Idaho Extended Unemployment
The jobless rate in Idaho is at a 25-year high, with an unemployment rate of 8.3 percent. If you’re one of the people who have been collecting Idaho unemployment benefits, you’re most likely wondering what you’re going to do when those benefits come to an end. There is some good news since the Idaho Department of Labor has stimulus provisions that can benefit you.
The 2009 American Recovery and Reinvestment Plan has Labor provisions that include almost $12.5 million for Idaho unemployment insurance. It also includes a one-time $33 million Reed Act distribution. This funding is meant to address the needs of the record number of people in Idaho who are either unemployed or underemployed. It is also designed to encourage businesses to hire workers and to replenish the Unemployment Insurance Trust Fund.
The funding will be used to provide extra benefit checks to unemployed people in Idaho who need the assistance. It also provides temporarily relief by adding $25 to your weekly Idaho unemployment benefits.
You can visit the Idaho Department of Labor online at http://labor.idaho.gov/iw/Default.asp to file a new claim or file your weekly claim, which includes extended benefits. You can also file using the Idaho Tel-A-Claim system by calling (208) 344-4700 from a touch-tone phone.
The same rules apply for extended benefits as for regular basis. You need to be working less than full time, capable of performing work, available to work any suitable shift for the type of job you are looking for and actively seeking full-time work. You can use Work Search Logs available for the Idaho Department of Labor to document your contacts. You must remain in your region unless you are seeking work somewhere else.
Unemployment insurance fraud is a felony crime in Idaho. You need to make sure you provide complete and accurate weekly claim reports. You need to let the Idaho Department of Labor know when you quit a job or are fired or if you refuse work while claiming benefits. Any work searching efforts you report to Idaho must be truthful. Finally, you cannot let someone else use your Personal Identification Number (PIN) to get benefits. If you are found guilty of fraud, you need to pay back anything that was not due along with interest and you are ineligible to receive Idaho unemployment insurance benefits for 52 weeks.