When Should You File For Unemployment?

When applying for UI benefits, you must meet minimum earnings requirements. After the Employment Development Department (EDD) determines you have, you are awarded an a specific amount monthly. The highest amount is $1800, broken down into two week periods.

California is among the best places to get the most for UI. Other good states include, Washington, Hawaii, Rhode Island, Kansas and Wyoming. Hawaii is second to California to get the highest UI. Washington is third.

There is a rationale for when a person should apply. It depends on their own situation. There are those who file right away because they lack savings to sustain them. Others, with savings, can delay getting UI by waiting for the most beneficial time, which may be several months away. The key thing to remember is that UI lasts for about six months and you can only file once a year. Reopening an existing claim is NOT the same as opening a new one. Once a claim is opened, it can be closed and reopened. By delaying, you buy more time for getting a job until funds run out. If you earned only $1300 during the previous four quarters, you will only get the minimum UI.

To establish a UI claim in California, you must have earned $1,300 in one quarter of your Base Period. The Base Period is the previous twelve months and has four quarters of three months each.

So, if you file in July, the claim extends backwards one year. You must earn the required amount during one or more of those quarters. If you happen not to have worked during any fo the quarters or did not earn enough, why file? Maybe your work is sporadic, so, determining when to file is important to obtain the maximum UI. If you make a miscalculation, you might get denied and had you waited until the best time, you would have got it.

Something to look into.