Filing for Unemployment Benefits
Unemployment compensation benefits are an important part of an employee's rights. Should you suddenly find yourself out of work, you can file for these benefits so that you can have some money coming in while seeking new employment. Of course, whether you are eligible to collect depends on a few different factors. However, you won't even know whether you are due unemployment benefits until you file a claim for them.
Filing Your Claim
The best and smartest time to file a new claim for unemployment benefits is immediately after you lose your job. This means you should do so within one week of becoming unemployed, and most people tend to file the same or very next day they lose their jobs. Since everything has become digital and computerized in the past decade, for your convenience, you can file your claim online, from the comfort of your home and on your own computer. It is a quick and easy process that should not take longer than several minutes. Navigate to your state's Department of Labor website and click on the "Benefits Online" page to fill out your application. You can do this from Monday through Friday, from 7:30 am until 7:30 pm from Mondays through Thursdays, from 7:30 am until 5:00 pm on Fridays, all day on Saturdays and Sundays until 7:00 pm.
If you do not have a computer or are currently lacking in Internet service, you can use the telephone claim center and call the automated line to file your claim. You will be prompted to choose the language you want to do this in, whether it is English, Spanish, Russian, Mandorin, Cantonese, Creole or another language. Regardless of how you file your claim, you will need a few things to help you along, including your social security number, driver's license, learner permit or non-driver's license ID, your home address, phone number, Federal Employer ID number (FEIN) of your most recent employer, alien registration card number if you are an alien resident to the United States, and a few other items pertaining to whether you are a federal employee or served in the military.
Your PIN
Once you file your claim, you will have to create a PIN number that is unique to you for logging onto the system. If you have previously collected unemployment insurance benefits before, you can use the PIN you used during those times, as it will still be valid after several years. If by some chance you require help in filing your claim for unemployment benefits, you should have another person assist you. This may be the case if you are an individual who has a disability, however, you must be present each time they help you. Keep in mind that you will be responsible for whatever actions the person helping you performs, and that you may forfeit your benefits if you are not around at any time when your helper is assisting you.
After you file your claim, you will be required to wait some time before receiving paperwork in the mail in regard to your unemployment. Depending on how you lost your job, you may be required to call a number at the Department of Labor to explain and elaborate on exactly what led to you losing your job. Keep in mind that if you voluntarily quit your job, you will not be eligible for unemployment insurance benefits.
