You must also be careful that you don’t pass your benefit year end. Also, if there is an extension, you may be hurting yourself.

ANSWER: In PA you must have worked at least 16 weeks in the base year to get 16 weeks of unemployment. If you worked 18 weeks you can get 26 weeks of uc benefits. Other states may have slightly different requirements. If you are unemployed and need unemployment, file the claim and let the unemployment agency decide.

ANSWER: The only valid and immediate reason to receive uc benefits is when you are laid off due to lack of work. Lack of work may be due to plant closing, loss of orders, etc. If you are fired (discharged, let go) or quit (voluntarily or involuntarily) a determination will have to be made to determine your eligibility to collect unemployment benefits. You must also be financially eligible, meaning that you must have a valid work history during your base year.

ANSWER: Nothing goes on your credit report unless someone, such as an employer or creditor, places it there. Naturally, an employed person will have a better chance at obtaining credit than an unemployed person.

ANSWER: Technically, they don't. They just take you at your word. Even in those states where you have to submit written information, they don't check it out, AS A RULE. The key is AS A RULE. If they suspect foul play, they will follow up. So, you could easily get away with just stating things as facts, which is actually lying. However, if you are caught, you will subject yourself to loss of future unemployment benefits, repayment of benefits ILLEGALLY obtained and, possibly, legal suit or lien. In summary, it's not worth it to lie. But you don't have to go to a place you know is hiring and a job you know you don't want, either. But you should include some contacts with employers in the line of work you previously lost.

ANSWER: Some times they just are not interested, want to be nice to you or don’t want to cause themselves any problems that can arise, especially when a claimant is denied benefits. A wrong address may be given or the paperwork went to the wrong division or office of the employer. In this case they may not respond until their account is charged for your uc benefits.

ANSWER: Most often this is because everyone wants to file on Monday. It could be because of the unusually large number of people being laid off, especially during times of high unemployment. It could be due to the amount of staff on hand to take claims.

ANSWER: Generally, it runs as follows. You are denied by the local office and have a hearing. You can then file an appeal to this decision, but it usually only gets overturned if the first hearing officer made a mistake. (But don't let this stop you from filing an appeal.) After this, you may go further to the courts.

Does filing your claim for unemployment mean you will get a check?

ANSWER: No. It depends upon whether you are both financially eligible and eligible based on your separation. Generally, if you become financially eligible and are laid off due to lack of work, plant closing, reduction in staff, etc., you will have no trouble receiving a check for uc benefits. Of course, you could also owe unemployment benefits you received that you have to pay back. So, merely, filing an unemployment claim does not guarantee you will get benefits.

ANSWER: Take action! Don’t just sit back and ignore it. You could lose your benefits and even be responsible for paying back any uc benefits you may have received. Consider purchasing my ebook, Appeal-Winning Strategies. Just get my ebook, Appeal-Winning Strategies, to make the purchase.

ANSWER: You should receive you first benefits (check, debit card, direct deposit) 2 to 3 weeks after you initially file your unemployment claim. This is because the first week on your unemployment claim is a waiting week. Thus, you would receive your first uc benefits during the third week. However, if you reopen an existing unemployment claim and file weekly, as some states do, you could receive you check in two weeks.

ANSWER: The short answer is, yes. But you need to be both financially eligible and eligible based on your separation.

ANSWER: If you are not financially eligible, you must take certain steps to prove your wages in the base year. If you are denied uc benefits based upon your separation, you will have to file an appeal. 

ANSWER: Employers subject to unemployment tax are required to report your wages to a central office.

ANSWER: Yes. They are part of your wages and should be reported to your employer, who reports them to the uc agency.

ANSWER: You have to meet the income qualifications according to your state uc law.

ANSWER: You should file you claim for uc benefits immediately. However, there are exceptions such as you worked the whole calendar week, you are not financially eligible in the current quarter (which you found out by filing the initial claim immediately), you want to wait to file so you have money during the winter, Christmas, etc, or you have some other reason. But the claim starts when you file, not previously, unless you meet backdating requirements. If you wait too long, you may make yourself ineligible by going into a different base year. Study this in depth before waiting to file.

ANSWER: Either by calling the unemployment office or going online. You need to do this as soon as possible to avoid missing valuable mail regarding your unemployment claim, including checks. And if you have filed an appeal, make sure the appeal office is informed of your address change.

ANSWER: Yes! Most states do not punish you for receiving social security and unemployment benefits at the same, although most did at one time. And, it’s possible that as of this writing, no states punish you for receiving social security benefits.

ANSWER: Yes. Employers are required to report your wages to a central office. There are also cross-checks made between wages on file and unemployment benefits received during the same period.

ANSWER: Yes, provided you meet eligibility requirements.

ANSWER: To avoid losing uc benefits you should file your claim immediately after your last day of work. It is impossible to answer this question generically because each claim is different and it depends on your earnings for a particular week, your weekly benefit rate, etc.

ANSWER: Yes, but you must be careful that you do not give the impression that you are no longer available for full-time work.

ANSWER: Specifically, if you are fired or discharged, or you quit your job. Also, if you are not financially eligible, are not able and available, or remove yourself from the labor market. There are many other ways. If you are denied, be sure to file an appeal.

ANSWER: When you use up all the benefits you are allowed, you will have to wait until your benefit years runs out and file a new claim. Although, there is a possibility you will not be eligible on the new claim. Many states require you to work a certain amount of time/earnings between claims. But there are exceptions: if you worked in more than one state and those wages were not used on your current claim, you may be able to file another claim against that state, even before you benefit year expires; there may be an extension of uc benefits; or possibly some other reason. Generally, unemployment claims last one year from the initial application. So, your unemployment runs out when you run out of money or the benefit year expires, unless there is an extension.

ANSWER: It depends on whether you receive a check, debit card, or direct deposit. Direct deposit and debit cards are usually available 2-3 days after you file your claim. Checks may take 7-10 days to reach you.

ANSWER: This means that you were discharged from the employer and the unemployment office approved your right to receive uc benefits.

ANSWER: If you did not apply for a dependency benefit when you filed your initial claim, you will have to call the local unemployment agency to have them added. But any dependents born after the initial filing will not be allowed on.

ANSWER: Anyone who becomes financially eligible and is eligible due to the separation from their employer.

ANSWER: By working enough in the base year to qualify and having a valid separation from your employer.

ANSWER: If you qualify for unemployment compensation benefits and live outside of the United States, you should be eligible to collect those uc benefits as long as you can prove that you are able and available for work in the local job market. This does not mean that you can file a claim then go on a vacation.

ANSWER: Your eligibility to collect unemployment benefits is based on your separation from your most recent employer and the current base year which, should be within the last year and a half. However, if you were collecting workman’s compensation in PA, you can apply for an alternate base year. Some states have other alternate base years.

ANSWER: The amount depends on your weekly benefit rate from uc benefits and the amount of money you earn for a particular week. Each case is figured on an individual basis. This information should be on the letter you received making you financially eligible. Be sure to read it carefully.

ANSWER: Yes. This presupposes that you started the home business BEFORE you were separated from your employer. If you start the home business after the separation, you probably will not be eligible for uc benefits. You will have to provide a copy of your Schedule C for the previous tax year or fill out paperwork estimating the income from your business for the current calendar year. Also, be sure NOT to increase you time in this business after your separation.

ANSWER: Since you are reading these FAQ’s, just click on the 'links' button at the left, then cursor down to State by State and choose your state. You can either call one of the phone numbers listed or click on the state to file online. Also, go to Filing the Initial Unemployment Claim.

ANSWER: Only if you are no longer working full-time and can become eligible to receive uc benefits on your part-time, or reduced hours, basis.

ANSWER: If you are working under a 1099 basis, that is, you are considered a sub-contractor or self-employed, you cannot claim uc benefits. Why? Because you are working! Please see Independent Contractor.

How do I report my UC benefits on my Federal tax form?

ANSWER: You should receive a 1099-G about the end of January or the beginning of February which states the amount of UC benefits you received and the amount of income tax you had withheld, if any. Use these figures under unemployment compensation on the tax form. Be sure to use the amount of income tax withheld because this is a credit against the total benefits you received. Keep the 1099-G as it contains other information you may need to file your Federal taxes, such as the Federal Employer Identification number.

Can I receive unemployment while being on workers compensation?

ANSWER: Yes, but please see worker’s compensation.

ANSWER: Your personal information including social security number. Correct name and address of your most recent employer along with dates your employment started and ended. (You may need information on a previous employer if you only worked for the present/current employer for a short time.)

ANSWER: Yes, at the federal level. But some states and local governments also tax uc benefits.

ANSWER: You may have to explain why you are in the other state. If you are only on vacation, you will not be able and available for work in your own local labor market. If you are in another state actively looking for another job, you should not have any problem as long as you keep a diary of contacts and/or business cards or such from potential employers you applied for work.

ANSWER: Not necessarily. It could go back to a previous week or day. In PA the unemployment week starts on Sunday so you could file your initial/reopen claim on Friday and still be covered for the week. Other states may have different starting days.

ANSWER: Yes, but you must prove your were not fired for misconduct. See my ebook, Appeal-Winning Strategies.

ANSWER: Please see Excerpt from the ebook ‘Appeal-Winning Strategies’.   Excerpt

ANSWER: No, but there is an exception. If you have a combined wage claim using wages from two or more states and you have a state or states in which the wages were not used, you may be able to file a claim against another state. You must become eligible without using any wages that were already used in the combined wage claim.

ANSWER: You must report any and all income made during a week you claim unemployment benefits. Generally, you are allowed to make a certain amount of money that does not prevent you from collecting full benefits for that week. Also, you may have to earn a certain amount of money between filing one claim and filing the next claim. If your work is sporadic or questionable, working part time is a good thing. Also, it’s basically free money in that you may still collect a full week of uc benefits, dpending on how much you earn. Working part time while collecting unemployment benefits could also satisfy the requirement for between claims.