I am currently out of work and collecting unemployment insurance benefits. If I accept work now, and later become unemployed, how will my eligibility for unemployment insurance benefits be affected?

• The details of each individual’s unemployment insurance account are unique. Answers to your particular situation may be obtained by calling 651-296-3644 or 1-877-898-9090, or visiting www.uimn.org
  
  
• If you are currently receiving unemployment insurance benefits, accept work and then become unemployed again, you should re-apply for unemployment insurance benefits. The re-application process will determine whether you must re-activate your existing benefit account or need to establish a new benefit account
  
  
  • If you re-activate your existing benefit account, your weekly benefit amount will be the same.
    
    
  • If you need to establish a new benefit account, you may qualify for a different weekly benefit amount – it may be the same, higher or lower. The weekly benefit amount for a new account can change depending on how much you earned while you were working.
    
    
• The Minnesota Unemployment Insurance program is based on federal and state law.
  
  
• Extended benefits are currently available to most applicants who exhaust regular benefits. However, the law may change in the future.
  
  
• Because each individual’s situation is different, please call 651-296-3644 or 1-877-898-9090, or visit www.uimn.org if you have any questions about your unemployment benefits.

Example:

An individual works for a couple of years, earning $41,600 per year. He is laid off and applies for Unemployment Insurance benefits effective February 8, 2009. Benefits are payable at $400 per week based on his prior wages. The individual is then offered a job starting on June 1, 2009. He works for 3 months making $3,000 per month. That job ends, and he reactivates his existing UI benefit account.

The UI benefit of $400 per week is available until February 6, 2010. Then he must, under the law, reapply for benefits. The new UI benefit level is based on that three months of wages, a total of $9,000. The weekly UI benefit amount based on that employment will be $230.