Unemployment Application Process

The process for applying for IRS unemployment benefits is not a lengthy one, but it can be difficult if the applicant does not have all of the required information when applying with a state unemployment agency. When applying for unemployment benefits the worker should not be working and cannot have lost their job because of their own fault. The person applying for unemployment benefits must have lost their job because of company-wide layoffs, meaning the company is cutting costs to help their finances, not because the employee was not performing to the best of their ability.

Requirements

There are quite a few requirements that must be met by an unemployment benefit applicant for them to be eligible to receive the payments from the state or federal government. The two categories of requirements are nonmonetary and monetary. The nonmonetary requirements include the following:

• Be physically and mentally able to work.
• Be either totally unemployed or performing less than full­time work and earning less than (1¼) times your weekly benefit rate.
• Be available for suitable work and making a reasonable effort to find employment.
• Register for work with the Department for Employment Services.
• Claim benefits for each week of unemployment.

The monetary requirements include the following:

• The employee must have earned at least $750 in one quarter of their base period.
• The total base period wages must be equal to at least 1 1/2 times the employee’s high quarter wages and total base period wages outside the high quarter must be at least $750.
• Wages in the last six months of the employee’s base period should not be less than 8 times their weekly benefit rate.

How to Apply

File Yourself

An unemployment applicant can apply for state or federal benefits either on their own or with the assistance of an unemployment attorney. When applying by oneself the applicant should have all of their personal and work related information with them to make the process quicker. Information needed when applying includes:

• Mailing address, including zip code and phone number
• Social Security number
• Driver's License number
• Veteran/Military separation date
• Mother's maiden name
• Name, address, phone number of last employer
• Employer's Federal ID Number (from W2 form or pay stub)
• Date started and date ended employment
• How much earned
• Previous employer information, depending on how long applicant worked for last employer. Typically, employer information for the last two years is requested.

Legal Help

When applying for unemployment benefits the applicant should consult an attorney to make sure that they are eligible, that they have all of the required paperwork, and that the paperwork is filed with the proper authorities. An attorney will also be able to answer any questions the applicant might have regarding the process.

Check Status

Once the application has been filed, either in person or via the Internet, the applicant can check the status of their application whenever they wish. An application’s status will be updated every couple of days so the applicant can check the status on the Internet or over the phone. When checking the status of the application on the Internet the applicant should log onto their state’s unemployment agency website and login with their mother’s maiden name and their social security number for security purposes.

• If you need help with an unemployment problem, click here for a Free Case Review from a local Employment Lawyer. The content of this site is provided for informational purposes only, and should not be construed as legal advice. Always seek competent legal counsel for any legal questions.