Wisconsin benefits

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http://www.dwd.state.wi.us/uiben/extended_benefits.htm

 UPDATED: Wednesday, November 11, 2009 

The new extension of Federal Emergency Unemployment Compensation is effective with payments made for the week ending Saturday, November 14th.

The new federal law adds two tiers with a total of up to 20 weeks of benefits possible.

The first new tier adds up to 13 weeks for individuals who have exhausted their other extended benefits. One more week may be added later for those who exhausted an earlier extension.

Depending on economic conditions in Wisconsin, up to 6 additional weeks may become available after the first 14 weeks are paid.

If you have exhausted all of your extended benefits and have been filing weekly claims, continue to do so while we process your new benefits over the next few weeks. If you have not continued filing weekly claims, file an application for the additional benefits.

UPDATED: Friday, November 06, 2009

 Extensions  

*****New Federal extended benefits are effective in Wisconsin as of  Sunday, November 8, 2009 . It will take us a few weeks to pay these new benefits.

If you are currently filing weekly claims, continue to do so. If you have not been filing weekly claims, you will need to file an application online or by telephone. We will provide additional information on this page as it becomes available.

+++++Emergency Unemployment Compensation (EUC)

Emergency Unemployment Compensation (EUC) is a federally funded extension of unemployment benefits. The EUC program was created on June 30, 2008 by the Supplemental Appropriations Act of 2008. It made up to 13 additional weeks of benefits available to unemployed individuals who had already collected all regular state benefits for which they were eligible and who meet the eligibility requirements.

On November 21, 2008, former President Bush signed the Unemployment Compensation Extension Act of 2008. It made up to 7 additional weeks of benefits available to unemployed individuals who have or will collect all benefits available under the first EUC program, and created a second tier of 13 weeks of EUC for individuals in states where the unemployment rate has reached certain level.


 * The second tier of EUC benefits is now available to eligible Wisconsin workers. We are continuing to work on making payments to eligible claimants. The benefits are payable starting with the week of January 25th.

If you are currently filing weekly claims for regular or extended benefits, continue to file your weekly claim if you are still unemployed or working reduced hours. You will be notified by mail of your eligibility for the additional benefits.

If you have not been filing weekly claims and are still unemployed or working reduced hours, you will need to file an application for these additional benefits online or by telephone. You will be notified by mail of your eligibility for the additional benefits.

To be eligible for EUC benefits you must:

 Have an unemployment claim that began on or after May 7, 2006; and

 Have base period wages in the base period of this claim that is equal to at least 40 times your regular benefit rate; and

 Exhausted your regular benefits or your benefit year has ended and you are not eligible for new claim in any state; and

 Be unemployed or working reduced hours; and

 Be able and available for work and looking for work.

+++++Extended Benefits (EB)

Extended benefits (EB) is a federal provision to extend UI benefits for up to 13 weeks that goes into effect when certain economic conditions occur in a state. Wisconsin has met the conditions to begin an EB period. EB will be payable in Wisconsin beginning with payments for week ending February 28, 2009. The last time Wisconsin was on EB was in 1983. Governor Doyle has exercised his option under the existing EUC legislation to order that EUC be paid first to claimants eligible for both EUC and EB. The economic stimulus package has affected the EB rules temporarily.

On May 15, 2009, Governor Doyle signed into law 2009 Wisconsin Act 11, which allows Wisconsin to offer an additional 7 weeks of EB during periods of high unemployment. Wisconsin is entering a period of high unemployment with the week ending June 13, 2009.

The weekly benefit rate will be the same as that for EUC.

To be eligible for EB benefits you must: Qualify for EUC Tier 2 (see above) and then either

 Exhaust EUC Tier 2 with payment for week ending 02/28/09 or later, or

 Exhaust EUC Tier 2 with payment for week earlier than 02/28/09 and whose regular UI benefits began 03/02/08 or later.

 Be unemployed or working reduced hours; and

 Be able and available for work and looking for work.

EB work search requirements: EB work search requirements are very different than those for EUC or regular UI benefits.

Work search requirement changes are as follows:

 You will be required to look for work while filing for EB even if you were not required to look for work before.

 Work search activity for each week must be recorded and submitted to the Department for review. Payment for the week will not be made until we receive evidence that the required work search has been made.

 Failure to perform an adequate search for work will result in an indefinite disqualification.

How to submit the record of your work search activity: The first week of EB will not require a work search form. The requirement to submit the work search form begins the week after the mail date on the EB work search notice (EB-16492).

 Online - An online weekly work search form is available. It is included as part of the internet weekly claim. After completing the regular weekly claim questions, EB claimants will be presented the online work search form.

 Mail – Record your work search activity on the EB-12 Work Search Log completing all requested information. Do not use this work search log if you are not an EB Claimant. If you are not an EB claimant, then sending in this form might prevent payment of benefits. EB claimants receive a notice of EB eligibility.

Mail the log on a weekly basis to the address below.

 Unemployment Insurance Division

P. O. Box 7905

Madison, WI 53707

 Fax –

Fax your EB-12 Work Search Log to 608-327-6499

Updated Friday, November 06, 2009