The No-Fuss Guide to Collecting Extended Unemployment Benefits

Stressed as your last unemployment benefit collection is drawing near? Are you still facing job loss and utterly hopeless? Stop stressing yourself out because now the US government has now found a way to give out some unemployed help for those who are still facing unemployment despite the measure made. Here are is a no fuss guide to collecting extended unemployment benefits.

Collecting Extended Unemployment benefits is available for those who live in states that have an unemployment rate of 6% or more and is still unemployed. This program offers an additional 13 weeks to your existing benefits, making it a total of around 33 weeks all in all. Still there are also other states that have held back or even totally removed it hoping to motivate the people to find work sooner. See what's what in your state and from there we move on to the next step.

Let's say that luckily your state still offers extended unemployment benefits to those who are found eligible. This is definitely good news since added benefits also mean more time to go job hunting. The downside is the whole filing process, which can sometimes get a tad too confusing.

First thing to do is wait for the official notice from your state unemployment office notifying you that your period of receiving benefits are up. Up until then, all you can do is wait for that time. Do not get too excited and started to file for one even when you haven't received any official notice yet.

Upon receiving the official notice you can now start the application process. If you want to do it the conventional way, then go to your nearest unemployment office and ask for the forms that will be needed to file for extended unemployment benefits. Fill these as accurately as you can. Here, perfection is key. Every detail written down should be correct, with not misspelled words or missed information.

Preparing all the documents that you think you might need will save you both time and money. Just in case some documents are needed you can comply with them right away since they have already been prepared.

The possibility that your application will be denied is always present. In case something like this happens, you can always make an appeal for them to reconsider. This process is more complex as compared to this, but that is an entirely different story.

Collecting extended unemployment benefits is a gift to those who are experiencing a longer period of job loss than expected. Availing of government programs such as this will greatly help you get back on track even with the threat of unemployment always present.

R. Trammel feels fortunate to bring financial recovery to those who are laid off, downsized, and unemployed. However, R. Trammel, a paralegal at Allmand and Lee, believes those affected by the radical change in the economy can protect their assets during these difficult times, until they are able to re-establish a stable income..

Rance witnesses the struggles and heavy burdens of unemployment through his clients' experiences, he knows that it is about more than just financial calamity. In the blog Secrets About Unemployment, he writes, with emphasis, on the great future that lies beyond unemployment, and the legal implications of the common proactive steps that unemployed people can take. He covers everything tax-related topics, to post-resignation depression, the effects on the family unit, and personal finances.

An Extension For Unemployment Benefits - What You Need to Know

What is an extension for unemployment benefits? How long does it last? How can you apply?

Traditional unemployment insurance lasts for 26 weeks. When there are high levels of unemployment in your state, it may be possible for you to receive an extension of benefits. A high level of unemployment is traditionally defined as a rate above 6%. Your state will notify you about applying for an unemployment extension when your traditional benefits are about to expire, and will be able to inform you as to the unemployment rate in your state.

As the name implies, an extension of benefits allows for a continuation of unemployment compensation payments above and beyond the initial 26 week period. There are two types of extended unemployment benefits: 1. Emergency Unemployment Compensation (EUC) and 2. Extended Benefits (EB).

Emergency Unemployment Compensation (EUC)

Under EUC, the number of additional weeks you can receive will depend on the unemployment level in your state.
In states with unemployment rates above 6%, you will be eligible for an additional 33 weeks of benefits. If the unemployment rate in your state is below 6%, the extension of unemployment benefits is 20 weeks.
Emergency Unemployment Compensation is a result of legislation passed during 2008, and is set to expire at the end of 2009, unless Congress votes to extend it.

Extended Benefits (EB)

Extended Benefits (EB) offer an additional extension of benefits once EUC has been exhausted. Again, the length of time you will receive additional benefits depends on the level of unemployment in your state.
In states with unemployment rates above 6.5%, you will be eligible for an additional 13 weeks of unemployment compensation. And, if the unemployment rate in your state is above 8%, the extension of benefits is another 7 weeks (for a total of 20 weeks).

As mentioned, your state should notify you about applying for an unemployment extension when your traditional benefits are about to expire. To be safe, however, it is worth contacting your unemployment office to inquire about an extension a few weeks before your 26 week period of regular benefits is complete. In order to qualify for an extension, you will be asked to meet the same eligibility standards required for regular benefits.

In total, getting an extension for unemployment benefits makes it possible to receive up to 79 weeks of benefits (26 weeks of traditional benefits + 33 weeks of EUC + 20 weeks of EB) if you live in a state with a high rate of unemployment.

Carl Stevens is the author of Smart Unemployment. Visit http://www.SmartUnemployment.com/blog/ to learn more about how to get an extension for unemployment benefits. There, you will find helpful tips, and a detailed guide about how to file for unemployment insurance.

Collecting Unemployment Insurance Benefits

Introduction

With the economy as it is today, people everywhere are facing job cuts and layoffs. If you are currently unemployed, you may be eligible to collect unemployment insurance benefits while you are out of work. The purpose of unemployment insurance is to provide people who have become unemployed through no fault of their own with money payments for a set period of time until they find a new job

Eligibility for unemployment insurance is established by general Federal guidelines. Additional eligibility requirements are set by each individual state, such as money amounts and period of pay. These requirements will vary from state to state, but it helps to know some of the general guidelines for collecting benefits. This article explains some of the more general requirements for unemployment eligibility.

Eligibility Requirements for Unemployment Benefits

A person who files for unemployment insurance benefits must meet several eligibility requirements. In order to be eligible, you must:

Be unemployed, either totally or partially

Be monetarily eligible (received sufficient wages during the previous employment- this varies by state)

Be unemployed through no fault of your own (being laid off = no fault)

Meet weekly requirements each week benefits are collected. These weekly requirements include: Being physically and mentally able to work; actively seeking employment and being ready to accept work; filing weekly claims in a timely manner

In some instances, be approved to attend training courses before benefits can be collected. If you are already attending a form of training, you might not need to fulfill the "seeking employment" requirement listed above.

Probably the most important factor here is being unemployed "through no fault of your own". This means that you cannot collect unemployment if you have been fired or voluntarily left employment (i.e., if you quit). However, in some instances you may still be eligible if you voluntarily ceased employment for "good cause", which is determined by state authorities through a hearing. Finally, benefits collected through unemployment must be declared in tax statements.

Disqualification from Unemployment

Several factors may disqualify you from receiving unemployment insurance benefits. You might be disqualified if you:

Quit your job without having "good cause"
Were fired or discharged for misconduct
Were released due to illness (though you may be eligible for disability)
Resigned in order to get married
Were self-employed
Were involved in a dispute over labor issues
Attended school

If any the above applies to you, check with your state's Unemployment Office to see if there are any available remedies or options for you. You will likely be subject to a scheduled interview to provide the office with more details of your separation. Benefits could be reduced or denied accordingly.

When and How Do I File? Documents and Information Needed for Filing

You should file for unemployment benefits as soon as possible after severance from work. It is to your advantage to do so quickly because it usually takes at least a few weeks before you collect your first check. Also, you need to give the Unemployment Office some time in case they need to conduct follow-up interviews.

Every state has an Unemployment Office which you may contact over the phone or through their website. You will need the following basic information and documents for filing:

Your social security number
If you are not a U.S. citizen, an Alien Registration Card
Your full mailing address
A phone number where you can be reached
Contact information of past employers from the previous two years (i.e., names, addresses, dates of employment)

How Much Will I Be Paid? Can My Collection Period Be Extended?

Both the amount you will be paid and the number of weeks you may collect are subject to change, and vary from state to state. Usually the amount you will be paid is half of your earnings, or half of the state's average weekly earnings.

For most states, the maximum number of weeks you may collect a check is 26 weeks, though several states have a maximum of up to 99 weeks. Also, Congress often changes the deadlines for collection. For example, Congress recently voted [http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/04/12/AR2010041203337.html] to extend collection periods in certain instances where time has lapsed.

Again, check with your local office to determine the amount of wages you are entitled to receive and the number of weeks after unemployment that you are eligible.

Conclusion

The times can be demanding, and authorities are doing what they can to assist people while preventing abuses of the unemployment system. If you have recently become unemployed, check to see what options you have available under the general guidelines given above. If you are currently employed, be mindful that if you leave your job, the way you do so can affect your unemployment eligibility.

If you need further assistance, contact a lawyer through LegalMatch.com who can explain these matters in-depth.

Ken LaMance is the Corporate Counsel at LegalMatch, an online client-lawyer matching company based out of South San Francisco, California. LegalMatch is fast, free, and confidential. LegalMatch is America's original attorney/client matching service and is not a referral service. When a consumer presents their issue to LegalMatch, our system matches the consumer's case to LegalMatch lawyers in their city or county based on the specifics of the consumer's case, lawyer's location, and area of legal practice. LegalMatch also offers a number of useful resources like an online law library, tips, law blog, and forums ( http://forums.legalmatch.com/ ) on nearly every topic.

Private Insurance to Top Up Inadequate UK Unemployment Benefits

At a time when our cash strapped Government are urging people to stand on their own two feet and not to rely on the State to provide, those who can, are considering their options. The greatest concern for people in both the public and private sector is unemployment and how to cope financially if are out of work. For those with only limited savings to fall back on, because of the pitifully low level of state benefits, a private provision to top these up has become a priority. The UK insurance industry has responded with several products people can buy directly on-line to meet this need.

Unemployment Protection Insurance is designed to enable the customer to continue repaying their debts, such as mortgages, loans and credit cards, if they have to stop working due to accident, sickness or unemployment. The BBC reported on 22 November 2010 that some people are putting their homes at risk 'due to 600 debts.' This is both frightening and so easily avoided by anyone who has the foresight to grab themselves an Unemployment Insurance policy when it is available to them.

But there is a problem. Many people only think about buying an insurance policy to cover their debts and other living expenses when it is too late. This is because, when taking out the policy, they must be able to truthfully state that they did not expect to be unable to work. Otherwise the Insurance Company would have every right to refuse to pay. So, if a firm or organisation has not made any announcements about laying people off, it is well their employees giving serious thought to this right now.

The better Unemployment Protection Insurance policies will offer a route for the customer to purchase the type of cover that is best value for them. In this regard, it is worth noting, that covering mortgage repayments and a small amount of household expenses each month is usually much cheaper than asking for, say, 1000 monthly benefit that is not linked to any particular repayments. The later is the province of short term Income Protection Insurance, good, but rarely the cheapest to buy.

How much cover?

Anyone thinking about Unemployment Insurance should consider how they would cope if their income stopped or was reduced due to accident, sickness or unemployment. They must look at their own financial circumstances, including any other insurance cover or savings they already have. The great majority of people taking out this cover know they could cope if they were out of work for a month or two*. However, if this stretched out to six or eight months, they would be in deep trouble.

Savings can meet every day expenses such as food and fuel for quite a while, provided the weight of large monthly bills (typically mortgage repayments, rent or loans) can be shouldered by an Unemployment Protection Insurance policy. Therefore this is usually the money saving approach that most people take when selecting their benefits, they buy a policy that will pay their important bills until they are back at work.

Who can apply?

These policies are offered to anyone over 18 and under 65 who live and work in the UK. Usually this cover can also be bought by people who are part time (working at least 16 hours a week) as well as the self-employed or individuals on fixed-term contracts,

What is covered?

This insurance pays the policyholder the sum they choose each month as a monthly benefit for up to a year or until they go back to work. It is possible to buy a policy that pays out for up to 2 years, however as the average spell of unemployment at this time is up to about 8 months*, most opt for a cheaper 12 month policy. It is possible to claim more than once a year on this type of insurance.

What is not paid?

Unemployment Insurance will not cover any medical conditions the person knew about at the start

of their policy. The insurers also exclude pregnancy or any absence due to self harm. In respect of unemployment, these policies will not pay out if the policyholder resigns or accepts voluntary redundancy. Equally, no payment will be made if the person loses their job due to doing something that breaks the conditions of their employment contract (e.g. misconduct or theft).

For unemployment benefits to be paid, most insurers impose a deferment period. This usually means that the policy has to be in force 90 or 120 days (providers vary) before the policyholder can claim.

Easy to cancel

Premiums are usually collected monthly by direct debit and if the policyholder decides they don't need the cover any more, they can simply cancel their direct debit. This will end the policy immediately and without penalty.

Buying

In a world where future employment prospects are uncertain, for anyone who does not have enough saved to meet their bills for six months to a year out of work, this cover is certainly worth serious consideration. For the lowest prices look for the specialist providers on-line.

To avoid the hard sell from tele-sales brokers, it is wise to only get quotes from companies who will give an indicative price before the applicant has to complete their telephone number. There are some that purport to be comparison web sites to induce the customer to complete their contact details. These are then immediately sold on to a company with commission driven sales agents who don't take no for an answer!

Price

Dennis Haggerty from specialist i:protect insurance commented, "Expect to pay 20 to 40 per month for a policy that pays out 1000 per month if you are unable to work. It is important to note, unlike car insurance, Unemployment Insurance costs progressively more as you get older. This has come about because it is proving much harder for the over 50's to find work and health issues become worse with age, both have pushed up prices"

Unemployment Insurance may not suit everyone. However it is a good value option for young families and individuals who would rapidly find themselves in serious debt if they were out of work for any length of time. The key is not to delay applying for this insurance until an employer raises redundancy concerns. By then it will be too late for employees to cover themselves in respect of any job losses that may occur.

*Industry data from Financial Services Forum Oct 2010.

Dennis Haggerty FCII M IDM Marketing Manager iprotectinsurance.co.uk specialises in the supply of low cost on line Unemployment Insurance, Lifestyle Protection, Income Protection and Mortgage Payment Protection Insurance.

The key to the success of i:protectinsurance has been the focus upon supplying a product range that is exceptional value for money because it is available exclusively on-line. This eliminates the usual costs associated with selling insurance: telesales teams, direct mail, middlemen and commission.

The i:protectinsurance product range includes Unemployment Insurance Income Protection / Lifestyle Protection, Mortgage Payment Protection, Gadget Insurance and Mobile Phone Insurance called Phone PLUS