Unemployment Law Changes for Workers
New Law Changes That Impact Your Benefits
Please note these law changes that may impact your unemployment benefits:
Effective October 21, 2012 --
New maximum weekly hours and wages impact eligibility for benefits
You will be ineligible for benefits in a week if you worked, could have worked, received or will receive holiday, vacation, dismissal pay or sick pay for 32 or more hours in the week.
You will be ineligible for benefits in a week you have earnings and/or holiday, vacation, dismissal or sick pay exceeding $500.
New consequences for fraud
Reduction of future benefits for acts of fraud increased to two, four and eight times the weekly benefit rate.
A new 15% penalty on fraudulent overpayments will be imposed.
Effective April 22, 2012 --
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Recovery of overpayments
A reminder, if you owe money to Unemployment Insurance, be aware the department is authorized to recover benefit overpayments from your Federal Income Tax refund (Department of Treasury payment).
Effective January 1, 2012 --
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Waiting week
A reminder, there is a waiting week for benefits. For every new benefit year, no benefits are payable for the first week you would otherwise be eligible for benefits.
More Information
See the Plain Language Summary at http://dwd.wisconsin.gov/uibola/plainlang2011.htm for more details on these law changes in addition to other law changes as part of 2011 Wisconsin Act 198 and 2011 Wisconsin Act 236.
See the Waiting Week Frequently Asked Questions page at http://dwd.wisconsin.gov/uiben/faq_waiting.htm for more information on the waiting week.
See the Claimant Handbook at http://dwd.wisconsin.gov/uiben/handbook for more information regarding benefit eligibility and your responsibilities while filing for Unemployment Insurance.
There are also other legal resources available to you at http://dwd.wisconsin.gov/uibola.