- Unemployment benefits are usually based on previous earnings.check in macro image by Alexey Klementiev from Fotolia.com
If you became unemployed through no fault of your own, you may be eligible for state unemployment insurance benefits. Eligibility--especially in what constitutes "no fault" on your part--varies from state to state. Additionally, each state has different parameters in how much it will pay, how quickly your first check will arrive and how often you will receive one. Most states pay unemployment benefits for a maximum of 26 weeks.
Contact your state unemployment agency as soon as possible after you become unemployed. You will be asked for information about your former employer and dates you worked as well as personal information. - To remain eligible for state unemployment benefits, you must continue filing claims on a weekly or biweekly basis. In these claims, you will report any money you've earned, any job offers you had and any work you refused since your last filing. You eventually will be scheduled for an interview at a local unemployment office or One-Stop Career Center. Failure to report to the interview could end your benefits.
During times of high unemployment, your state may offer extended benefits, which are available after you have exhausted the state maximum for normal unemployment insurance. Contact your state agency to find out if extended benefits are available. - Whether you're receiving unemployment benefits or not, all U.S. citizens have access to resources through the federal Employment and Training Administration, via local One-Stop Career Centers or online at CareerOneStop.org. The free re-employment services, usually administered on the state level, include job search and referrals, career counseling and training programs. The variety of services offered can be tailored to individual needs.
- Adding to your skills and knowledge can make you more attractive to employers and help you land your next job. The Department of Labor offers a variety of informational resources on apprenticeships, occupationally based certifications, short-term training programs that can be completed in less than the two years, professional development, job shadowing, options for a college education and internships. For those between the ages 16 and 24, the Job Corps program could also be an option.
- If you have already filed for unemployment and live in Delaware, Maine, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Oregon or Pennsylvania, you may be eligible for a self-employed allowance. This weekly benefit replaces unemployment checks and is designed to help you start your own business or become self-employed. To qualify, you should be permanently laid off or likely to exhaust your unemployment as evaluated by your state.
Instead of looking for a wage or salaried job, participants work full time on their own new business or work opportunities. They also can receive the allowance if they are involved in entrepreneurial training, business counseling or technical assistance.
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