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Requesting payments, account reactivation, part-time work and other payments that affect benefits…..
How long can I collect unemployment benefits?
You have up to one year after you have applied to receive the benefits in your account. The maximum amount of benefits you can receive during this one year period is between 11 and 26 times your weekly benefit amount depending upon the wages you earned in the base period of your benefit account. Refer to your Determination of Benefit Account for your weekly and maximum benefit amounts.
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If I run out of benefits, can I apply for an extension?
See “Extension of Benefits”.
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How are my weekly and maximum benefit amounts determined?
Your unemployment benefit is approximately half of your average weekly gross wage in the base period up to the state maximum of $597. The maximum benefit amount on an account is 26 times your weekly benefit amount.
Your weekly benefit amount is the HIGHER of:
- Your highest quarter of wages in the base period divided by 26, up to a maximum of $385, OR
- Your total base period wages divided by 104 up to a maximum of $597.
The maximum amount of benefits available is the LOWER of:
- Your weekly benefit amount multiplied by 26, OR
- Your total base period wages divided by 3.
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How do I get paid?
In order to receive a benefit payment, you must request benefits every week or every two weeks and be otherwise eligible. A schedule and instructions for Requesting Benefit Payment is available on the Request Benefit Payment Web page.
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What if my account is pending or under appeal, should I still request benefit payment?
If you are not in pay status because of a pending issue or an appeal, you should continue to request payment for each week you are unemployed until your eligibility for benefits is determined. You cannot be paid benefits for weeks you did not request payment in a timely manner.
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How are payments made?
If you are due a payment and requested direct deposit during the application process:
Once your direct deposit has been set up, any payment due should reach your account within 2 business days after you request payment.
If you are due a payment and did not request direct deposit during the application process:
About 8 days after you first request benefit payment, you will be mailed:
A U.S. Bank ReliaCard® Visa® (unemployment debit card). Once you’ve been issued an unemployment debit card, future payments made to the debit card should be received within two business days.
For information about the unemployment debit card, view Frequently Asked Questions about the Unemployment Debit Card.
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Why didn’t I receive benefits for the first week I requested benefit payment?
Before any benefits can be paid, you must serve a nonpayable week at the start of your new account, as described in Minnesota Law §268.085, Subd.1 (5). The first week you apply and are eligible is called the nonpayable week and is never paid. You must make a timely benefit request for the nonpayable week, even though it is not paid.
You only have to serve one nonpayable week per benefit year.
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How does part-time work affect unemployment benefits?
If you work 32 or more hours in a week or if your gross earnings for a week equal or exceed your weekly benefit amount, you are not eligible for unemployment benefits for that week.
If you work less than 32 hours and earn less than your weekly benefit amount, you can receive a partial benefit payment. 55% of your part-time earnings in a week will reduce your benefits for that week dollar for dollar. Any money not paid to you due to a reduction stays in your account balance through the end of your benefit year.
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How does severance pay affect benefit payment?
Severance pay delays the start of your unemployment benefits. For example, if you get ten weeks of severance pay, you will not be eligible for unemployment benefits for the first ten weeks after your last day of work.
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How does social security retirement affect benefit payment?
If your Social Security claim was approved before the beginning date of your base period, your Social Security benefits will not affect your benefit payment.
If your Social Security claim was approved after the beginning date of your base period, your weekly unemployment benefits will be reduced by 50% of your weekly social security benefit amount.
Survivor's benefits will not affect your benefits.
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Are unemployment benefits taxable?
Yes. Unemployment benefits are taxable income under both federal and state law. Income tax is not withheld from your benefit payments unless you request it. You have the option of having 0%, 10% or 15% withheld from your benefit payment.
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How do I get year-end payment (Form 1099-G) information?
IRS Form 1099-G is a form used to report your total unemployment benefits paid for the prior year and all federal and state income taxes withheld. This form will be mailed no later than January 31st to your last known address as of December 31. This information will also be available online when you log into your account.
For more information on IRS Form 1099-G, reference 1099-G Tax Information.
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What should I do when I return to work?
If you return to work full-time, or want to stop requesting benefit payments for any reason, simply stop requesting payment and your account will become inactive. No notification is needed. However, keep your Password and unemployment debit card (if you have one) in a safe place in case you become unemployed again within your benefit year and need to reactivate your benefit account.
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What if I become unemployed or my hours are greatly reduced again?
If you become unemployed again within a year of applying, just log in to your account online or call the automated phone system. The system will guide you through the steps to request benefits or reactivate your account.
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How do pension payments affect my unemployment benefits?
Pension payments from a fund your base period employer contributed to will reduce your unemployment benefits dollar for dollar; unless:
- You have to pay a penalty for early withdrawal, or
- You roll the pension into another retirement fund without taking a taxable payment.
Pension payments from a fund your base period employer did not contribute to will not reduce your unemployment benefits.
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