Tier III Unemployment Benefits in Virginia
Emergency unemployment compensation is often called federal unemployment extensions. Tier III unemployment is a portion of the emergency unemployment compensation (EUC) for states that have a six percent total unemployment rate (TUR) or more. Virginia qualifies under this provision and can offer the third tier of EUC to its claimants. You must meet the eligibility requirements and apply for the extension. If granted, you receive your current weekly benefit payments for up to an additional 13 weeks.
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Emergency Unemployment Compensation
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Emergency unemployment compensation is federal unemployment extensions offered to states through Congressional legislation. Congress only enacts the extensions when the entire country is experiencing high unemployment rates and increased long term unemployment. Although the states manage the emergency unemployment claims and distribute the payments, the money comes from the federal government taxes instead of the state government's unemployment insurance trust fund. EUC is divided into tiers and Tier III is the third installment.
Eligibility
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As of the date of publication, to be eligible for the third EUC tier, you must have exhausted your regular state unemployment benefits and the first two tiers of emergency unemployment compensation before January 1, 2012. You also must meet the rest of Virginia's regular unemployment benefit eligibility requirements. These include being unemployed through no fault of your own, being both available and physically able to work and conducting an active job search.
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Applying
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When you've exhausted your second tier of emergency unemployment compensation, you receive an EUC application form by mail from the Virginia Employment Commission (VEC). Fill out the form in its entirety, sign it and send it back to the VEC. Within ten days, you receive a notice of determination either approving you for the Tier III benefits or denying you. The notice also has instructions on how to appeal a ruling and file your weekly claims certifications for payments.
Compensation Amounts
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Your compensation amount on the third tier of EUC is the same as your regular Virginia employment compensation amount. This is about half of the average weekly salary you earned from covered employment during your base period, which is the first four of the last five complete calendar quarters before you filed your initial claim for your regular Virginia unemployment benefits. On Tier III benefits, you receive 13 weeks of benefits or the number of weeks you remain eligible, whichever is less.
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