Extended Unemployment Benefits

Extended Unemployment Benefit Tiers Explained

Unemployment Benefits and the Mysterious 5th Tier

There has been a lot of talk and confusion in the last few weeks about the federal unemployment benefits package, and a mysterious 5th tier. If you have been watching the news lately you could be forgiven for believing that a 5th tier is about to be passed that will provide additional weeks of unemployment benefits. This is not true.
As reported on the Washington’s Employment Security Department "the bill only extends the dates people can apply for and receive EUC (emergency unemployment compensation) benefits through May 5, 2010." This bill went through a procedural vote on the 12th April, 2010 and is expected to be voted soon and swiftly signed by the President as soon as it is ratified. However, this bill only allows more people to apply for EUC benefits; it does not provide any additional weeks of benefits. If you want a further a 5th tier that offers more unemployment weeks you should contact the congressperson that represents you and express your concerns.
So what is the situation with unemployment benefits now?

Unemployment insurance (UI) is the financial aid unemployed workers receive for a period of time when they do not have a job. It runs for a maximum of 26 weeks. How much money you receive and how long you receive it for will depend on the number of weeks you worked during your claim year.
Once your UI has finished, you can apply for an emergency unemployment compensation (EUC). This program can provide you with up to 53 additional weeks (a total 99 weeks counting UI) of extended employment benefits. As we will see below an additional 13 to 20 weeks are available to workers in some states.
This program is divided into four tiers. Which states qualify for each tier will depend on their unemployment rate growth over the last year and their current unemployment rate. This means each state has different available tiers and benefits.

Tier 1 provides an extra 20 weeks of benefits.

Tier 2 can add a maximum of 13 weeks. You do not need to take any action to qualify for this tier. The
government will automatically send you a Statement of Wages and Hours if you qualify.

Tier 3 provides an additional 13 weeks for States that have an unemployment rate over 6 percent.

Tier 4 which grants 4 to 6 additional weeks if you live or work in a state where unemployment is 8.5 percent or higher.
Another program unemployed workers can apply for is the extended benefits (EB) scheme. This program allows for an extra 13 to 20 weeks of benefits in states especially hard hit by the rise in unemployment.

How to qualify for Extended Benefits?
To qualify for UI you must have lost your job through no fault of your own, and meet other State requirements like having worked a minimum of 680 hours of covered employment. You can find contact details for your State Unemployment Insurance agency at http://www.servicelocator.org/OWSLinks.asp. To file a claim you must contact the unemployment agency of the State where you worked at. You can also contact them over the phone or the internet. Make sure you have all relevant information at hand when you contact them so your application is not delayed because of missing or inaccurate information. It is also advisable to contact your employment as soon as as you can, as you can lose out on certain benefits if you do not make a claim in time.

Once you have been approved for UI you will be informed about what emergency unemployment compensation you can claim for.
It is important to note that while you are receiving unemployment benefits you are bound by law to search for a job. The regulations change from one state to another, but you will have to prove you are actively searching a job, or be required to join training programs. If you are offered a job that pays the same or more than you are receiving in unemployment benefits you will have to accept the job.