10 Ways You Benefit from Unemployment Insurance

Unemployment insurance (UI) provides benefits toreview interview. During this session, their work
Massachusetts worker's who are unemployedsearch and re-employment log will be reviewed to
through no fault of their own. Unemploymentverify that their plan is on target. They will also
insurance is a temporary income protectionlearn about other services and activities that
program for workers who have lost their job, andmight interest of help the individual. Services
who are able to work, available for work, andinclude; job search workshops, assistance with
looking for employment.writing their resume, improving their interviewing
1.) An individual benefits from unemploymentskills, and access to a computer base of job
insurance is a weekly check. The weekly benefitlistings, both local and national job openings and
is about fifty percent of the individual's averagetraining programs in their area.
weekly wage, up to the maximum set by state5.) If an individual is receiving unemployment
law. The state law maximum benefit rate as ofinsurance benefits they may also be eligible to
now is $600 a week.receive food stamps. The individual doesn't have
2.) Help with health insurance. The Massachusettsto be receiving cash welfare in order to receive
Division of Unemployment Assistance (DUA)food stamps. When determining if an individual is
provides health insurance assistance through theeligible for food stamps the amount of benefits
Medical Security Program. This is for residents ofreceived depends on the number and ages of the
Massachusetts who are receiving unemploymentpeople in their household. The Food Stamp
insurance benefits. Massachusetts is the only stateProgram also looks both at their household income
in the nation to offer a health care plan forand expenses when deciding if their household can
unemployment insurance claimants. For anget food stamps.
individual to be eligible for the Medical Security6.) An individual may also receive housing
program they must fulfill the followingassistance with Massachusetts Housing Programs.
requirements;The Department of Housing and Community
- they must be receiving unemployment benefitsDevelopment offers programs, housing and
from MA,funding to communities to serve those with low
- The unemployment benefits must be based (atto moderate incomes. In order for the individual
least in part) on earnings from a MA employerto be eligible they will have to visit the website
- The individual must be a MA resident.and look at the eligibility requirements to see if
- The individual must also meet the incomethey meet the requirements and can receive
eligibility guidelines. This being the total familyhousing assistance.
income for six months prior to the date they7.) An individual may receive energy assistance.
apply for the Medical Security Program coverageThe Neighborhood Services Division of the
plus the individuals projected income for the nextMassachusetts Department of Housing and
six months is required to be less than the amountCommunity Development provides links to other
shown in the Federal Poverty Income Guidelinesagencies for things such as; heating bill assistance,
chart.heating system assistance, weatherization
It should be noted that the total family incomeassistance, and other energy assistance programs
doesn't include the income of dependent children.such as; the Salvation Army, The United Way and
3.) The Massachusetts Division of UnemploymentCitizens Energy. In 2007, the Low Income Home
Assistance provides opportunities to individuals toEnergy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) will provide
acquire training in order to be re-employed. Infuel assistance to low-income people with annual
section 30 of the Massachusetts Unemploymentincomes up to 200% of the federal poverty level
Insurance law it allows the DUA to waive anor $41,300 for a family of four. Current benefits
active work search by claimants who meetvary depending upon income levels. To find out
certain eligibility requirements. Claimants canexactly where an individual stands for eligibility
continue to collect their UI benefits while inregarding energy assistance it is recommended to
approved training. Under certain circumstances theview the Neighborhood Services Division's website
individual may be eligible for up to an additional 188.) The DUA has links on their website to help an
weeks of UI benefits while they are attendingindividual with managing their finances. The IRS
full-time training. In order to potentially be eligiblerecognizes that the loss of a job can create new
for the 18 week extension the individual musttax situations for an individual so the following
apply to the DUA by the 15th paid week of UIinformation is provided to clarify the tax
benefits. It is reminded to individuals that theyimplications. The IRS has information on their
choose the training program that is best for themwebsite for individuals who have questions
and that will help find employment in their newregarding tax information after the loss of a job.
occupation. It is crucial that the individual9.) The DUA has links for individuals to receive
completes the application and has it submitted tofinancial counseling in order to help manage their
the DUA by the 15th paid week offinances while they are receiving unemployment
unemployment insurance benefits.insurance benefits. If an individual has problems
4.) The DUA offers a Re-Employment Servicespaying their bills, credit counseling can help them.
Program. This is for individuals who are receivingThe DUA says to make sure that the individual
unemployment benefits and are unlikely to returnchooses a non-profit credit counseling agency. The
to their former job or occupation. This program isConsumer Credit Counseling Service of Southern
intended to identify the individuals who are likelyNew England offers such information as; tips for
to face a long-term employment. Based onchoosing a credit counseling agency, financial
information provided to the DUA by the formercounseling, housing information, education finance
employer and the individual the DUA will determinecounseling, and general financial information.
if they meet the criteria. If the individual has been10.) The DUA offers Work Sharing Benefits. Work
permanently laid-off within a week or two thesharing benefits are based upon regular
individual may receive a letter scheduling them tounemployment insurance benefits. There are
attend a Re-Employment Options Seminar, whichseveral steps used to determine the individuals
will give the individual information on the serviceswork sharing benefits. The DUA will determine
available to them. The primary focus of theyour unemployment insurance benefit rate. This
Re-Employment Options Seminar is to help therate is the amount of benefits they would receive
individual in mapping out their re-employment plan.if they were totally employed. In order to do this,
The individual will fill out a career map inventory tothe DUA will need information on the individual's
help identify job search services that can helpearnings during the 15 months prior to them filing
them. They will also complete an activitytheir claim. The earnings during the individuals two
worksheet that lists a variety of activities to helphighest quarters will be added together and
the individual meet the needs identified by thedivided by 26 (the number of weeks in two
career map inventory. The individual will also havequarters) to determine their average weekly
an opportunity to work one-on-one to developwage. Their UI benefit rate is one-half of their
their "core program", their career map activityaverage weekly wages. However the benefit rate
plan. This includes the key activities that arecan not exceed the maximum benefit rate set by
mandatory for them to accomplish, based on thelaw which is $600 a week. The individuals UI
results of career map inventory and tailored tobenefit rate is used to determine their Work
their needs. The individual will be required to keepSharing benefits. The work sharing benefit is
track of the activities they have accomplished bycalculated using the percentage in reduction of the
completing the work search and re-employmentindividuals working hours. If the working hours are
activity log. If the individual is still unemployedreduced 20 percent, then the work sharing
after six weeks after they have attended thebenefit is 20 percent of the individuals
Re-Employment Seminar, they will have a statusunemployment insurance benefit rate.