How to Apply for Extended Unemployment Benefits and Unemployment Insurance
Historically, unemployed individuals were only allowed to receive unemployment benefits, otherwise known as unemployment insurance, for up to 26 weeks. However in November of 2008, due to the economic collapse and extensive number of job losses and unemployed, the President passed a law extending unemployment benefits eligibiltiy for up to 56 weeks. However, most people don't realize it, but in order to receive the extended unemployment benefits, you must apply for them separately.
Other People Are Reading
Instructions
-
-
1
Be unemployed, and file for regular unemployment benefits for 26 weeks, thus exhausting your benefits. If you are not on regular unemployment, then you will not be eligible to receive any extended unemployment benefits.
-
2
Extended unemployment is based on the unemployment rate for your state. So the first thing you must do, is see how many extra weeks you can get. Do this by going to your state's Department of Labor website, or see the link in the resources section below. All states are eligible for extended unemployment benefits, but some states allow more weeks than some. The weeks are based on the unemployment statistics for each state which is based on the number of unemployed workers.
-
-
3
Within 10 days of exhausting your regular unemployment benefits, you will be mailed a letter notifying you of how to apply for "First Tier Extended Unemployment". If you do not receive this letter at least one week prior to exhausting your regular benefits, call your local unemployment office immediately.
-
4
If you exhaust your "First Tier Extended Unemployment" then you will again be mailed another letter notifying you of how to apply for "Second Tier Extended Unemployment". If you do not receive this letter at least one week prior to exhausting your First Tier benefits, call your local unemployment office immediately.
-
5
A few states allow you to simply keep filing online. But some require that will go down to your local unemployment office and fill out the paperwork again.
-
1
Tips & Warnings
Not everyone who qualifies for regular unemployment benefits, qualifies for extended unemployment benefits.
Under the "First Tier" of extended unemployment benefits, you can receive anywhere from 13 to 20 additional weeks of unemployment benefits, depending on the state in which you live.
Under the "Second Tier" of extended benefits, you can receive 13 additional weeks of unemployment benefits.
Self-employed individuals and contractors are not eligible for regular unemployment insurance and thus are not eligible for extended unemployment insurance.
Resources
- Photo Credit iStock
