Additional Information about Unemployment Insurance

UI is taxable.

UI is typically 26 weeks.  Each person’s circumstance can affect this.

Currently there is a 13-week extended UI benefit.  Once the initial 26 weeks is exhausted, a person may qualify for the extended benefits.

Some UI recipients are “profiled” and invited to come to a mandatory Early Intervention (EI) workshop.  In Frederick County, this is taught at the Business and Employment Center, by Frederick County Workforce Services staff person, Sue Roach.  If a customer chooses not to come without approval from Sue, that customer may loose his UI benefits.

UI is a tax that the employer pays; none of the worker’s taxes goes towards this insurance. 

In order to receive UI, a person must be able and available for full-time work.

UI is not meant for people to live off of; it usually is significantly less money than what they were earning.  It is an insurance plan that they “cash in” to help cover expenses while looking for work.

Very recently UI went to a direct deposit system and claimants may receive a debit card.  You must establish a pin (personal identification number) to access this debit card.  You must also establish a pin for your telecert.  These pins can be the same, but it requires two separate processes to establish both.