unemployment benefits decreased with new benefit year? (Madison: transfer, income)

[milspec8541]

I just exhausted my second tier in 6-20-2010 and after they signed the new extensions I was able to be moved into tier 3 and received payment up to 7-24-2010 when my benefit year ended. I called ESC and they started my new benefit year and my payment went from $494 to $303 a week. I didnt work or have any income since my last job that ended on 7-24 of last year. I thought that the tiers kept unemployment payment the same but for shorter week durations. Is this not the case? Please help with advice.

Joseph Madison

[jdljr]

Originally Posted by milspec8541

I just exhausted my second tier in 6-20-2010 and after they signed the new extensions I was able to be moved into tier 3 and received payment up to 7-24-2010 when my benefit year ended. I called ESC and they started my new benefit year and my payment went from $494 to $303 a week. I didnt work or have any income since my last job that ended on 7-24 of last year. I thought that the tiers kept unemployment payment the same but for shorter week durations. Is this not the case? Please help with advice.

Joseph Madison

Have you actually received a payment of $303? Ir did you simply get the determination letter in the mail letting you know what your new weekly benefit amount would be? Because without having worked during your previous benefit year, your claim should have set a "65" issue for no earnings during your previous benefit year.

If you've not yet gotten a payment and simply received the letter, chances are you will not get the $303 per week since you didn't work and earn at least $4,557 during your last benefit year. The letter simply states what your new weekly benefit amount WOULD be in your new benefit year, provided you meet all of the qualifications. If you didn't have the $4,557 of wages during your last benefit year, you didn't meet all the requirements for the new benefit year. If that's the case, someone will need to resolve that 65 issue so that the unused extension money from your previous benefit year can be transferred to a new "dummy" benefit year for you to draw.

[milspec8541]

I havent gotten a payment yet. The claim profile shows as $303 and active issues is yes. Thank you so much for the info. You are awesome for helping everyone out with questions after working all day. I must say that the few times I've had to call in to raleigh for help they've been really nice. Hard for people to be nice when a stressful job like that. Thanks again. I'll update once it changes.