FAQS
Claimant FAQs
How do I know if I'm eligible? There are certain wage requirements based on the amount of money that you were paid while you were employed. The amount of money you were paid during your base period (the first four of last five completed calendar quarters) determines your "weekly benefit amount (WBA)". In addition, you must be unemployed through no fault of your own, able to work, available for work, looking for work and willing to accept a job for which you are qualified. (top)How much can I receive in benefits? The Schedule of Benefits that you will receive when you file your new claim provides the range of minimum to maximum benefits for which you may be eligible. The amount is known as the "weekly benefit amount (WBA)". The current range provided by the Delaware Unemployment Insurance Law is $20 to $330. (top) How is my weekly benefit amount (WBA) determined? The weekly benefit amount (WBA) is based on the amount that you were paid during the base period. That would be the first four of the last five calendar quarters completed as of the Sunday before you file your first claim for benefits. Your weekly benefit amount will be 1/46th of your two highest calendar quarters. If you worked full-time during the four quarters, your WBA will be a little more than half your gross weekly wage up to the maximum weekly benefit amount in effect at the time. Example:
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If you have worked outside of Delaware or for the federal government or served in the Armed Services during your base period, you must report this information when you file your claim. Under certain circumstances, these wages can be combined with your Delaware wages to give you a higher weekly benefit amount. If you have no Delaware wages during the base period, you may be required to file a federal claim or an interstate claim. (top) How do I know if I am monetarily eligible and how much money I will actually get? You will receive a form called a "Determination of Monetary Eligibility." It will show your base period wages and your weekly benefit amount if you are monetarily eligible. The " Monetary Determination," is mailed to you within 3 days after you file your claim. This is for your records and it contains a completed copy of your base period earnings. It lists all the employers who are covered by the Delaware Unemployment Insurance Law and all wages these employers reported under your Social Security number and your name during the base period. It also shows your "Weekly Benefit Amount" and the maximum amount of benefits you could be eligible to receive. Check this form carefully. See if it:
If you think a correction should be made, report to the local unemployment insurance office where you filed your claim within 10 days and ask for a correction. We'll need your Social Security card, check stubs, W-2 forms and any other proof of wages that you have. Remember, you must report in person to the local office within 10 days for your protest to be accepted. Bring the determination of monetary eligibility with you when you report. You must continue to file weekly claims while you await the result of the protest. In addition to being monetarily eligible, you must be unemployed through no fault of your own, able to work, available for work, looking for full-time work, and willing to accept a job for which you are qualified in order to collect benefits. (top) How long can I continue to collect benefits? If you remain totally unemployed and otherwise remain eligible, you can normally receive 26 times your weekly benefit amount. Once you qualify for benefits, you establish what we call a "benefit year." Your benefit year is the one-year period beginning with the Sunday of the first week in which you file your new claim. For example, if you filed your new claim on Thursday, January 10, 2002, your benefit year would start with the preceding Sunday, January 6, 2002, this would be your "effective claim date." Your benefit year would last until January 5, 2003. Under normal circumstances, you may not start another benefit year until the first one is completed. However, if you have also worked in another state during your benefit year and have received all your Delaware benefits in your benefit year, you may file against the other state in which you worked and you may be eligible for additional benefits from that state. (Your local unemployment insurance office can give you details.) The maximum amount of unemployment insurance benefits payable in Delaware under normal circumstances in any benefit year may not exceed 26 times your weekly benefit amount. Since Delaware has a weekly claim processing system, you will receive a check for every weekly claim you make. You may file claims for more than 26 weeks if you work part-time and partial benefits are paid. If you have received all the benefits to which you are entitled (normally 26 weeks), then you may receive no more until the benefit year is over, even if you work again and become unemployed. However, during periods of high unemployment, a special program is placed in effect, which provides additional weeks of benefits. At the end of your benefit year, you may be eligible to establish a new benefit year. If you have been employed during the current benefit year and earned at least 10 times the weekly benefit amount for which you would be eligible during the new benefit year. An employee at your local unemployment insurance office can provide you with further information on establishing a new benefit year. (top) What are my responsibilities as a claimant? If you are receiving unemployment insurance benefits, you must be able to work and available for work. In addition, you must make an active search for work, register for work with the Delaware Job Service when required to do so, accept suitable work as defined by law, file a weekly claim for benefits properly and on time (see the question, How often do I file claims and when must I file claims?, for more information), and report to the local unemployment insurance office when directed to do so. You must report all wages, including self-employment and odd jobs, pensions, annuities, holiday pay, vacation pay, severance pay, and bonuses and special payments. (top) How often do I file claims and when must I file claims? Normally, you file a Weekly Pay Authorization every week. Be sure to keep your records for unemployment insurance requirements on a weekly basis, since the Weekly Pay Authorization will ask you questions about each particular week. A Compensible week for unemployment benefits runs from Sunday through Saturday. It is your responsibility to return your claim. Failure to return your Weekly Pay Authorization timely causes a delay in benefits and may result in denial of benefits. If you do not get a new Weekly Pay Authorization covering the weekly claim period in the mail within one week of the Sunday date you mailed your last Weekly Pay Authorization, it is your responsibility to report to the local unemployment insurance office on the next working day in order for your Weekly Pay Authorization to be received on time. Backdated claims may not be accepted. Here's an example: (top) When should I report to my local office? You should report to your local office when:
You may also occasionally receive a notice asking you to report to the local office for some specific reason. The notice will tell you when and where to report. You must report on the date and at the time shown on the notice. Bring the notice with you. If you are unable to report as asked, contact your local office immediately. You should send the notice back to the local office, explaining why you cannot report. Also, provide any information about the reason you were called in. Be sure to include your name, address and Social Security number. Failure to report to the local office when called in may delay payment of your check and may result in denial of your benefits. (top) What type of notices will I receive? There are many types of notices that will be sent to you while you are filing for unemployment insurance. Read all notices you receive carefully. If you have any questions, call the UI office immediately. Occasionally, you will receive a notice asking that you report to the local office or to be available by telephone at a specific date and time if we need additional information from you. If you have filed any type of appeal, you will get a notice telling you the time, date and place of your appeal hearing. You may be called in periodically for an Eligibility Review Interview. You will be given an "Eligibility Review Questionnaire" when you file your claim. Also, you may periodically be sent an "Eligibility Review Questionnaire" to complete and return to us. The questionnaire helps us offer you assistance in searching for work, and enables us to make sure you are still available for full-time work and that you are actively seeking work. It tells us whether you are also meeting the other eligibility requirements of the law. Therefore, it is important that you carefully and thoughtfully complete the form and that you appear on time on the correct date when scheduled for an "Eligibility Review Interview." Failure to do so may result in your benefits being denied or delayed. (top) What happens if I am disqualified? If you are disqualified you will not receive any further benefits unless you file an appeal and the disqualification is reversed. It is also possible that you will be denied benefits for weeks you have already received and will be required to repay these benefits to the Department. The issues to be resolved that will be printed on your appointment notice, the reasons you may be disqualified and the penalties for each are:
(top) What are some other issues that I might be called into the local office for? There are a few less common issues that might arise on your claim and may result in you being disqualified from receiving unemployment insurance benefits. Some of them are covered in more detail in the pamphlet entitled, "Your Guide To Unemployment Insurance Benefits" (you will receive this pamphlet when you file your new claim for benefits). If you have any questions about these issues after you review the list, contact the UI Local Office for more information. Following is a list of those issues and what might have caused the issue to develop:
(top) What can I do if I am denied benefits? You may appeal within 10 calendar days and request a hearing on the facts. The appeal must be filed in writing or in person at your local unemployment insurance office and it must be filed within 10 calendar days. Your signature must be included on the request for appeal.
(top) What if I have moved to Delaware from an area outside of the state? Your claim is governed by the laws of the state against which you file. This is called an "Interstate" claim. The Delaware office will take your claim and forward all the information to the state where you worked. Any benefits you receive will be paid by the state against which you filed and will be mailed directly to your home. You must meet all the requirements of that state's laws in order to be eligible. Also, you must be registered for work with the Delaware Job Service when required to do so and must be actively looking for work in the area where you now live. Since the laws of each state are different, it is possible that your base period, benefit year and check amount will be different from that of a Delaware worker. Your claim is governed by the laws of the state against which you file (the state that pays your benefits). You may file in Delaware against any of the United States, Canada, Puerto Rico or the Virgin Islands. Note: Different states may also have different penalties, rules for dependents' allowances and sick claims. Also, other deductions may be required. (top) What do I do if I don't receive a check or weekly pay authorization in the mail? If you do not get a check, or a new Weekly Pay Authorization covering the next weekly claim period in the mail within one (1) week of the Sunday date you mailed in your last Weekly Pay Authorization, it is your responsibility to report to the local unemployment insurance office immediately in order for your next Weekly Pay Authorization to be received on time. DO NOT WAIT. It is your responsibility to file a claim for each week you are unemployed. Backdated claims may not be accepted. However, if you have lost your check or if it has been stolen, call the unemployment insurance local office immediately for further instructions. Here's an example: If you are eligible to receive benefits, your first check will normally be mailed within three weeks after filing your claim, and a check should arrive every week after that if you continue to mail your Weekly Pay Authorizations weekly. However, the checks will not always arrive on the same day of the week. For your convenience, a check stub is provided with pertinent information needed for your records. Be sure to keep your check stubs to refer to if you think you are missing a check or have been paid improperly. Each time you receive an unemployment insurance check the Weekly Pay Authorization (for the following week will be received with the check. Remember, if you make false statements or fail to give required information in connection with your claim, you may be subject to prosecution for fraud, which could result in disqualification for one year and an overpayment on benefits received after the date of the false statement or both, plus interest on the fraudulently collected benefits. (top) Can I get information about unemployment insurance over the telephone? The Office of Unemployment Insurance has an automated telephone information system that is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. This the UI hot line The telephone number is.
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