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Unemployment Insurance Law Poster

September 16th, 2006 Posted by Emily

In general, the Federal-State Unemployment Insurance Program provides unemployment benefits to eligible workers who are unemployed through no fault of their own (as determined under State law), and meet other eligibility requirements of State law.

Unemployment insurance payments (benefits), as stated in the Unemployment Insurance Law poster, are intended to provide temporary financial assistance to unemployed workers who meet the requirements of State law. Each State administers a separate unemployment insurance program within guidelines established by Federal law. Eligibility for unemployment insurance, benefit amounts, and the length of time benefits are available are determined by the State law under which unemployment insurance claims are established.

In the majority of States, benefit funding is based solely on a tax imposed on employers. (Three (3) States require minimal employee contributions.) To determine if you belong to one of the three states, read the required Unemployment Insurance Law poster.

To be eligible for UI, you must meet the State requirements for wages earned or time worked during an established (one year) period of time referred to as a “base period”. (In most States, this is usually the first four out of the last five completed calendar quarters prior to the time that your claim is filed.) You must also be determined to be unemployed through no fault of your own (determined under State law), and meet other eligibility requirements of State law.

In order to file a claim, you should contact the State Unemployment Insurance agency as soon as possible after becoming unemployed. In some States, you can now file a claim by telephone or over the Internet. It generally takes two to three weeks after you file your claim to receive your first benefit check. Some States require a one-week waiting period; therefore, the second week claimed is the first week of payment, if you are otherwise eligible.