Tag Archives: Benefits

Idaho’s Weekly Initial Claims Because of COVID-19 Reach 117,000

NEWS RELEASE

For Immediate Release: April 30, 2020
Information Contact: Georgia Smith, (208) 332-3570 ext. 2102 or Craig Shaul, (208) 332-3570 ext. 3201

Laid-off Idaho workers filed 117,811 initial claims for unemployment benefits during the six weeks of the COVID-19 state of emergency – twice the total number of initial claims filed in all of 2019.

Initial claims reached 8,827 during the week ending April 25, a 32 percent decline from the previous week.

It was the third week the number of new claims fell, while continued claims – the number of valid claims filed by people who are eligible, currently claiming benefits and still unable to return to work – reached 71,416. Continue reading →

Regional COVID-19 Pandemic Weekly Update – April 17, 2020

The COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic has created unprecedented disruptions to the economy. Each week in March brought news and developments that were historic and overshadowed the previous week’s developments. It has been impossible to keep up with the magnitude and volume of the economic impact affecting Idaho and its regions.

To document this event in Idaho, and the changes our state is experiencing from week to week, the Idaho Department of Labor is providing a weekly update. Pertinent events and data as it becomes available will be provided for each region in Idaho, the state as a whole and the context of the national economy.

Continue reading →

Idaho’s Weekly Initial Claims Exceed Total Filed in 2019

NEWS RELEASE

For Immediate Release: April 16, 2020
Information Contact: Georgia Smith, (208) 332-3570 ext. 2102 or Craig Shaul, (208) 332-3570 ext. 3201

Idahoans filed more initial claims for unemployment benefits in the four weeks since the state of emergency was declared – 95,961 – than the total filed during all 2019 by 60 percent.

Initial claims for the week of April 11 filed from job losses due to the coronavirus slowed to 18,531 – down 40 percent from the week prior – but still a record for any week since 2013.

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Labor to Change Phone Availability Times to Help Speed Up Claims Turnaround

NEWS RELEASE

For Immediate Release: April 13, 2020
Information Contact: Georgia Smith, (208) 332-3570 ext. 2102

The Idaho Department of Labor is adjusting its phone schedule to accept incoming calls between 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. MST, and is reserving the hours of 4 to 6 p.m. MST for processing claims.

The move is expected to aid hundreds more recently unemployed Idahoans daily by freeing up time for staff to return phone calls, resolve issues preventing payment and process claims more quickly.

“Our goal is serve Idahoans as quickly as possible through this difficult time, and adjusting our phone schedule means we can focus on processing claims so Idahoans will receive their benefit payments sooner. This move reduces wait times for phone calls and click to chat interactions,” said Labor Director Jani Revier.

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Idahoans File 30,904 More Initial Claims for Unemployment Insurance

NEWS RELEASE

For Immediate Release: April 9, 2020
Information Contact: Georgia Smith, (208) 332-3570 ext. 2102 or Craig Shaul, (208) 332-3570 ext. 3201

Idaho workers laid off due to the coronavirus filed 30,904 initial claims for unemployment insurance between March 29 and April 4, a decrease of 6.2 percent from the previous week’s record level of 32,941.

The combined three-week total of claims filed since Gov. Brad Little declared a state of emergency the week of March 8 is 77,430 – an increase of 7,400 percent.

Continue reading →

CARES Act Takes Time for States to Implement

NEWS RELEASE

For Immediate Release: April 1, 2020
Information Contact: Georgia Smith, 208-332-3570 x 2102

Idaho, like all states, will need to change its unemployment insurance system in order to make payments to people authorized to receive additional benefits under the CARES Act.

Congress passed the CARES Act – which includes numerous provisions affecting the national unemployment insurance program – and Pres. Donald Trump signed it last week.

Workers, such as the self-employed and those paid by 1099 or in the gig economy, may be eligible for unemployment insurance benefits under the Act.

Continue reading →

Labor Phone Lines Overloaded with Calls

NEWS RELEASE

For Immediate Release: March 30, 2020
Information Contact: Georgia Smith, (208) 332-3570 ext. 2102

People are asked to visit Labor website for answers; file for benefits online

Idaho is one of several states across the nation where the surge of newly laid-off workers is overwhelming state unemployment phone systems. 

Laid-off workers who need to file for benefits – or have questions about unemployment insurance – should file online or visit the agency website instead of calling the department. 

“You do not have to call the department to file a claim. Everything can be done online and most questions can be answered by reviewing the posted material,” said Idaho Department of Labor director Jani Revier. “Our call volume is high and most callers are receiving a busy signal and will not get through.”

Jammed phone lines also prevent the department’s claim specialists from calling out to resolve issues with individual claims. When the department notifies a claimant there is an issue with their claim, the individual needs to wait for an agency claims specialist to call.  Continue reading →

Public Invited to Meetings on Unemployment Insurance Benefits Rule Changes

NEWS RELEASE

For Immediate Release: July 8, 2019
Information Contact: Joshua McKenna, (208) 332-3570 ext. 3919

The Idaho Department of Labor is holding public meetings about rule changes to Idaho Administrative Rules regarding unemployment insurance benefits.

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Why Can’t I Continue Receiving Unemployment Benefits After Returning to Work?

outdoor worker

Why can’t I continue receiving unemployment benefits after returning to work? It’s just until I get my first paycheck.

There are a few reasons why people are not allowed to receive unemployment benefits after becoming fully employed. First and foremost, it’s important to know that it’s against the law to collect unemployment benefits after you return to full-time work. Unemployment is only meant as temporary financial assistance until you’re employed again.

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Do you know how to meet your work search requirements while receiving unemployment benefits?

Editor’s note: This article was updated July 5, 2024, to reflect changes to acceptable work search actions. 

The top 10 things you need to know

1. Actively look for work

Almost everyone collecting unemployment insurance benefits is required to actively look for work each week. 

In very few cases, some people may not be required to look for work if they are scheduled to return to full-time employment within 16 weeks and they are considered to be job attached. Never assume you are job attached or are not required to look for work. If you think these situations may apply to you, please call a claim specialist at (208) 332-8942. 

Unless you have specifically been told that you do not have to actively look for work, you are required to look for a full-time job. In fact, you are required to complete five (5) work search actions each week you file a claim for unemployment benefits. 

You MUST comply with the work search requirements you agreed to when you completed your online application. These requirements can be viewed, and verified, online at our Claimant Portal. Log in to your account at labor.idaho.gov/claimantportal, and then go to Manage Claims to view this information.

2. Seasonal jobs

Seasonal employees are people who work in industries where short layoffs, or a reduction of hours, are expected at a certain time every year. These employees could be considered to be job attached if they have a definite return-to-work date and are expected to return to work within 16 weeks. Job attached designations for seasonal workers are limited to 16 weeks of reduced hours or scheduled layoff. This is applied statewide with no exceptions to the rule. Please note, if you are considered to be job attached, this is usually specifically stated on your online application for unemployment benefits. 

If claimants do not have a definite return-to-work date that is within 16 weeks of their layoff, or reduction in hours, they must look for work. We aren’t saying you can’t go back to your previous employer, but you will need to look for work during the time you are receiving unemployment benefits. Often people who work in seasonal industries find a second job working in an industry that is busy during the time their normal industry is not busy. For example, someone who works as a lookout for the U.S. Forest Service in the summer could work as a school bus driver in the fall and winter months.

3. Union members

Union members are not automatically exempt from the normal work search requirements. Your work search requirements could be waived if you are an active member of a union that regularly refers you to full-time work. 

During the claim filing process, you will be asked questions regarding union membership to determine your proper work search responsibilities. If your work search requirements are going to be waived, this will usually be stated on your online application.

4. Meeting work search requirements to avoid your benefits from being stopped

You are required to complete five (5) work search actions each week. Contacts must be with employers who typically hire people for the type of jobs you are looking for and the type of jobs you are able to perform. Work search actions, such as attending a hiring event, must be applicable to searching for work and something any unemployed person seeking work would normally do. 

You are also required to have an active IdahoWorks account. 

Additionally, you may be required to meet in person with one of our workforce consultants at your Labor office. The consultant will help make sure you have all the tools you need so you can return to work in the shortest amount of time possible. Our workforce consultants can help you by making sure your resume is ready, by preparing you for job interviews and by sharing innovative job seeking tips. 

It is important to keep your address up to date in our Claimant Portal so the letter we mail you that contains the information about meeting with a workforce consultant is not delayed or lost in the mail. If you are asked to meet with a workforce consultant and do not participate, then your benefits will be stopped.

5. Acceptable work search actions

The most common way to contact an employer for work is to apply with an application, resume, cover letter or letter of interest. Interviewing for a position is also an acceptable work search action. 

We recommend meeting with an Idaho Department of Labor staff member for work search assistance. They offer interview preparation classes, job search workshops and mock interviews. 

Registering with a staffing service, recruiter or placement agency is an acceptable work search action. 

Networking or meeting with others in your career field in an attempt to obtain work counts as an acceptable work search action. We recommend attending a job seeker event such as a job fair, virtual job fair, networking opportunity event, job club or employer sponsored workshop. 

An employer may ask you to complete a test, background check or drug test prior to employment. Completing an employer’s employment prerequisite is an acceptable work search action.

6. Unacceptable work search actions

Self-employment or gig work does not count as a work search action. Work-search actions must be made to obtain employment with an employer, not to pursue self-employment. 

It is not acceptable to contact an employer repeatedly or check on a position you have already applied for. You cannot count an action with the same employer more than once unless you have progressed to the next level in the hiring process. For example, you may not send in a resume one week and then count it as another work search action the following week because you sent a second resume. However, if you have sent in a resume and are now being asked to interview, then you may count it as another work search action for the week when the interview happens. 

Maintaining contact with your most recent employer is not considered an acceptable work search action. Also, if you are currently work part time, you may not use your current employer for a work search action. 

It is not acceptable to apply for work if you do not have the skills or education to perform the job. 

An online action is only acceptable if it results in an online application being completed or a résumé being submitted. Simply searching websites such as IdahoWorks.gov or Indeed.com for job openings is not enough to meet this requirement. You must also apply for the position as directed by the employer. For example, if an employer directs you to submit an application online, you must do so for the action to be acceptable. 

Click here for more information regarding acceptable contacts.

7. Reporting work search actions

You will be asked to enter information about your work search actions when you file your weekly certification. (Your weekly certification is completed using the Claimant Portal at labor.idaho.gov/claimantportal.) 

Some of the information you will be asked to enter includes the type of job you applied for, company name, address, phone number, contact name, date of the action, type of action and the results of the action. 

Our work search log can help you keep track of this information so you have it ready when you file your weekly certification application online. Please do not submit the work search log. It is a tool to be used for your record-keeping purposes only.

8. Not looking for work

You may be denied benefits for any week that you don’t complete five (5) acceptable work search actions. If you are having trouble meeting this requirement, our workforce consultants can help you find jobs to apply for.

9. Know your rights and responsibilities

It is important to know your rights and responsibilities as an unemployment insurance claimant. The Rights and Responsibilities pamphlet we mailed to you after you applied for benefits contains this information. Understanding this information will help you avoid having your benefits stopped or denied because you failed to comply with your work search requirements.

10. Returning to work

You’re required to continue to look for work even after you have received a job offer. The Idaho Department of Labor does not change your work-seeking status until you have actually returned to full-time employment. 

It also is important to know that you must not file your weekly certification for any week in which you worked full time. It is not okay to continue to file for benefits until you receive your first paycheck. Continuing to collect benefits after returning to work full time is considered fraud and could lead to monetary penalties and criminal prosecution. If you do this, your new employer also will be notified. 

Once you start working full time, simply quit filing your weekly certifications to make your claim inactive. There is no need to call us.

11. How the Idaho Department of Labor can help you find a job

Help is available, free of charge, at any of our Idaho Department of Labor offices and mobile locations. If you would like assistance in your job search, please make an appointment with a workforce consultant. Find all the locations for Labor local and mobile offices at labor.idaho.gov/officedirectory. 

Many resources can be found on the Idaho Department of Labor website. Some of these resources include job listings on IdahoWorks and wage and career information on JobScape. We also have several publications with tips for job seekers. 

— Kristie Winslow, technical writer
Idaho Department of Labor 

The Idaho Department of Labor’s unemployment insurance program is funded by the U.S. Department of Labor for SFY24 as part of the Employment and Training Administration Grant (80%) and state/nonfederal funds (20%) totaling $20,717,534.