TIP NOTHING IS AUTOMATIC!

Your participation in the unemployment compensation process does not end after you have filed your initial claim. READ THE MANUAL! Now you are required to file biweekly claims to collect your benefits. “I just thought my checks would come automatically” will not necessarily be considered a valid excuse. Your Unemployment Compensation Handbook, the interviewer and paperwork you receive in the mail and/or off the internet will inform you when you are required to file your claim according to your state-mandated filing time.  Be sure to file your claim even if you receive paperwork stating that you are not financially eligible to collect benefits or if you are denied benefits because of your separation from your employer. Even if you think you may not be eligible for unemployment compensation benefits, file the claim and file an appeal if necessary. Continue filing your claim until you have exhausted ALL alternatives. You must continue to file a claim for benefits according to your state-mandated filing time. If you do not file timely, you could be denied benefits for those weeks.

In most states you can file your claim for unemployment benefits in three ways: automated telephone system, internet and through the mail. Be aware that filing through the mail will cause quite a delay in receipt of your benefits. This is because of the slowness of the mail system and the fact that a human being on the other end must physically process your mail claim, when time permits. If it is a period of high unemployment, this delay could be quite long. Alternatively, you can call the unemployment office and have an interviewer file your claim for you, but this is frowned upon by the unemployment agency. If you file over the internet, which I encourage you to do, you can read AND PRINT a confirmation page at the end of the filing process. As you are aware, there can be problems with the internet and this will be proof that you actually did file your claim should a question arise.

TIP Now I am going to tell you to do something that I told you not to do earlier, because it is for a different reason. And that is, “File your unemployment compensation claim on Sunday or Monday."

The only time you could have trouble with this is process is waiting on line on Monday if you call the unemployment office to file instead of using the internet or the automatic system. The earlier you file your claim, the earlier you should receive your benefits for those weeks. Each day you delay filing after Monday will result in at least another day before you receive your benefits. This is even if you have direct deposit.

TIP If your state offers it, sign up for direct deposit of your unemployment compensation benefits.

This is the fastest and most secure means of receiving your benefits. Generally, the money is in your bank account within two days after filing. But do not spend the money until you know it is there. Remember, this also is a technical process and something could wrong. But you will not have to go down to the bank to get your money, either. Be aware that once you sign up for direct deposit, it is set for life unless you change it. If you close or change the account, you must inform the Department or your benefits will go out there in cyberspace. They will not be lost, but you will not have access to them for a while.

If, after you have started to receive benefits, you receive mail regarding your unemployment compensation claim, be sure to read and act on it. Usually, but not always, this mail comes from the unemployment office. One very important piece of mail that you may receive is a notice to attend a PREP (or Career Center Seminar or whatever your state calls it) session at the local career link. This is a mandatory session and you could lose benefits for the week if you fail to attend without a good reason. During this session you will learn how to look for and get another job. Even if you are not looking for another job, this session is mandatory. You may even receive other mailings that could affect your receipt of benefits. If you do not respond to them, your benefits could be stopped.

If you continue to work part-time, or are on a reduced work week, you must report your earnings for the week. The pitfall here is reporting the earnings properly. Earnings are to reported for the week in which they are earned, not the week in which they are paid. Earnings must be reported even if the employer never pays you! Remember that you are filing a claim and that is for previous weeks. Make sure you report the earnings for the correct week. While completing this step, do not make the mistake of reporting that you are working full-time. If you are only working part weeks, you are not employed full-time. If you report that you are working full-time you will not be paid for those weeks because you cannot receive unemployment compensation benefits if you are fully employed. However, there are exceptions to every rule. See full time work week.