Has the COVID-19 pandemic severely affected you as well? Have you lost your job? If your answer is yes then you may be eligible to collect unemployment benefits while living in the US. In this article, we will discuss how to get unemployment benefits in detail.
Unemployment benefits are available to employees in every state of the US who are out of work through no fault of their own. In most states, workers are eligible for unemployment benefits if their earnings meet certain minimum thresholds in terms of hours or wages; and if they were laid off, quit for good cause, or were fired for anything other than misconduct. We will have a closer look at these eligibility criteria below. These unemployment benefits are typically paid on a weekly basis, at a certain percentage of your past earnings, for a set period of time (usually up to 26 weeks).
In April 2020 alone, almost 20.5 million people lost their jobs (as shown above). Hence, reading this article carefully is even more important now.
Guidelines For Qualifying For Unemployment Benefits
The question you must be having by now is – How will you know if you’re eligible to receive unemployment benefits? Each state sets guidelines that determine whether an individual will be eligible for unemployment benefits, and how much compensation they will receive.
Eligibility for unemployment insurance, the amount of unemployment compensation you will receive, and the length of time in which you will enjoy benefits are variable and determined by state law. Each state has its unemployment agency dedicated to overseeing employment and unemployment-based matters.
There are eligibility requirements to qualify for unemployment benefits, including having worked a certain number of weeks for a certain number of hours each week. Those guidelines also determine how many weeks of benefits an unemployed worker can collect.
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You’ll find detailed information regarding eligibility criteria on your state unemployment website. In most states, you will need to have worked for a certain period of time, met minimum earnings requirements, and have lost your job through no fault of your own.
Requirements For Qualifying | How To Get Unemployment Benefits
Eligibility requirements to qualify for unemployment benefits vary from state to state. However, according to the U.S. Department of Labor, there are two main criteria that must be met in order to qualify:
1. You must be unemployed through no fault of your own.
2. You must meet your state’s requirements for time worked or wages earned during a set period of time.
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Eligibility Requirements
Following are the detailed eligibility requirements on how to get unemployment benefits.
Earnings Requirements: To receive unemployment benefits, you as a worker must meet the unemployment eligibility requirements for wages earned or time worked during an established (mostly one year) period of time.
Eligibility Based on Type of Job Loss: You are eligible for unemployment benefits if you are unemployed for reasons other than your own fault, such as a layoff. If you quit or are fired for some form of misconduct, you are unlikely to be eligible for unemployment compensation. However, if you were wrongly terminated from your position, or forced to quit, you may qualify for unemployment. It will depend on the circumstances of your termination of employment.
Hours Worked Requirements: Additionally, most jurisdictions require you to meet your resident state’s weekly requirement for hours worked or compensation earned for a specified period of time before being eligible to collect unemployment benefits. It can be hard to determine exactly what each state’s rules are, but most people that lose stable, long-term employment through no fault of their own, will meet their state’s minimum criteria for eligibility.
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Claiming Compensation
In most states, you will be able to open a claim and file for weekly benefits online. Unemployment compensation is typically paid on a debit card or directly deposited to your checking account.
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Unemployment Benefits Finder
Following are two trusted websites that can help you find unemployment benefits.
- CareerOneStop
- Benefits
Frequently Asked Questions For Unemployment Benefits (FAQs)
Here are the FAQs on this topic.
How much sum will I receive after claiming unemployment benefits?
There are minimum and maximum levels of unemployment compensation. You will be notified about your benefits when your claim is approved.
What if my claim for unemployment benefits is denied?
If your claim for benefits isn’t approved, you can file an appeal.
What are the weekly benefit claim requirements?
Registering with the state job service and actively seeking work is a requirement while collecting unemployment in some locations. You must be ready, willing, available, and able to work. The job service may require job seekers to apply for jobs, submit resumes, and not turn down a position if it meets certain standards.
Thank you for reading this blog ‘How To Get Unemployment Benefits: A Detailed Guide’. If you enjoyed reading this blog and would like to continue reading then do check out our following blogs.
