Guidelines for Unemployment Compensation Extensions in North Dakota
During times when the jobless rate remains high, the United States Congress can vote to extend unemployment benefits for an additional period of time. 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. Extended unemployment insurance coverage can be obtained by workers who have run through their regular unemployment insurance benefits. The basic Extended Benefits 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.
Not everyone 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 during the regular unemployment compensation period.
It is critical to note that recipients claiming benefits for unemployment cannot apply for extended benefits of their own volition. An unemployment benefits extension can only be applied to existing beneficiaries when ND is experiencing very high rates of unemployment. It is only during these times that the state/federal government will activate these federal unemployment extension programs, during which time they will mail out notifications to candidates eligible to receive the extended benefits.
Claimants are encouraged to keep a detailed log of the benefits already received. If you are unsure about whether you might be eligible for an unemployment compensation extension, you can always contact your unemployment counselor to check on whether extended benefits are available.
About Nationwide Emergency Unemployment Compensation in North Dakota
The formerly active federal unemployment extension program known as the Emergency Unemployment Compensation (EUC08) expired in 2013. It was created as a result of the nationwide recession experienced in 2008. The extension provided funds to the highly unemployed population to avoid falling into a full-on economic depression. While it is not presently known if it will ever become active again, the EB program was developed to be a more permanent program in times of high unemployment rates. If you are curious about this program, contact the North Dakota labor authorities or follow developments in the national news.
This federal unemployment extension included four stages, as follows:
Stage 1 EUC08: 20-week maximum unemployment extension
Stage 2 EUC08: 14-week maximum unemployment extension
Stage 3 EUC08: 13-week maximum unemployment extension
Stage 4 EUC08: 6-week maximum unemployment extension
In general, if a beneficiary consumes all of his or her regular unemployment benefits, he or she does not have to apply for an unemployment benefits extension because the system automatically enrolls eligible participants. If you approach the point where your benefits will run out, contact your employment counselor to see what you have to do to receive an extension.
About the Federal-State Extended Duration in North Dakota
Another unemployment benefits extension program is the Federal-State Extended Duration (FED-ED), also called Extended Benefits (EB). This program was developed as a more long-term solution to the temporary EUC08 program. You can only qualify for EB unemployment insurance if you have exhausted all of your regular unemployment benefits. If you qualify for an EB unemployment extension, you will receive additional benefits in the amount of 20 weeks, or 80 percent of the maximum benefit amount on the original unemployment claim, whichever amount is less.
Remember, these programs are only available during high unemployment periods and that you cannot initiate an unemployment benefits extension in North Dakota by yourself. If you are eligible for an extension, the government will notify you by mail.
