The Covid-19 pandemic has led to a huge increase in unemployment claims. Millions of Americans are out of work due to the economic shutdown and social distancing requirements.
Fortunately, the US Government has increased the amount of unemployment payments being handed out, beyond what is typically provided. Keep reading to learn about what programs you qualify for.
What is Unemployment Insurance?
Unemployment insurance is a form of insurance that employers are required to have by law. The amount of money you can get varies from state to state, but the basic principle is the same.
Unemployment insurance pays a portion of your salary if you lose your job due to no fault of your own. For example, if a business shuts down due to not having enough customers, or, if your boss has to lay off employees in order to reduce expenses, then you would qualify for unemployment benefits.
However, if you get fired due to being dishonest to your employer, or due to being unreliable (for example, if you are always coming to work late) then you might not qualify for unemployment benefits.
How Does Unemployment Insurance Work?
If you lose your job, the first thing you have to do is apply for unemployment benefits. Each state has its own system for managing unemployment claims. Check out what programs are available in your state.
When you apply, make sure to fill out the forms carefully, and only enter accurate, truthful information. Signing up for unemployment benefits is like signing up for an insurance policy. It is against the law to provide false information that might help your chances of getting money.
With that in mind, you could be looking at serious penalties and maybe even jail time if you lie on your unemployment application, or if you are untruthful about your answers when filing future unemployment claims.
If you qualify for unemployment benefits, you will usually get a weekly payment that is a percentage of what your work salary used to be.
How Much Unemployment Money Can You Get?
In 2019, the average weekly unemployment payment was around $378. In 2020, thanks to the $2 trillion economic relief act, average payments are much higher.
More Unemployment Benefits Resources
We hope that this quick guide serves as a helpful starting point for figuring out your unemployment benefits situation. But, because filing for unemployment is a complicated process, you will probably have to spend a lot of time working with your local state unemployment office to process your claim.
Remember to be patient and consistent with your filings. If you forget to file a claim one week, that means you probably won’t get a payment during the following week. And you probably need that money to pay for groceries, rent, or other bills.
Set a weekly reminder in your phone, with the alarm set, so that you are notified when its time to file your claim. Make it a routine, and after a few weeks, you will see that it gets easier over time.
For additional unemployment resources information, visit the following links:
- USA.gov – Unemployment Help Page (official website)
- U.S. Department of Labor – Unemployment Benefits Overview (official website)
- State Unemployment Benefits Finder (official website)
