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HANDBOOK FOR CLAIMANTS: CLAIMING WISCONSIN UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS

UCB-10-P (R. 4/2008)

Read this handbook and keep it for future reference. It contains important information and instructions and will help you to know and protect your rights under the unemployment insurance law of the State of Wisconsin.

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Table of Contents

Unemployment Insurance Calendars

Hours of Operation and Telephone Numbers

Benefit Center Mailing Addresses and Fax Numbers

Why We Need Your Social Security Numbers

Part 1: UI Internet Benefit Services

Part 2: UI Telephone System

How to Use Your Telephone

What Number Should You Call?

• To file an initial application or to reopen a claim

• To have income tax withheld or to change current withholding

• To change your name, address or telephone number

• If you have forgotten your PIN or want to change it

• To file for a weekly benefit check

• To get information or assistance or to talk to a Claims Specialist

Part 3: Your Personal Identification Number (PIN)

Part 4: Filing an Initial Claim Application

What is an Initial Claim Application?

• Starting a new benefit year

• Reapplying to Reactivate or Reopen a Current Benefit Year

When to Apply

How to Prepare for Your Application

How to Apply On-line

How to Apply by Telephone

• If You Make a Mistake on Your Telephone Application

• How You Know Your Telephone Application Is Complete (Claim Acceptance)

• If You Cannot Complete Your Telephone Application

If Your Application Raises an Eligibility Question

Applying for Wisconsin UI Benefits From Another State

Trade Readjustment Allowances (TRA)

Part 5: Filing a Weekly Claim Certification

What is a Weekly Claim Certification?

When to File

How to Prepare to File a Weekly Claim Certification

Filing a Weekly Claim Certification

• Regular Procedure

• Quick Claim Procedure

How to File On-line

How to File By Telephone

Questions You are Asked When You Must Use the Regular Telephone Procedure

When to Report that You Worked and Earned Wages

• What is a "Week?"

• Hours

• Wages

• Worker's Compensation

• Bonuses/Profit Sharing

• Commission Sales

• Activities that are Not Considered Work

• Retirement Pay

• Instructions for reporting other types of income not mentioned in the claimant handbook

When to Report that You Received Holiday, Vacation, or Dismissal Pay

How to Enter the Amount of Wages or Other Types of Pay and the Number of Hours and Minutes

How to Report the Correct Employer

If You Make a Mistake on Your Weekly Claim Certification

How You Know Your Weekly Claim Certification is Complete (Claim Acceptance)

If You Cannot Complete Your Weekly Claim Certification

If Your Weekly Claim Certification Raises An Eligibility Question

If You Choose Not to Claim a Week

When to Expect Your Checks

Direct Deposit

Changing Your Address

Traveling to Another State

How to Stop Filing for Weekly Benefits

Part 6: To Get Information, Assistance or to Talk to a Claims Specialist

Automated Inquiry System

The Choices You are Offered by the System

Assistance From a Claims Specialist

Part 7: Work Search

When You Must Look for Work

Weekly Work Search Notice-Form UCB-12

Help in Finding Employment

Reemployment Programs

Part 8: Computing Benefit Entitlement

Calendar Quarter

Base Period

Lag Period

Covered and Excluded Employment

High Quarter

Weekly Benefit Rate (WBR)

Qualifying Wages

Benefit Year

Maximum Benefit Amount (MBA)

Benefit Computation

• UCB-700

• UCB-736

• Quit

• Fired

• Refused Work

• Failure to Make Acceptable Work Search

• Failure to Do All Work Available

• Working 40 or More Hours

• Paid for 35 Hours From Employer Who Paid 80% of Base Period Wages

• Limitations on Your Ability or Availability for Work

• Labor Dispute

• Worked for School Only During Normal School Year

• Worked for a Family Business

• Worked in Excluded Employment