Understanding Federal Guidelines for a Delaware Unemployment Compensation Extension
The United States Congress can vote to activate unemployment extension programs during times when the unemployment rate reaches great heights. Unemployment benefits extension programs are available through both the state and federal governments during periods of high unemployment, providing a higher level of economic security to those who are out of work by allowing them to receive UI benefits for additional weeks. Extended benefits can be obtained by workers who have exhausted their regular unemployment insurance benefits. The basic Extended Benefits program allows for 13 additional weeks of benefits if a state is experiencing a period of high unemployment. Some states have also initiated a voluntary program to pay an additional seven weeks of extended benefits, totaling a maximum of 20 weeks.
Unemployment compensation extensions are not available for everyone. Namely, not every beneficiary who qualifies for regular benefits qualifies for extended benefits. The weekly benefit amount of extended benefits is the same as the amount the recipient receives for regular unemployment compensation. Furthermore, it is critical to note that you cannot just apply for extended benefits on any given day. An unemployment benefits extension can only be obtained when Delaware is experiencing very high rates of unemployment and the government decides to activate an extended benefits period. It is only during these times that the state/federal government will activate these extended benefit programs, and they will mail out notifications to the eligible candidates who have been pre-approved to receive extended benefits.
In any case, keep your own log of the benefits you received to ensure that you are awarded all the payments for which you are eligible.
What Is Emergency Unemployment Compensation in Delaware?
There was a federal unemployment extension program, which was active until the year 2013, called the Emergency Unemployment Compensation (EUC08). While active, this unemployment extension program provided benefits in four tiers, based on the unemployment rate of the state in question:
• Tier 1 EUC08: 20-week maximum unemployment extension
• Tier 2 EUC08: 14-week maximum unemployment extension
• Tier 3 EUC08: 13-week maximum unemployment extension
• Tier 4 EUC08: six-week maximum unemployment extension
Concerning the steps for how to get an unemployment extension in Delaware while a program is active, you normally do not have to apply. The system automatically enrolls all eligible applicants. However, if you are approaching the point where your benefits are about to run out, contact your employment counselor to see what your options are.
Note: It is not presently known when EUC08 may become active again, though it may be revised and reactivated during a time of high state unemployment.
What Is the Federal-State Extended Duration in Delaware?
Another unemployment extension program is Federal-State Extended Duration (FED-ED), which is also called Extended Benefits (EB). You can only qualify for an EB unemployment benefits extension in DE if you have exhausted all of your regular unemployment benefits. If you qualify for an EB unemployment compensation extension, you will receive additional benefits in the amount of 20 weeks or 80 percent of the maximum benefit amount of your original unemployment claim, whichever amount is less.
Similar to EUC08, the government will notify you by mail if you are eligible to receive benefits from the EB program. However, you will only be able to qualify for extended benefits in either program during times of high state unemployment.
