Find Out How to Qualify for Unemployment Benefits in Wyoming
So, who qualifies for unemployment in Wyoming? The answer is relatively simple, but the only way to determine your eligibility for unemployment is to submit a claim. However, the requirements below will give a general idea of your eligibility for EDD benefits.
• You must be unemployed through no fault of your own.
• If your claim is accepted, you must actively look for work and maintain a written copy of your efforts to submit to the Department of Workforce Services.
• You must be available to work.
• You must be able to work.
More than likely, you will not meet the qualifications for unemployment in WY if you were fired for misconduct or poor job performance. If you voluntarily left your previous job, you will need to provide the department with a reasonable explanation, and if it is accepted, you will be able to claim benefits.
As long as you receive unemployment benefits, your unemployment insurance eligibility will be impacted by your ability and availability to work. You are considered available to work if you are free to work full-time with no restrictions. Your eligibility for unemployment in WY may change if the following issues prevent you from working.
• Inability to find child care
• Lack of transportation
• Scheduling conflicts
• Incarceration
To remain eligible for unemployment, you must also be able to work. This means that if you suffer from an illness, injury, or disability that prevents you from working while receiving benefits, your claim will be denied for the week. If you were injured or disabled on your previous job, you would need to consider filing a workers’ compensation claim.
How to Register and Look for Work in Wyoming
To meet all of the qualifications for unemployment in Wyoming, you must register and look for work. To register for work, you will need to contact your local workforce center during the same week you file your first claim. During your call, you will be asked to provide demographic information and create a virtual resume. To remain registered, you will need to search the department job openings every 90 days, even if you live outside of the state.
Looking for work can also influence your eligibility for EDD benefits. The financial assistance provided by the state is meant to be temporary, and the department encourages all unemployed individuals to return to work as soon as possible, even if it means accepting a lower-paying job. Unemployment insurance eligibility is also determined using a work search log provided to benefit recipients, so please record detailed information about your job-search efforts. The state can request this information at any time, so you will need to keep it as accurate and current as possible. You can download a work search log on the department website if you wish.
Learn How to Use Your Wyoming Work Search Log
You will not meet the unemployment insurance eligibility standards in Wyoming if you do not keep detailed records of your job search. The state requires all benefit recipients to apply for at least two jobs a week. You can apply for either full or part-time positions, but you are strongly urged to seek full-time work that is deemed “suitable” by the state. “Suitable” work is work that you are capable of performing and that is similar to your previous job. If you reject a job, you will need to provide the state with a detailed explanation, and if the department disagrees with your reasoning, you will not meet the qualifications for unemployment. Please record the following information about each contact in your logbook.
• Name, date, and position applied for
• Method of applying (in person, online, by mail, etc.)
• Person of contact (if applied in person or by phone)
• Outcome of application
Benefit recipients will continue to meet the qualifications for unemployment if they present this information to the state. Please do not discard your logbook, even if you return to work. The state reserves the right to verify any unemployment information, even if you are no longer claiming benefits. If any discrepancies are noticed, you may be required to pay back the benefits you received.
