PUP

Unemployment Compensation

Unemployment Compensation (UC)

Figuring your base year

Your base year is generally the first four of the last five completed calendar quarters prior to the date that you apply for benefits. The amount of money you were paid by all employers covered by unemployment law during your base year determines whether you qualify for benefits and what amount you will receive. Please consult the following chart to determine your base year.

How to Determine Your "Base Year"
The first 4 of the last 5 completed quarters will determine your base year. Using 2006 and 2007 as an example, if you apply for UC on August 1, 2007 your base year will begin April 1, 2006.
Current month Current quarter Last complete quarter -doesn't count in the base figure 4th completed quarter 3rd completed quarter 2nd completed quarter 1st completed quarter
August 2007 3rd Q. 2007 2nd quarter 2007 ( April, May, June) Jan, Feb, March, 2007 Oct, Nov, Dec, 2006 July, Aug, Sept, 2006 April, May, June 2006
     
^ Base Year

 

Figuring Your Weekly Benefit Rate

Complete the following steps while consulting the chart above to compute your weekly benefit rate.

  1. Once you have determined your base year, the next step is to determine the total gross wages you received during your base year period and how much you received during each calendar quarter in the base year. A calendar quarter is a three month period. Be careful to use gross wages-not take-home pay-and assign your wages to the correct quarter.
  2. After you determine how much you were paid in each quarter, find the quarter in which you were paid the most money. The wages in this quarter are your "highest quarterly wages". Refer to the chart and look at the column headed Part A, "Highest Quarterly Wage" and find your highest wages. On the same line, look at the dollar amount in Part C, "Qualifying Wage." If your total base year wages are as much as or more than the dollar amount listed in this column, then your weekly benefit rate is the amount listed in Part B, "Rate of Compensation."
  3. If your total base year wages are less than the amount listed in the "Qualifying Wages" column, you may still be eligible for a lesser amount. Look at the next lower dollar amount in the "Qualifying Wages" column. If your total base year wages are the same as or more than this amount, your benefit rate is the amount in the column "Rate of Compensation" to the left. If your total base year wages are not as much as this "Qualifying Wage" amount, you can check in the same way, the next two lower amounts in the "Qualifying Wage" columns to determine your rate. If your total base year wages are lower than the lowest of these three amounts, you are financially ineligible for benefits.

Unemployment links

   

 

 

 

 

 

site design KC Ellis