In order to administer the unemployment insurance (UI) program during the COVID-19 pandemic, the Division of Unemployment Insurance needed to update the questions asked on the claim certification that is filed each week that a claimant requests payment of benefits. When you apply for unemployment, you'll need to provide information that identifies you and your last employer. She was even given an "inside" phone number so she could reach a live person rather than being stuck on "perma-hold." Having a problem getting through to unemployment or an issue with your unemployment claim? These usually include an earnings threshold and a time worked requirement. Choose the coronavirus-related reason(s) for your unemployment assistance claim. If you received unemployment benefits, you will need to file taxes with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). If the UIA has questions about your claim, you may receive a questionnaire that you will need to complete and send back to the UIA within 10 days of the date on the questionnaire. Morally or ethically repugnant? How Taking a Temporary Job Impacts Unemployment. If your last day of work is a Friday or Saturday, and you worked the full week, please wait to file until after Sunday. In some cases, she learned that they had answered "No" to the question of whether they were actively searching for a job, causing the unemployment insurance (UI) claim to be flagged and their check stopped. They can earn up to 20% of their weekly benefit amount without the earnings counting against their weekly benefits; earnings over that amount are deducted from the weekly benefits. This article was originally published on AllBusiness. Some states were not ready until as late as April 21, 2020. Can the dentist make us work in the office if it is non-essential or to do menial jobs? With regard to the PPP and unemployment specifically, there are really two separate issues: If you are eligible for unemployment benefits, even temporarily, then you can file for and receive unemployment. If an employee has been laid off, he or she cannot be forced to accept a “new” position with the company. Filing for Unemployment Benefits Filing UI Claims Guide Weekly Claims and Work Search Requirements Payment Information Additional How do I get that? One of his clients was denied a claim for unemployment benefits. What you can do: If you filed your initial claim less than five business days ago, there is no need to take any action. A12. Alison Doyle is the job search expert for The Balance Careers, and one of the industry's most highly-regarded job search and career experts. How Does A Trademark Protect Your Business Name? I got a call [from my employer] on April 17 saying they were getting the PPP (Paycheck Protection Program) loan and they may pay us on April 24. What Should I Do? https://www.wikihow.com/Answer-Unemployment-Claim-Questions The unemployment benefits claims process can be frustrating at a time when more frustration is the last thing you need in your life. Issues surrounding Questions 11 & 12 on the weekly claims this week are resolved and payments have processed. As far as health insurance, the answer is more murky. Wait times are often longer and online systems overwhelmed by the volume of applications. I have been using my personal/vacation time to compensate for the loss. Use this list of Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) for answers to common unemployment insurance (UI) questions. Can You Collect Unemployment When You Quit Your Job? Contact your state department of labor for more information. You can also look at other unemployment common questions on the Unemployment Insurance Agency’s website. We will explain the problem and how it could affect your claim. Answer from Ian Meklinsky, Partner, Fox Rothschild: In the event your employer returns you to work and pays you “back pay” for some or all of the time you were laid off/furloughed, in most states, you are technically required to repay your unemployment compensation benefit at least with respect to the time period your employer is paying you retroactively for. If you become unemployed again or wish to reactivate your claim (or file a new one if your current benefit year has expired), you may do so online or by telephone. Can she do this even though she used to pay for both before she received the loan? Top Questions and Answers of the Week Show All. Depending on how long you worked at your last position, you may also need to submit information about your previous employment.. Why You Might Have to Repay Unemployment Benefits, What to Do When Your Unemployment Claim is Denied, What to Do When Your Unemployment Benefits Run Out, Learn How to Rebuild Your Credit After Long-Term Unemployment, The Advantages and Disadvantages of Employee Furloughs. If a former employee declines an offer for a position that he or she is capable of filling, or if the company hires a replacement employee, then the former employee’s unemployment eligibility could be terminated. During times of high unemployment, unemployed workers may be eligible for additional weeks of compensation. Check your job description. Even once you reach someone in the unemployment office, it's possible they will not have the answers to the questions you are asking. Answer by Travis Hockaday, Attorney at Smith Anderson: Workers who are working reduced hours as a direct result of COVID-19 may be eligible for unemployment benefits, and should apply if they believe that they may qualify. © 2021 Forbes Media LLC. Each state has its own eligibility guidelines for unemployment insurance benefits. Employment in Pennsylvania is “at-will,” meaning your employer can terminate you for any reason unless you have a contract with your employer or you are a member of a union with a collective bargaining agreement. Barer says, "Sometimes it takes interminable waits on the phone. Why was I moved from Pandemic Unemployment Assistance to Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation? Can I Work Part-Time and Receive Unemployment Benefits? He stated when the funds come in I can no longer collect unemployment (which I understand) and told me that I will be working 20 hours a week instead of 40 hours a week. Q13. When I worked for a non-profit workforce development organization some of our clients would share their checks had unexpectedly stopped. Arasteh notes that when she worked for a nonprofit workforce development organization, some of her clients would share that their checks had unexpectedly stopped. What is the process for filing taxes if I have claimed unemployment benefits this year? There are no minimum wage qualifying criteria for PUA. The U.S. Department of Labor’s CareerOneStop provides a list of state unemployment benefits programs. Depending on when you applied, several states may not have been ready to process PUA applications. If your benefits have stopped and you are unsure why, you should check with your state unemployment office for clarification. You may choose more than one option. President Biden’s Changes To PPP Are A Big Win For Main Street And Business Owners Of Color: Five Key Changes, 3 Tips For (Quickly) Turning Your Expertise Into A Lucrative Online Business. Will I have to pay my UI benefits back? If you were on a Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) claim because you used all of your regular Unemployment … RELATED: How to Get $1,000 If You Are a Freelancer, Gig Worker or Independent Contractor. However, in order to remain eligible for unemployment benefits, a former employee must be “available to work,” which means that he or she must be actively looking for employment and not suffering from a disability or other medical condition that impairs his or her ability to work. Accessed April 21, 2020. What company phone number should I use for unemployment? I love to answer credit questions, so feel free to ask! These Are The Best Apple MacBook Pro Alternatives For 2021…And Other Small Business Tech News, Key Marketing Mistakes Entrepreneurs And Small Business Owners Should Avoid. It almost always takes tenacity.". Virginia Unemployment Weekly Claims . A denial from UI will not affect your eligibility for PUA. You can find information on collecting unemployment benefits and filing a claim on your state unemployment website. The Difference Between a Furlough and Layoff, Where Long-Term Unemployed Job Seekers Can Get Help, Unemployment Job Search and Work Requirements, How Severance & Vacation Pay Affect Unemployment, Turnin Down a Job When Collecting Unemployment, When an Employer Contests Unemployment Benefits, Where to Get Help When Your Unemployment Runs Out, How to Rebuild Your Credit After Long-Term Unemployment. With that said, states may not have the bandwidth to pursue repayment of the unemployment compensation benefits, but you should be prepared to repay. Question 1: Did you work any day, Sunday through Saturday, during the week being claimed? I’m a dental assistant and our office has been shut down except for emergencies. How do I report this on my weekly claim to unemployment? To find more information, use CareerOneStop to find your state’s program. Once this expires, unemployment benefits will return to their normal below-wage level. Are employers who get a PPP loan allowed to use it for “free labor,” having employees do work that they might not be qualified to do? You can check on the status of your claim by logging into our Online Claim System. If all of your employment during the base period was in a state other than Arizona (Arizona law is different), you must file a claim against that state. Answer from Rania V. Sedhom, Managing Partner, Sedhom Law Group: The short answer is yes, unless you are a collectively bargained employee or have an employment contract. Can I retire and get unemployment benefits? It may take longer if there is an issue with your claim. Many business owners and their employees affected by COVID-19 have questions about unemployment and ... [+] PPP loans. See all articles by Gerri Detweiler. The simplest explanation is that you have used up all the benefits available to you. A Single Question Can Delay 20,000 Unemployment Claims Weekly New Jersey officials are urging claimants to visit a tip sheet to better understand the federally mandated questions … If you have specific questions about your claim, log in to UI Online SM and select Contact Us at the top of the homepage. This is a common question we are receiving from employers and employees. If you filed your initial claim more than five business days ago, call us. I applied for unemployment insurance in California once the CARES Act/PUA was open to the self-employed. I will not be making enough to get by. The failure of employers to do this will result in their PPP loan not being fully forgiven. Once you have filed a claim for regular unemployment benefits, return to this page and click, Next Steps to read what happen next. Do I have to keep using my personal time to cover lost hours? Benefits vary by state, so unemployment compensation differs based on your location and your individual claim. If you are a member of a union, contact your union representative for more information about the collective bargaining agreement under which you operate. Can I still receive unemployment? Filing for unemployment is proving to be a maddening process. Sign in with your NY.Gov ID and click on "Messages." If you are currently receiving Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA), you need to be aware of changes that are coming on Aug. 8, which will affect how you submit your weekly claims. Is an employer allowed to “bank” hours that you don’t work and have you pay them back later if they pay you your full 40 hour weekly amount, but you end up not working all those hours in a week because either your business is not busy enough or you can’t keep proper social distancing with your coworkers? The Good News Is That This Is Fixable. She notes that working with a career counselor or career development agency may have met the job-search requirement, but clients either did not know this or did not know what would happen if they answered no. Please note: if you return to work or continue to work part time during a week in which you are claiming … I am education director for Nav, which gives small business owners free business and personal credit scores, and matches them to financing options. Pandemic Unemployment Insurance and Leave Benefits, How to Tell if You Are Eligible for Unemployment Benefits, Learn How Long You Have to Work In Order to Collect Unemployment. For more information, contact your state unemployment office. All of these programs provide some welcome relief to those who qualify. Am I Eligible for Unemployment if I'm Pregnant? There's new confusion over a new unemployment question. Employers and employees should consult their own attorney for advice about their specific situation. Known as a credit expert, my passion is making credit and financing simple. I filed an unemployment claim because I'm unable to work due to COVID-19. Claimant Frequently Asked Questions. But there are two limits to this: First, in some cases, depending on the insurance carrier and the plan documents, those kinds of changes cannot be done during the middle of a “plan year,” but would have to wait until the open enrollment period (which occurs on different dates for each health care plan). Per US Department of Labor requirements, each week you submit a claim, we are required to certify that you are eligible for PUA benefits. Pandemic Unemployment Compensation (PUC) added an additional $600 weekly payment through July 31, 2020, to certain eligible individuals who are receiving other benefits, and Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation (PEUC) extends certain benefits. State requirements vary, but typically, unemployment programs will ask for information like: Here's how to file a claim for unemployment, and information about what you need to file for unemployment online. The PPP does discourage employers from bringing back employees at a lower salary, as the amount of the loan that does not have to be paid back is lowered if salaries are not at least 75% of what they were before the COVID crisis. And on the pay stub I was sent it says the pay period was for 4/6 to 4/19 but I already filed claims for those weeks before I even knew about this. First, as far as the IRA contributions, employers often make contributions to certain IRAs, and (more often), also make matching contributions to an employee’s 401(k) account. Don't see your question or answer? "How Do I File for Unemployment Insurance?" Subjecting you to health issues? Yes. In addition, economic crises can strain application systems that were intended for a far simpler process. My most recent book is Finance Your Own Business: Get on the Financing Fast Track and my book Debt Collection Answers: How to Use Debt Collection Laws to Protect Your Rights is available as a free Kindle ebook. To maintain benefits, applicants are required to file a weekly claim by visiting our online Unemployment Insurance claims system. The advantage of the PPP to employers is that this money is a loan that does not have to be repaid if the money is used for the permitted reasons. This means all of the employees will go off unemployment and she will pay us. We did end up getting the payment from my employer on the 24th but we have not been asked to come in and work. Check your application to determine whether you applied for traditional unemployment benefits (UI) or benefits under the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA). Why Didn't I Get My Unemployment Benefits? If the supervisor is not there, leave your number and ask that they call you back. Should you return to work or find that you no longer wish to claim benefits, you simply stop filing your weekly claim forms—there is no requirement that you must notify UI. Employees classified as non-exempt under the FLSA must be paid at their hourly rates for all time worked, and for overtime if applicable. U.S. Department of Labor. But they’ve also created lots of questions from small business owners and their employees. Please use the company 800 number: 800-365-5388. Most descriptions have all encompassing verbiage like "and other duties as requested by your manager" or "and other duties as assigned" or something similar. The Department of Labor has put out several video tutorials on how to navigate the BEACON website. Will I still be eligible for unemployment? I’m currently on unemployment and my employer got approved for the PPP loan. It only asks if we worked. I’ve answered more than 10,000 credit questions (directly and through the news media) over the past two decades. While everyone's situation is a little different, it's possible that you may have a question that's been asked in the past. 31. The federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act extends benefits to workers who would not ordinarily be eligible for unemployment insurance. When Congress created the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance program as part of the CARES Act, it made unemployment benefits available to the self-employed as well as certain workers who may not be able to work for a variety of coronavirus-related reasons. Yes. These workers must report the money they are earning on their weekly certification reports for unemployment benefits. Were you physically able and available for work each day? Typically, this means being laid off for lack of work, not being fired for cause or quitting.. AllBusiness.com is one of the world’s largest online resources for small businesses, providing essential tools and resources to start, grow, and manage your business. So, an employee can check with their employer and look at those plan documents, but in most cases, the employer can decide to stop these payments. He also notes that once they prevailed at the appeal, her benefits were paid retroactively to the date of her original application. In addition, partial unemployment benefits may be available to workers who scaled back their schedules due to the coronavirus pandemic. If you are unemployed as a result of COVID-19 because of business closures or you are at a high-risk of contracting COVID-19 and have been advised to self-quarantine, you should still answer “Yes” to this question. Also, self-employed individuals who have the ability to work from home or telework, or who are receiving other paid benefits, may be ineligible for PUA benefits. If you are not eligible for unemployment because you are still employed and “available to work” (meaning you do not have a disability or illness that prevents you from working), then your employer can require you to either work or take vacation time. A13. For example, if there isn’t enough work to do based on your job description, can they transport you to an off-site location to install a personal property cow fence? I’m a server. Please call UI Customer Service at 1-866-239-0843 between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. I was laid off, I am now collecting unemployment (including the extra $600/week) and my employer applied for the PPP loan AFTER they laid me off. See Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) and Customer Tutorials to help you get started with NY.Gov ID. But patience and persistence will pay off—literally. If you still can't get the answers you're looking for, Arasteh suggests getting in touch with someone at your state's department of labor, explaining your issue, and asking for help with resolving it. Opinions expressed by Forbes Contributors are their own. It may also be a good idea to ask an employee there when the supervisor will be in next so you can wait or call back at a better time. Being unemployed is stressful, and sometimes the unemployment benefits process can add to that stress. In other states, applicants must first receive an unemployment denial before they can be considered for eligibility under the PUA program. I work in accounts payable. You should apply for unemployment benefits during your first week of total or partial unemployment. Unemployment insurance provides compensation to workers who lose their job through no fault of their own. Monetary payments are provided for a specific period of time or until the worker is hired for a new job. As a result, many employers are having employees either return to work (state orders permitting) or are having employees not work and paying them nonetheless. Here, legal experts tackle questions you may be hearing from your employees or wondering about for your own business. To help you, we've compiled a list of the more frequently asked questions our UC service centers receive. Would it be considered a severance payment? The problem for employees is that most of these “plan documents” give the employer the discretion to decide to stop, and often with only a few days’ or even no advance notice. However, if you are an at-will employee, an employer can ask you to help with personal errands and to work on matters that are unrelated to your job as long as the employer is paying you properly under the Fair Labor Standards Act and applicable state wage laws, the job is not harmful to your health, and you are capable of doing the job. If an unemployment appeal is denied, then the employee (the “claimant”), the employer or the Oklahoma Employment Security Commission may appeal the decision to the Board of Review. There are several reasons that your unemployment benefits could have stopped. 48% Of Sales Leaders Say Their CRM System Doesn’t Meet Their Needs. What if the Person I Talk to Can't Answer My Question? I had been on unemployment before this. Just as each state sets its eligibility guidelines, each state determines its maximum monetary benefit. Self-employed individuals, including independent contractors, should apply for PUA (and are also eligible for the enhanced $600 weekly benefit from the federal government). Learn About the Eligibility of Partial Unemployment Benefits. If an individual is not eligible for state unemployment because he or she has not earned enough in wages to requalify after a prior unemployment claim, is the impacted individual eligible for PUA? We hope this information helps claimants in answering these questions going forward. In order to certify for federal Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) benefits each week, you are required to select the reason that your employment has been impacted by coronavirus. Oklahoma Unemployment: Frequently Asked Questions. "State Unemployment Insurance Benefits." It can be difficult to get through to the unemployment office to get help with your questions or resolve issues with your claims. : Yes, in most circumstances, employers can do this, although there may be some financial consequences to the employer. Answering a question on your weekly claim in a way that raises an issue. Do You Have to Look for Work While Collecting Unemployment? If you have exhausted regular unemployment benefits, a Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation (PEUC) claim will be filed for you and up to 13 additional weeks of PEUC benefits will be added to your balance. The only possible exception would be for employees with contracts and union employees, where those contracts would determine if an employer can stop making these payments. : If you are able to work and you choose not to do so, then your employer can require you to utilize vacation time that you have accrued—and your employer can place limitations on the use of vacation time that apply generally to all employees (e.g., vacation time can be subject to manager approval). I know this comes from not being paid wages as a sole proprietor. NOTE: All Unemployment Insurance claimants must read the Claimant Handbook. Helpful UC Videos - Check out our videos for information on filing and our adjudication process. What to Know About Being Self-Employed and Collecting Unemployment, How Unemployment Debit Cards Work and How to Avoid Being Scammed. Of course, the employer should not be requesting that you perform tasks unrelated to your job that may jeopardize your health. An employer who receives a PPP loan, if it wants the loan (either in whole or in part) forgiven, has eight weeks to spend it on otherwise eligible expenses. Just like state unemployment, child support obligations will be deducted from PUA. We are aware these federally required questions caused some confusion for claimants filing their weekly claims. If you have questions about unemployment, go to des.az.gov and click on "DES Services related to COVID-19." There could also be an issue with your claim. All PUA denials can be appealed. What Is an Employee Furlough, and Why Do Employers Use Them? Can You Collect Unemployment If You Work Part-Time? If you do not send it back within 10 days, you may be denied benefits. The week starts on a Sunday and ends on Saturday. Answer from Peter L. Frattarelli, Partner and Chair of Labor & Employment at Archer & Greiner P.C. 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