Emergency Unemployment Compensation Benefits
On June 30, 2008, the President signed Public Law 110-252 creating Emergency Unemployment Compensation (EUC) program. This law provides for extended unemployment compensation of up to 13 weeks to unemployed workers who have exhausted their regular unemployment benefits.
The extension is EFFECTIVE July 6, 2008, and is referred to as Emergency Unemployment Compensation (EUC). The extension is scheduled to end March 27, 2009. The first week that can be paid under the EUC program is the week ending July 12, 2008.
On November 21, 2008 , the President signed in to law PL 110-449 (HR 6867), which provides up to an additional seven-week extension of UI benefits to the Emergency Unemployment Compensation program.
QUALIFICATIONS
To be eligible for this extension of benefits the claimant must:
- Base period wages must:
- equal 40 times the weekly benefit amount (WBA), or
- 1.5 times the high quarter, or
- 20 weeks of full time work
- have had a claim for regular benefits that ended after May 1, 2007, or
- have exhausted all available benefits from a claim that ended after May 1, 2007, and
- have no rights to regular or extended compensation under any other state or federal unemployment compensation law, and
- have not received compensation with respect to such week under the unemployment compensation law of Canada.
Notices will be mailed to individuals that meet the above criteria and are potentially eligible for EUC benefits to the last address on file.
BENEFIT AMOUNT
For claimants who meet the above qualifications:
- From weekending July 12, 2008 through November 22, 2008 the weekly benefit amount (WBA) of the EUC will be equal to the amount received on the regular claim that the extension is based upon.
- The amount in the EUC account will be the lesser of:
- 50 percent of the total amount of the regular claim, or
- 13 times the individual's weekly benefit amount for the benefit year.
- From weekending November 29, 2008 the weekly benefit amount (WBA) of the EUC will be equal to the amount received on the regular claim that the extension is based upon.
- The amount in the EUC account will be the lesser of:
- 80 percent of the total amount of the regular claim, or
- 20 times the individual's weekly benefit amount for the benefit year.
CLAIMANTS CURRENTLY RECEIVING TRADE ACT/TRAINING ASSISTANCE BENEFITS
The EUC supersedes all other types of supplemental benefits. For claimants who are eligible for EUC and are currently receiving benefits under the Trade Act/Training Assistance programs, you will be taken off those benefits and put on the EUC claim. You will continue on the EUC claim until you have received all benefits on that extension or the sunset date, whichever comes first. If you still qualify for the Trade Act/Training Assistance claim once the EUC benefits have exhausted or the sunset date is reached, you could return to the Trade Act/Training Assistance claim.
FUNDING
The EUC benefits are entirely federally funded. Therefore, employer's reserve accounts will not be charged for any monies paid out to claimants on this extension.
HOW TO FILE
Beginning Wednesday, July 9, 2008 , you can file for an extension by visiting your Arkansas Department of Workforce Services Office .
Click here to view a listing of offices near you. |
