Guidelines for Collecting Unemployment
If you lose your job due to company layoffs, you are probably eligible to collect unemployment benefits. If you quit your job, you are probably not. However, there are some instances in which you can get benefits even if your employer fired you. Ask your state employment security department to review your situation and make a determination. Once you determine you are eligible, follow those guidelines for collecting unemployment that are specific to your state.
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History
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Unemployment compensation in the U.S. dates to the first Franklin Delano Roosevelt administration and the Great Depression when Congress voted the Social Security Act into law in 1935. Four years later, the Federal Unemployment Tax Act of 1939 provided the financial framework underlying the system, requiring employers to pay into the unemployment insurance fund for their state.
Time Frame
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To begin collecting unemployment benefits without delay, file with your state employment security department immediately upon losing your job. Depending on your location, you may be able to file your claim by phone or online. Some states will impose a one-week waiting period from the time you lose your job and the time your eligibility for benefits begins. You should expect a two- to three-week delay before receiving your first benefit check due to the time it takes to set up your account and process your initial claim.
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Function
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Each state sets procedural guidelines for claiming benefits. For those states that allow electronic or telephonic filing, you may have to choose a PIN for your personal account that will give you access to application questionnaires, weekly claim forms for the period you are unemployed and access to your account statistics. Also, be sure to follow your state's guidelines for frequency of filing, which is usually once per week; file before the weekly deadline--midnight on each Saturday, for example--and provide complete and accurate information to avoid any delays in your benefit payments. If your information is inaccurate, especially in regard to your income, you could be facing some strict penalties.
Considerations
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The amount of your weekly benefit check depends on your earnings over the previous qualifying time period, but it will only be a percentage of your actual earnings, and cannot exceed state-mandated limits. In the majority of states, you can collect benefits up to an average of six months if you worked long enough at your previous job. Be sure to report any temporary work you might pick up during the time your are collecting unemployment. While your weekly benefit may be reduced, you will be avoiding possible future penalties.
Misconceptions
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Someone who does not understand the unemployment compensation system may think that those who collect benefits are on a paid vacation. This is not the case, since during the time you are on unemployment, you must actively look for work and report your progress in your weekly claim. Your state may also require you to undergo job training, attend job search and resume writing classes and register with their employment service.
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References
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