A Guide to Navigating Government Unemployment Programs

If you’re facing unemployment, let us first offer our sympathies. Losing your primary source of income can mean everything from sacrifices in your social life to the fear of not being able to feed your family. Even the sense of embarrassment and ostracization is a true — and often underestimated — emotional cost of unemployment. Most likely, this isn’t the situation you’ve voluntarily chosen for yourself, and venturing into this new chapter without adequate work or a deep understanding of the system can be scary. The lack of helpful advice on the topic can also be frightening, which is the main impetus behind this article.

Fear not, financial security is something you deserve and can achieve in between jobs. The government offers a variety of welfare programs you may be able to take advantage of if you simply know what you’re doing, so let’s jump right in.

In the eyes of the public, being unemployed simply means that you aren’t currently working, whether it be voluntarily or not. In the eyes of the government, however, the definition becomes much stricter, particularly when an individual is attempting to receive government-backed financial aid. In this case, you must have become unemployed through no fault of your own. As an example, your employer may have gone out of business, or your company may have laid off multiple workers. Perhaps the company has downsized as a whole, leaving you without work. In these cases, you likely qualify for the insurance benefits of unemployment.

If, however, you have done something warranting getting fired, spanning anything from general incompetence to sexual misconduct, you will likely be ineligible for benefits. Even if you were a fantastic employee but decided to quit your job voluntarily, you would also not be able to receive unemployment benefits.

Ultimately, there is one — and only one — official, government-recognized definition of employment. That definition includes people who do not have a job (or will soon be out of a job) but have actively looked for work in the prior four weeks, on top of being currently available and ready to work. “Actively looking for work” can mean a variety of things, but the key aspect is that individuals are constantly trying to search for specific jobs and opportunities.

This particular definition of being unemployed paradoxically requires some work. To be considered as actively looking for work while unemployed, you must be able to prove that you have been engaged in one of the following activities within the past four weeks:

1. You have contacted at least one potential employer or “referring contact.” This is probably the most inclusive component of the definition, as “contact” refers to everything from interviewers to employment agencies, even friends and family.
2. You have sent in a resume or application to any employment opportunity
3. You have either placed an advertisement for yourself and your work or have answered one of somebody else’s
4. You have checked in with either union or professional registers
5. You can prove some other means of an active job search. Feel free to get creative here, not just to prove you’re trying but because there are many other ways to be looking for jobs, and this is a time worth thinking outside of the box. What about submitting an application automatically through LinkedIn? Or printing out a few resumes and submitting them through direct mail? Or even in person?

Again, think (and be) active. Things like attending seminars and reading about opportunities do not count and will not get you benefits.

The only time you can be considered unemployed without having looked for work is if you are currently still working and expecting a temporary layoff, also known as a furlough. In this particular case, current workers can be eligible to receive unemployment checks. In all other cases, individuals must have participated in at least one of the above job-seeking activities within the past four weeks.

If you’re still confused as to whether or not you are technically “unemployed” in the eyes of the government, the Bureau of Labor Statistics provides some fictional example scenarios that definitely constitute unemployment. They may provide further clarification.

The very first thing you want to do in order to receive assistance from the government during unemployment is file a claim. Do it right away, as it can only help your case. Of course, certain emotions and feelings of shock will be involved immediately after losing your source of income, but it’s important to table them to the best of your ability and get your claim filed.

To get started, find the contact information for your particular state’s unemployment insurance agency. The only time you would contact a state other than where you reside is if you commute or work in a state other than where you live. Otherwise, contact your particular state.

Generally, claims can be filed in person, but many states now offer online or telephone-based filing. When you file, it’s important to have all of your information ready, as government-employee time is valuable, and making them wait or providing inaccurate information certainly will not help you receive your benefits any faster. Specifically, you will want to have the following information ready to go:

1. Full name
2. Full address
3. Telephone number
4. Social security number or your alien registration card number
5. Driver's license or ID card number
6. Employment history for the past year and a half (18 months exactly). Make sure this includes the names and addresses of all of your former employers during this time frame, as well as the dates you worked for each company.
7. If you have it, it can also help expedite the process to have ready the Employer Registration Numbers or Federal Employer Identification Numbers. For more information on how to find these numbers, go here. If you cannot retrieve these numbers, you can file a claim without them.

After you have finished filing your claim, pat yourself on the back, the process is officially underway. Next, however, you may be required to complete an interview. These interviews are designed to determine whether or not you qualify or meet the specific government definition of unemployment we discussed earlier in this article. As you may have noticed, this definition isn’t exactly black and white, so interviews are often necessary.

There are two fairly common reasons your state’s Employment Development Department (EDD) may require an interview before distributing benefits.

First, the EDD needs some clarification. This is why you need to have all of your information ready and clarified before filing the claim.

Second, something in the claim you filed goes directly against what your employer is claiming. For example, you may have asserted that you were laid off during company downsizing, whereas your employer claims you had done something that led to your sole termination. Or maybe you admitted you were fired but claimed it was because you couldn’t keep up with the workload, while your employer mentions you had been involved in company theft or workplace violence.

If you file your claim clearly and honestly yet still find the EDD requesting an interview, you probably have nothing to worry about. In many cases, employers are the ones responsible for dishonesty and/or exaggeration. Sometimes companies will exaggerate the circumstances behind your termination to avoid the charges for your payout. Stand strong and simply tell the truth.

Moving forward with the actual meat of the interview, it can help to know what to expect. The Bureau of Labor Statistics lists the following as some of the most common questions that will be asked of you:

1. Does anyone in this household have a business or a farm?
2. Last week, did you do any work for (either) pay (or profit)?
   If the answer to question 1 is "yes," and the answer to question 2 is "no," the next question is:
3. Last week, did you do any unpaid work in the family business or farm?
   For those who reply "no" to both questions 2 and 3, the next key questions used to determine employment status are:
4. Last week (in addition to the business), did you have a job, either full or part-time? Include any job from which you were temporarily absent.
5. Last week, were you on layoff from a job?
6. What was the main reason you were absent from work last week?
   For those who respond "yes" to question 5 about being on layoff, the following questions are asked:
7. Has your employer given you a date to return to work?
   If "no," the next question is:
8. Have you been given any indication that you will be recalled to work within the next 6 months?
   If the responses to either question 7 or 8 indicate that the person expects to be recalled from layoff, he or she is counted as unemployed. For those who were reported as having no job or business from which they were absent or on layoff, the next question is:
9. Have you been doing anything to find work during the last four weeks?
   For those who say "yes," the next question is:
10. What are all of the things you have done to find work during the last four weeks?
    If an active method of looking for work, such as those listed at the beginning of this section, is mentioned, the following question is asked:
11. Last week, could you have started a job if one had been offered?
    If there is no reason, except for temporary illness, that the person could not take a job, he or she is considered to be not only looking but also available for work and is counted as unemployed.

Apart from having answers ready to the above questions, it’s arguably even more important to consider some general best practices, both for this interview and beyond. Often, coming with the right attitude and disposition is just as important as coming prepared. Remember that your interviewer is a human being, not a machine, so you’ll want to compose yourself more than you did when filing the claim online.

First, answer the questions succinctly. Most likely, you are not the only item on the interviewer’s agenda that day, and it can help if you show your appreciation for their time. Instead of rambling about topics that don’t relate to what was asked, stay focused on the question and respond directly to it.

Second, just be nice! This should be obvious, but given the particular emotional circumstance of unemployment, it is often forgotten. Ideally, people only attempt to use unemployment benefits for the right reasons, but odds are, your interviewer has had to deal with others unfairly taking advantage of the system. So be as kind and cordial as possible, and be appreciative of the time they’re taking to try to get to the bottom of your candidacy.

Finally, be honest. Again, this should be obvious, but fearing another financial setback can often lead people to exaggerate, even if they don’t need to. If you’ve read the requirements carefully and are sure you qualify, the odds are that you’re right, and there is no need to say anything other than the truth. Yes, have some information ready to read (such as employer addresses, etc.), but the bulk of the interview is not a memory test. Speak from the heart and tell your interviewer exactly what happened. This will give them a higher chance of being able to help you.

Each state is in charge of administering its own program and dispensing dollar amounts for its own particular durations. Moreover, financial need influences neither benefits nor duration regarding unemployment. Instead, anyone meeting the eligibility criteria for unemployment insurance can collect benefits, regardless of what currently exists in their bank accounts. The actual dollar amount you receive each week in the form of a benefit check will be calculated as a percentage of the amount you previously earned, but maxing out at a certain number determined by your state. Currently, these benefits range up to $900 weekly but average closer to $200 and $400 each week.

To determine exactly how much you can receive, a “base period” must be established. This base period factors in the hours you worked and the income you earned. Most often, your base period is considered to be the most recent four out of five full quarters before your claim is filed. For instance, if your claim was filed in April of 2023, the base period that will determine your benefits potential will be based on the months of January through December of 2022. To determine your base period, you can also use this calculator.

If, however, your particular base period doesn’t qualify you for the benefits that you wanted, many states also offer an alternative base period that you can use instead. Typically, those states use the most four recent calendar quarters before you file your claim.

Once this is calculated, it’s up to your earnings and hours to know what you receive. According to the Department of Labor, the average weekly benefits total $413.65 and last a little over 13 weeks. Currently, there are 4.4 million benefactors who are creating these averages.

The official average amount of time between filing your claim and receiving your first benefit check is two to three weeks. Nevertheless, your timing will most likely depend on your particular behavior. The longer you wait to file your claim, the longer you will have to wait to receive your benefits. The less accurate your claim information, the longer the time between filing and receiving benefits will be. Moreover, misinformation can prevent you from receiving benefits entirely.

Most states use this two-to-three-week interim period for both the reduction of benefits costs and the processing of your information. Typically, there is a one-week waiting period between when you become unemployed and when you become eligible. Depending on how your payroll functioned at your previous employer, this one-week waiting period may still be one wherein you receive your last payment from your former employer. You will not receive compensation for this week from the government. After that waiting period, the Department will generally take another week to process your claim.

When the unemployment insurance benefit program began in 1935, it originally offered a maximum of 16 weeks of benefits for those securing the funds. Today, however, we often see closer to an average of 26 weeks of benefits. In other words, benefits provide an average of over eight months for you to find a new source of income. Without knowing your particular situation, this should be plenty of time for you to get yourself back on your feet.

While most states do offer eligibility to receive a full 26 weeks' worth of unemployment benefit payments, there are several exceptions utilizing their own maximum durations, noted here:

• Florida - 19 weeks
• Georgia - 18 weeks
• Massachusetts - 30 weeks
• Michigan - 20 weeks
• Missouri - 20 weeks
• Montana - 28 weeks
• North Carolina - 19 weeks
• South Carolina - 20 weeks

There is, however, one major way to extend the duration of the time period in which you are receiving benefits, and that is to keep your claim in good standing. To do this, you have to file continually. Filing either weekly or bi-weekly claims (depending on your state) can help maintain your benefits' shelf life. Though the forms are simple to fill out, there are requirements to do so continually. These requirements include:

1. Answering questions to prove that you are still eligible
2. Reporting any earnings and/or job offers you have received in the meantime
3. Reporting to your local State Unemployment Insurance Agency or One-Step/Employment Service Office whenever you have been scheduled to do so
4. Reporting all of your scheduled interviews

If, however, you have caused a delay in filing your claim form; if you have filed misinformation; if you have accidentally entered mistaken information; or if you purposely lie and commit fraud, your benefits will either be delayed or completely discontinued. Again, honesty is the best policy.

If you are completely unable to work, then you will not be able to qualify for unemployment benefits, as these beneficiaries have to prove their attempts and ability to reenter the workforce. Disability, as its name implies, covers partial costs for those unable to work. Again, the government, or in this instance, the Social Security Administration, only offers benefits for their legally-recognized definitions and qualifications for disability. To qualify for this type of financial aid, you must fit several qualification criteria put forth by the SSA.

First, you must prove that you are permanently disabled or suffering from a condition that has either lasted or is expected to last more than one full calendar year, or 12 months. Since a time period is factored into the definition, medical records need to be constantly updated. Moreover, the SSA will make its own judgment about something called “Substantial Gainful Activity,” or SGA. You will not be considered eligible for disability if you can engage in SGA. A person is said to be engaging in SGA if “they are earning more than a certain monthly amount (net of impairment-related work expenses).” The SSA will determine if SGA occurs depending on whether the condition prevents a person from successfully performing the duties of their current or previous employment and makes it fully impossible for that person to begin looking for a new source of income. On average, SGA constitutes $2,460 if you are blind and $1,470 if you have vision each month. This amount changes frequently, so check back here when possible.

You can find a benefits calculator here if you’d like to know how much your condition warrants in terms of monthly benefits, but typically, those unable to work due to a medical condition receive an average of $1,483 each month as of this year. Also, know that the amount you receive does not have to do with the severity of your condition but with your average lifetime earnings before your disability began.

Other programs can help you if you’re in need. Of course, we recommend problem-solving and attempting to pick yourself up as soon as possible, but we also understand interim crises wherein government help may be necessary.

The government does offer a handy Benefit Finder, which you can use to find all of the programs your particular situation is eligible for. You’ll be asked to answer questions about yourself and your needs, after which the Finder will show you various programs that can help pay for food, health insurance, or other necessities.

If you are looking for immediate help, your state’s human services or social service agencies may be able to either provide expedited financial assistance or help to refer you to local community organizations that can offer guidance.

If your situation isn’t as immediately dire, be sure to check in frequently with Benefits.gov in the future after major life events change or as policies change. Your eligibilities and circumstances are most likely not static.

The old adage still holds true: where there is a will, there is a way. Particularly if your will is simply to afford a healthy financial life for you and your family. Determination is the key, along with helpful resources like this and others. If you’ve been receiving benefits for some time or haven’t had luck receiving benefits at all, you may want to start reconsidering your methodologies for finding more traditional forms of employment and income.

Joblist offers abundant resources, both locally and internationally, for you to get back on your feet. You can use the site to explore career paths, employers, or even locations you never thought of before. Though we do wish you the absolute best of luck in navigating government-based benefits programs, we would be remiss if we didn’t offer our services in helping you get back on the road to regular employment.