Minnesota Unemployment Extension
The original federal Emergency Unemployment Compensation program recently passed a new law for a Minnesota unemployment extension. This new law came into effect on November 23, 2008 and states that the regular amount of 13 weeks is now extended to 20 weeks. Applicants may also receive up to 13 weeks of “second tier” benefits if they live in a state that has an average unemployment rate of 6.0%. Minnesota is one of these states, so if you live in Minnesota, you may be eligible for 33 weeks of emergency unemployment compensation.
There are certain requirements you must meet to be eligible for a Minnesota unemployment extension. You need to have used all your regular Minnesota employment benefits, or your benefit year must have ended after April 30, 2007. You can’t have any rights to regular or extended benefits under Minnesota or any state or federal UI program. It’s also a requirement that you’re unemployed or your work hours are reduced, you continue to look for work, and are able and available to work. Your base period wages need to be at least 40 times the weekly benefit sum of your most current regular unemployment benefit account. You also can’t be ineligible under any other provision of state UI law.
The Minnesota unemployment extension weekly benefit amount stays the same as your most current regular unemployment benefit account. The amount on your regular EUC weekly benefits is the same amount of “second tier” EUC. If you need information when you used all your regular EUC, just log into your online account, or use the automated phone system so you’ll know what to do next. The two ways the EUC benefits are paid are direct deposit or debit card. Direct deposits will go to the bank account you used for your most recent unemployment benefit account. EUC benefits can also be made to the unemployment debit card that was given to you for unemployment insurance.