Home >Unemployment Insurance (UI) > Handbook for Claimants Table of Contents > Handbook For Claimants - Part 2

Part 2: To Reapply for Benefits

When to Apply

You must file an initial claim application in the first week for which you want to receive an unemployment check or within 7 days of the end of that calendar week. If you wait to file your claim, you could lose benefits. Your claim does not start until you apply and benefits will not be paid for earlier weeks. The initial claim application is filed in the following situation.

• You want to start receiving unemployment benefits again. You must reapply each time you stopped filing weekly claim certifications and want to begin again. You also must reapply when the system does not let you file a weekly claim because the last week you claimed ended more than 14 days earlier. Remember, your claim does not start again until you reapply. Answer all questions completely and correctly. You could be penalized if you give false information to get benefits. Information you provide may be verified through data matching programs.

If Your Application Raises an Eligibility Question

If any of your answers on your Internet or telephone application raise a question about whether you can be paid benefits, you may be scheduled for a fact-finding interview or be contacted by telephone or mail.

You must contact or provide information to the department if told to do so, even though your application is considered complete and accepted. If you do not take part in a fact-finding investigation, you could lose benefits.

Trade Readjustment Allowances (TRA)

The Federal Trade Act was established for workers who lose their jobs due to elements of foreign trade, such as imports or off shoring and includes paying for training, finding new jobs, and paying weekly benefits.

Federal law mandates strict deadlines for receiving benefits and services available from the Trade Program. To be eligible for weekly TRA benefits, you must be waived from or enrolled in TAA training within 8 weeks of the certification date of the Department of Labor petition or within 16 weeks from your last day of work, whichever is later. Failure to meet the deadlines may result in the loss of potential of 104 weeks of TRA Payments.

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Continue to Part 3: Filing a Weekly Claim Certification

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