How to File Oklahoma Unemployment

If you lose your job in Oklahoma, you may be able to file for unemployment benefits. In general, any wage or salary earner who is not self-employed and loses a job through no fault of their own -- an involuntary layoff, for example -- is automatically eligible, and those who left their jobs under other circumstances may be eligible as well. Unemployment payments will not cover the full amount of your previous wages, but they can help to tide you over until you find a new source of income.

Things You'll Need

• Internet access or phone to file for benefits and weekly claim.

Instructions

1. In general, if you discharged through no fault of your own, you should qualify for benefits. If you quit or were fired, eligibility questions may arise. Some common reasons for unemployment being denied include:

   • were discharged or fired for misconduct (misconduct is an act which is either willful or is an intentional disregard of the employer's interest)
   • voluntarily quit without good cause
   • are not able and available for work
   • are not a U. S. citizen and not authorized to work
   • have limited the wages, hours, days, or areas of a job you would accept
   • do not report for or satisfactorily participate in reemployment services
   • are self employed
   • are involved in a strike
   • are not looking for work
   • refuse suitable work
   • Jobs that are between terms (when an employee knows there will be times of no income because of work schedules EX: Teachers or Sports professionals)

2. File for unemployment as soon as you become unemployed! You should also file for unemployment if you are working less than full time and earning income that is less than your benefit amount. You can either file for benefits over the phone [phone]) Monday thru Friday 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. (excluding state holidays) or over the Internet (find a link in the References section). You will need your Social Security number along with the name, address, and dates of employment for your last employer.

3. Once you have submitted a request for Oklahoma unemployment benefits your claim will have to be approved or denied.

   This first week is known as the waiting week and no benefits will be paid for this week.

   Once you have filed a request for Oklahoma unemployment benefits your previous employer will be notified. A letter informing them of the request for unemployment will be mailed within 15 days. Your previous employer will be ask to confirm details of your separation and will be given an opportunity to dispute your request for unemployment. If they choose to dispute your unemployment benefit claim, they will have to return the information with detailed comments regarding the reason they are disputing the benefits. This must be postmarked within 10 days of the original notice being mailed to them.

4. The amount of unemployment benefit will vary from person to person. This is calculated electronically using your earnings during your base period; the first four quarters of the last five completed calendar quarters immediately before you filed for unemployment compensation benefits. This will be indicated on your summary page when you file for your unemployment compensation benefits. The actual earnings amount will range from $16 to $409 (as of 2009) and is 1/23 of your highest taxable wages in your base period.

   The summary will include your maximum benefits, this is the total amount of unemployment compensation you can collect during the 52 week benefit year (your benefit year start date is the Sunday of the week you filed your unemployment claim).

5. File weekly claims. To continue receiving unemployment compensation you will have to file a claim each week. You benefit week runs from Sunday through Saturday. You will need to file after your benefit week, you will be verifying that you did not work or turn down a job during the previous week. You have up to fourteen days to file a claim of the week ending date (Saturday of the week you are filing for). You can either file your claim by phone or over the internet. Any claim not filed within fourteen days of the last day of the benefit week (the week you are answering questions about) will be denied.

6. You should report any all earnings for work that was done during that week. Make sure you report the earnings even if you were not paid that week. This verifies that you did work and should be earning money. You will also be asked for the number of hours worked during the week you are filing for.

7. Most benefits are limited to 26 times your weekly benefit amount; therefore you will receive benefits for up to 26 weeks as long as you still qualify for the benefits. You should be able to receive up to 50 percent of the total wages earned during your base period. Various extension programs may add more time to your benefit period, depending on economic conditions.

8. Contact the unemployment office near you for assistance or questions. Over the phone [phone]) Monday thru Friday 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. (excluding state holidays) or on the Internet.

References

• Oklahoma Unemployment Insurance: Benefits