Category Archives: Unemployment Insurance

Learn about Idaho’s unemployment insurance Navigators, May 14

NEWS RELEASE

For Immediate Release: May 8, 2024
Media Contact: Craig.Shaul@labor.idaho.gov or Lisa.Grigg@labor.idaho.gov

Idaho’s job market has remained remarkably robust since September 2023, maintaining a steady unemployment rate of 3.3%. Excluding the immediate post-pandemic period of 2020-2021, Idaho has not had an annual unemployment rate of over 4% since 2014, according to Labor Economist Lisa Grigg.

“Despite an incredibly low unemployment rate statewide, businesses still close, change processes, or must halt work due to seasonal factors, leading workers to rely on unemployment benefits as a temporary bridge between jobs,” Grigg said.

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Common mistakes on unemployment insurance claims

The following mistakes can cause issues receiving your unemployment insurance benefits and should be avoided.

Your claim can go wrong if:

1. You don’t file a weekly certification for the weeks you want to receive payment.

You need to submit your weekly certification even if:

  • The department is obtaining wages from other states.
  • The department is still determining your eligibility.
  • You want to get waiting week credit.

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Why Did I Receive a 1099-G Tax Form?

The article was updated Jan. 12, 2024.

Why did I get a 1099-G tax form from the Idaho Department of Labor?

A 1099-G form is a summary of your unemployment insurance benefit payments. You were mailed this form if you collected or repaid benefits the prior year. The 1099-G form shows you the total taxable amount on the benefits you were paid in that calendar year.

Are unemployment insurance benefits taxable?

Yes, unemployment insurance benefits are taxable. Benefit payments are reported to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS).

Can I access my 1099-G information online?

Yes. Your IRS 1099-G information will be available online by Jan. 31 at labor.idaho.gov/ClaimantPortal.

To view your Form 1099-G:

  1. Sign into your account with ID.me. This is a secure identity verification process that makes sure you’re you. Everyone who files for unemployment benefits online must log in with ID.me.
  2. Click on the HISTORY tab.
  3. Click the Details link in the 1099-G reporting tile.
  4. Open the 1099-G Doc link for the year.

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Re-employment (RESEA) interviews help people get back to work.

This blog was updated November 22, 2023 Action plan graphic

What is a Reemployment Services and Eligibility Assessment (RESEA)? 

A Reemployment Services and Eligibility Assessment is a required assessment designed to provide people who are unemployed with the support, tools and resources to help them return to work as quickly as possible.  Claimants who are selected are required to attend a mandatory appointment at their nearest Idaho Department of Labor office. Labor’s workforce consultants are experts at helping people find work by providing: 

  • individualized feedback.
  • resume help.
  • a work search plan.
  • free access to tools like Big Interview.
  • labor market information via JobScape.
  • ideas for seeking work and workshop information.

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Orofino mobile Labor location relocates today

NEWS RELEASE

For Immediate Release: July 31, 2023
Media Contact: Misti.Sullivan@labor.idaho.gov

Effective today, the Idaho Department of Labor’s Orofino mobile location has moved. Its new location is 416 Johnson Ave. Suite 19.

The new location will continue its usual operating hours of Mondays, from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and 1 to 3 p.m. The mobile location will also be open on Wednesdays from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Additional meeting times are available by appointment.

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Idahoans can get help with unemployment insurance at Labor mobile offices

NEWS RELEASEIdaho Department of Labor. Brad Little, Governor. Jani Revier, Director.

For Immediate Release: Jan. 19, 2023
Media Contact: Pam.Rogers@labor.idaho.gov

Idahoans out of work through no fault of their own can get help filing for unemployment insurance through Idaho Department of Labor staff in local and mobile office locations throughout the state.

Labor staff, known as unemployment insurance navigators, are available by appointment or through walk-in consultations during certain hours. Those in need of assistance can find hours and phone numbers for their nearest office at labor.idaho.gov/officedirectory.

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Navigators guide Idahoans through filing for unemployment insurance claims

NEWS RELEASE

For Immediate Release: Nov. 25, 2022
Media Contact: Pam.Rogers@labor.idaho.gov

Unemployment insurance navigators are now available at Idaho Department of labor locations across the state to guide people through filing a claim for benefits.

Unemployment insurance is an eligibility program that replaces part of a worker’s lost income when they become unemployed through no fault of their own. Eligible claimants are paid these benefits through tax accounts to which their former employers have contributed.

As Labor employees, the navigators are assigned to help people identify and avoid mistakes that result in a delayed benefit payment, an overpayment that needs to be paid back, or fraud.

Unemployment insurance navigators can answer questions about the claims process, from first filing to continued claims. They are available in seven local labor offices, from Post Falls to Idaho Falls, and in mobile locations like Mountain Home, Kuna, Meridian, Payette, Emmett, Blackfoot, Preston, Malad City and more.

Find or call your nearest location at labor.idaho.gov/officedirectory.

Part of a $2.28 million Unemployment Insurance Equity grant through the U.S. Department of Labor is funding the program. The grant’s purpose is to make unemployment insurance more accessible to underserved populations in Idaho.

For more information about unemployment insurance and other job seeker services, go to labor.idaho.gov.

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Idaho Department of Labor’s Navigators program is funded in part by a U.S. Department of Labor Employment and Administration Grant totaling $2,283,000.

Employer workshops focus on unemployment insurance

The Idaho Department of Labor is presenting a series of free three-hour workshops throughout the state in October about unemployment insurance for employers.

The workshops will be led by unemployment insurance specialists, who will discuss the process followed when employees file for unemployment benefits and how that affects the employer.

Other topics include:

  • Using E-services
  • Claimant eligibility
  • Employer attachment
  • Investigating unemployment claims
  • Discussing separations — when laid off, discharged or quit
  • Determining claim outcome
  • Understanding a chargeable determination
  • Learning about the appeals process
  • Recent law changes
  • Discussing fraud

Schedule and locations are:

Nov. 17, ONLINE ZOOM MEETING – 9 a.m. to 12 Noon
Supervisors, managers, human resource officers and others are encouraged to attend. Contact Salvador Martinez at 208-332-3570 ext. 3473 or by email at Salvador.Martinez@labor.idaho.gov

Oct. 18, Lewiston, 8:30 to 11:30 a.m.
Hells Canyon Grant Hotel, 621 21st St.
RSVP 208-799-5000 ext. 3524

Oct. 19, Post Falls, 8:30 to 11:30 a.m.
Idaho Department of Labor Post Falls office
600 N. Thornton St.
RSVP 208-457-8789 ext. 4142

Oct. 20, Twin Falls, 8:30 to 11:30 a.m.
College of Southern Idaho
Taylor Building, Room 276
315 Falls Ave.
RSVP 208-735-2500 ext. 3784

Oct. 20, Sandpoint, 8:30 to 11:30 a.m.
Edgewater Resort
56 Bridge St.
Sandpoint
RSVP 208-457-8789 ext. 4142

Oct. 25, Idaho Falls, 8:30 to 11:30 a.m.
Idaho Department of Labor Idaho Falls office
1515 E. Lincoln Road
RSVP 208-557-2500 ext. 3966

Oct. 27, Caldwell, 8:30 to 11:30 a.m.
Idaho Department of Labor Caldwell office
4514 Thomas Jefferson St.
RSVP 208-364-7781 ext. 3932

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Idaho’s unemployment insurance programs are 100% funded by U.S. Department of Labor Employment and Training Administration grants totaling $40,761,255.

Unemployment insurance helps the economy as well as individual workers

Part five of an explainer series on Idaho’s unemployment insurance (UI) program.

While most discussions about the unemployment insurance benefits program focus on the role as a safety net for individual workers, this is only one of three major purposes it serves. The two others include as an automatic stabilizer for the greater economy during recessions and to preserve the workforces of industries that experience wide annual swings in business due to changes in weather throughout the year.

As an economic stabilizer, unemployment benefits are an insurance policy for the entire economy during recessions or economic disruptions that affect a large number of workers like the Great Recession after the 2008 global financial collapse or shutdowns caused by the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020.

During these types of events, with a large drop in employment and a reduction in economic activity as payrolls diminish and buying is curtailed, there is a risk of a snowball effect and greater economic consequences as businesses suffer from the reduction in demand. The stabilizer effect the unemployment insurance program provides is meant to hedge against greater economic turmoil that could lead to a much deeper and long period of economic decline.

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Idaho’s July unemployment rate shows slight increase to 2.6%

NEWS RELEASE

For Immediate Release: Aug. 19, 2022
Media Contact: Craig.Shaul@labor.idaho.gov or Karen.JarboeSingletary@labor.idaho.gov

Idaho’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 2.6% in July, up 0.1 percentage points from June.

Map: Idaho counties and July 2022 unemployment rateThe number of Idahoans employed or looking for work grew by 3,938 people (0.4%) to 952,500. Labor force participation increased by 0.1 percentage points between June and July to 62.6%. Idaho’s peak participation rate reached 71.4% in September 1998.

July’s labor force growth was caused by increases in both employed and unemployed persons. Total employment grew by 3,364 (0.4%) to 927,974 while total unemployment increased by 574 (2.4%) to 24,526.

According to Help Wanted Online, there were 63,010 online job postings in Idaho during July, equating to 2.6 job openings for every unemployed Idahoan looking for work.

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