How to Claim Benefits for Unemployment in Indiana
Soon after applicants file their unemployment benefits claim, they will receive a Wage Transcript and Benefit Computation form. Receiving this notice does not guarantee that the claimant will receive federal unemployment benefits. Claimants need to check the form to make sure the information is correct, including: name and address, Social Security number, wages, and former employers.
How to Calculate your Federal Unemployment Benefits
A claimant’s unemployment benefits claim amount is determined by how much he or she earned during their “base period.” The base period includes the first four of the last five quarters worked before the applicant filed the initial unemployment benefits claim. The wages earned during the base period determine whether the claimant qualifies for benefits and how much aid they are eligible for. The last quarter worked is considered the lag quarter, and no wages from that quarter are counted in the base period.
For example, if an applicant files a federal unemployment benefits claim on April 11, 2016, his or her base period is all four quarters of 2015. January to March, 2016 represents the lag quarter, and no wages from that quarter count toward the benefit amount.
During the base period months, the former employee must have earned wages totaling at least $4,200, of which $2,500 must have been earned during the last 6 months of the base period. Additionally, the base period wages must be at least one and a half times the highest quarter wages.
To determine your unemployment benefits claim weekly payment, divide the total wages you earned during the last four quarters of eployment by 52. Then, multiply the sum by 0.47. The weekly benefit amount should be rounded down to the next whole dollar amount and should not exceed the maximum weekly benefit amount of $390.
Unemployment recipients are entitled to receive federal unemployment benefits for up to 26 weeks, or until their “maximum benefits amount (MBA)” has been reached (which is listed on the Wage Transcript and Benefit Computation. Emergency unemployment benefits extension in IN may be available during times when the nation is experiencing high rates of unemployment. The applicant’s claim is good through the “benefit year end” (BYE) date. The benefit year consists of the 52 weeks beginning with the first week an applicant files their claim. The BYE date is listed on the home page. The former employee can re-open their claim if they become unemployed more than once before their BYE.
The Indiana total unemployment benefits claim amount is limited by the MBA which is shown on the Wage Transcript and Benefit Computation. It will be 26 times the weekly benefit amount.
Claimants may qualify for “partial benefits” if their employer reduces their work hours to less than their regular full-time work week, or if they take a part-time job and earn less than their weekly benefit amount. Claimants must report their part-time wages on their voucher when earned. A claims deputy will review their circumstances and make a determination of eligibility which will be mailed to the applicant.
If the former worker owes child support payments, the money can be deducted from the weekly benefits. Federal unemployment benefits can be reduced if the UI recipient receives payments from a pension, retirement or annuity plan unless it was used to satisfy a severe financial hardship resulting from an unforeseeable emergency. Severance pay for all individuals will be deducted from UI benefits.
Indiana unemployment benefits claim amounts are taxable income and subject to both federal and state income taxes. Unemployment benefits will be listed on Form 1099-G. You may elect to have federal income tax withheld at a rate of 10 percent and state income tax withheld at a rate of 4 percent. The tax withhold request must be made when the filing the initial unemployment claim. An applicant cannot choose to stop withholding at any point during the current unemployment benefits claim.
How to File a Weekly Unemployment Benefits Claim
Federal unemployment benefits are requested by way of a “claim voucher.” The vouchers must be submitted each week following the initial unemployment application and each week thereafter.
IN unemployment benefits claim vouchers can be filed at any WorkOne location or online. The filing of claim vouchers involves the applicants responding to a series of questions. If an unemployment beneficiary knowingly fails to disclose information or makes false statements to receive benefits, he or she may: lose their benefits, be forced to repay improperly received benefits with interest and penalty, be disqualified from receiving future benefits, and be subject to civil and criminal prosecution.
After eligible applicants file their initial federal unemployment benefits claim, their payment will arrive in the form of a Visa debit card. The benefits will be directly deposited into the applicant’s Visa prepaid debit account. The debit card can be used for direct purchases from retailers such as markets, department stores, pharmacies, etc. The money on the Visa debit card can be transferred to the claimant’s personal checking or savings account as long as the bank where those accounts are kept is a Visa Member bank.
