Can You Keep Unemployment Compensation if You Move to Another State?

Moving from one state to another can prove a complex process, depending upon the circumstances. If you receive unemployment insurance benefits, for instance, you get those benefits from your state of residence. However, because unemployment compensation programs constitute a partnership between states and the federal government, you can continue receiving benefits if you move out of state. The laws of the state you live in determine how you go about doing this.

Continuing Unemployment

Some states allow you to continue receiving unemployment benefits if you move to another state. Washington and Utah, two states with such provisions, require only that you notify a state unemployment insurance office as to your move and continue filing from your new state of residence to continue receiving payments. If you receive continuing unemployment from your previous state of residence, you must begin seeking work in your new state of residence immediately and report all job inquires when you file each week.

Interstate Benefits

The federal government operates an interstate benefits programs in which any state may participate. Massachusetts and Connecticut both participate in this program. If you receive unemployment insurance in a participating state, you must report to an unemployment office in your new state upon arrival. You file a claim against your previous state of residence in your new state of residence. The process by which you receive your benefits in your new state varies depending upon the state you move from as federal law allows states to operate this program in any way they see fit. Iowa, for instance, continues paying benefits directly to claimants in other states while Massachusetts pays benefits to the new state, which distributes them to you.

Transferring Benefits

Some states allow you to transfer benefits to a new state without participation of the interstate benefits program. If you receive unemployment insurance from New York State, for instance, you must contact state authorities before you move out of state. The New York State Department of Labor arranges to transfer your benefits to another state, meaning it pays you benefits through your new state of residence’s unemployment insurance authority, which works much like the interstate program, only instead of filing a claim against your previous state, you simply contact state authorities before moving.

The Process

States maintain very strict regulations regarding unemployment insurance benefits. Never stop filing your weekly unemployment claims, regardless of your situation. If you plan to move to a new state, contact your local unemployment authority with as much advance notice as possible. Once you find out how your state benefits work with interstate moves, inquire about making arrangements to transfer your benefits. If you move suddenly, contact authorities in your new and old state as soon as possible after the move.

References

• Washington Employment Security Department: FAQ About Unemployment Benefits
• Massachusetts Department of Labor and Workforce Development: If You Have Moved From Massachusetts
• New York State Department of Labor: Unemployment Insurance Compensation FAQ
• Connecticut Department of Labor: Unemployment Insurance FAQs
• Utah Department of Workforce Services: FAQs
• US Department of Labor: Interstate Benefits Program
• Iowa Workforce: Facts About Unemployment Insurance