Unemployment Insurance (UI)

What Is Unemployment Insurance (UI)?

Unemployment insurance (UI), also called unemployment benefits, is a type of state-provided insurance that pays money to individuals on a weekly basis when they lose their job and meet certain eligibility requirements. Those who either quit their jobs or were fired for a just cause are not eligible for UI. In other words, someone separated from their job due to a lack of available work and at no fault of their own usually qualifies for unemployment benefits.

Each state administers its own unemployment insurance program, despite it being federal law. Workers must meet their state's work and wage requirements, including time worked. The benefits are primarily paid out by state governments and funded by specific payroll taxes collected for that purpose.

The federal government established provisions designed to help unemployed Americans during the coronavirus pandemic. These additional benefits were put in place after President Donald Trump signed the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act in March 2020. They were extended after the passing of the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021 and were extended again when President Joe Biden signed the $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 on March 11, 2021. The additional benefits expired on September 6, 2021.

Understanding Unemployment Insurance (UI)

The unemployment initiative is a joint program between individual state governments and the federal government. Unemployment insurance provides cash stipends to unemployed workers who actively seek employment. Compensation to eligible, unemployed workers is through the Federal Unemployment Tax Act (FUTA) along with state employment agencies.

Each state has an unemployment insurance program, but all states must follow specific guidelines outlined by federal law. Federal law makes unemployment benefits relatively ubiquitous across state lines. The U.S. Department of Labor oversees the program and ensures compliance within each state.

Workers who meet specific eligibility requirements may receive up to 26 weeks of benefits a year. The weekly cash stipend is designed to replace a percentage of the employee's regular wage, on average. States fund unemployment insurance using taxes levied on employers. The majority of employers will pay both federal and state unemployment FUTA tax. Companies that have 501(c)3 status do not pay FUTA tax.

Three states also require minimal employee contributions to the state unemployment fund. Reportable income includes freelance work or jobs for which unemployment insurance recipients were paid in cash.

If you're unemployed due to COVID-19, you may be eligible for one of the government relief programs such as the Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation (PEUC) and Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation (FPUC). Both programs expired on Sept. 6, 2021. Please see below or review how to file for unemployment insurance.

Out-of-work persons who do not find employment after a 26-week period may be eligible for an extended benefits program. Extended benefits give unemployed workers an additional number of weeks of unemployment benefits. The availability of extended benefits will depend on a state's overall unemployment situation. If you have become unemployed due to the coronavirus pandemic, see below for details of the various programs.

Requirements for Unemployment Insurance (UI)

An unemployed person must meet two primary requirements to qualify for unemployment insurance benefits. An unemployed individual must meet state-mandated thresholds for either earned wages or time worked in a stated base period. The state must also determine that the eligible person is unemployed through no fault of their own. A person may file an unemployment insurance claim when fulfilling these two requirements.

Individuals file claims in the state where they work. A participant may file claims by phone or on the state unemployment insurance agency's website. After the first application, it generally takes two to three weeks for the processing and approval of a claim.

After approval of a claim, the participant must either file weekly or biweekly reports that test or confirm their employment situation. Reports must be submitted to remain eligible for benefit payments. An unemployed worker cannot refuse work during a week, and on each weekly or biweekly claim, they must report any income that they earned from freelance or consulting gigs.

$2 trillion

The amount of emergency stimulus in the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, part of which was designed to aid people who are out of work.

Special Considerations

On March 11, 2020, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared COVID-19, the illness caused by a novel coronavirus, to be a pandemic. States and businesses across the U.S. closed down, causing massive unemployment.

Three specific programs were designed to help Americans who were out of work because of the coronavirus. A fourth program was established through an Aug. 8, 2020, memorandum issued by President Trump in response to the expiration of the Federal Pandemic Employment Compensation program.

Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation (FPUC)

The Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation (FPUC) provided an extra weekly benefit on top of regular unemployment insurance (UI).

The original benefit provided an additional $600 weekly under the CARES Act, but that benefit expired on July 31, 2020. The FPUC was modified and extended as part of the Consolidated Appropriations Act in December 2020. Unemployed individuals receive an additional $300 per week in benefits (replacing the $600 weekly benefit) beginning after Dec. 26, 2020.

Another extension of the FPUC was approved after President Joe Biden signed the $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 on March 11, 2021. Under the plan, FPUC benefits expired on Sept. 6, 2021.

Keep in mind that the FPUC benefit was not payable during the gap from July 31, 2020, to Dec. 26, 2020. In other words, the $600 in extra money added to unemployment benefits ended on July 31, 2020. This means the $300 didn't kick in until after Dec. 26, 2020.

Although FPUC payments ended on Sept. 6, 2021, eligible claimants will continue to receive regular unemployment compensation from their state if they are eligible. According to the U.S. Department of Labor, regular unemployment benefits currently replace about 38% of a worker's wages, on average.

News outlets reported that there while there was some public support, there was very little political appetite for extending FPUC benefits after Sept. 6. In fact, 26 states stopped making FPUC payments ahead of the deadlines. As of Aug. 20, 2021, the national unemployment rate was 5.4%, down 0.5% over the month and 4.8 points lower than in July 2020.

Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA)

The program was set to expire on Dec. 31, 2020, under the CARES Act but was extended until March 14, 2021, because of the Consolidated Appropriations Act. This gave unemployed American workers a total of 50 weeks of benefits.

The PUA was given new life, adding an additional 29 weeks to the program after the Biden administration passed the $1.9 stimulus package in March 2021. As per the American Rescue Plan Act, the PUA expired after Sept. 5, 2021, after a total of 79 weeks.

Following the PUA expiration, those who received benefits under that program will not be eligible for any other unemployment insurance (UI) program.

Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation (PEUC)

The Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation (PEUC) extended UI benefits under the CARES Act after regular unemployment compensation benefits were exhausted.

The expiration date for this program was originally set to Dec. 31, 2020, but was extended to March 14, 2021. This increased the number of weeks from the original 13 weeks to 24 weeks, meaning 11 weeks were added.

The Biden administration added an additional 29 weeks, extending the benefits under the PEUC program through Sept. 5, 2021. This means unemployed individuals can claim up to 53 weeks of benefits under the American Rescue Plan Act.

Although the PEUC program expired, you may still qualify to transfer to your state's extended benefits program for 13 to 20 additional weeks of benefits. Four states have extended benefits: Alaska, Connecticut, New Jersey, and New Mexico. It's important to check with your state to determine your eligibility for additional benefits.

Lost Wages Assistance (LWA) Program

The Lost Wages Assistance (LWA) program was a federal-state unemployment benefit that provided $300 to $400 in weekly compensation to eligible claimants. The Federal government, through the Disaster Relief Fund (DRF), provided $300 per claimant per week, and states were asked to provide the remaining $100. LWA came into existence in response to the expiration of FPUC on July 31, 2020.

The deadline for states to apply for the Lost Wages Assistance (LWA) Program was Sept. 10, 2020. Payments ended on Dec. 27, 2020.