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Old 11-22-2010, 10:59 AM
 
3 posts, read 15,335 times
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I apologize if this has been addressed elsewhere. I searched but didn't see anything.

I have just reached the one year mark of collecting benefits in Illinois. I believe I was on Tier 2 when my first year ended on Nov 1. I then received a letter stating that I had qualifying wages in Q3/2009 and Q4/2009. It told me my weekly benefit amount and my maximum benefit balance. Unfortunately, it also told me I was ineligible for a second benefit year because I did not earn any wages during my first benefit year.

I guess I'm confused because it told me my first certification date was 11/16. I did complete my certification online but didn't receive a payment. Why did they even tell me to certify if they already stated I'm ineligible for a second benefit year?

I tried contacting my local office but am only able to leave a message each time. Anyone have any ideas about what's going on?
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Old 11-22-2010, 11:23 AM
 
Location: Wisconsin
25,589 posts, read 56,236,996 times
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Quote:
Originally Posted by kirstenj578 View Post
I have just reached the one year mark of collecting benefits in Illinois. I believe I was on Tier 2 when my first year ended on Nov 1. I then received a letter stating that I had qualifying wages in Q3/2009 and Q4/2009. It told me my weekly benefit amount and my maximum benefit balance. Unfortunately, it also told me I was ineligible for a second benefit year because I did not earn any wages during my first benefit year.

I guess I'm confused because it told me my first certification date was 11/16. I did complete my certification online but didn't receive a payment. Why did they even tell me to certify if they already stated I'm ineligible for a second benefit year?
By law, at the end of your first claim year, you must recertify for benefits. At that time, the earnings during your first claim year are evaluated. In the event you are deemed ineligible for a new claim, your application (recertification) is denied, your old claim is reopened and you continue on the EUC tier benefits. This is a routine procedure.

Illinois should be reopening your old claim. There might be a week or two delay. Some states are seamless in how they process, others are not.

Keep trying to call IL on your status - and KEEP CLAIMING. You should be receiving a letter and your benefits very soon.
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Old 11-22-2010, 11:46 AM
 
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Default Thanks!

Thank you so much. It stinks that I didn't qualify for the new benefit year because my benefits would have doubled. I'll take what I can get though. I really appreciate your help.
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Old 11-22-2010, 02:30 PM
 
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So, is the period of time they look at for the one year recertification different from what they would look at for a whole new application? They look at the actual past 12 months rather than the "base period" method used for new claims?

In Kirsten's case, those Q3 and Q4 2009 wages would not have been considered part of her base period when she originally filed in 2009, but if she was filing a new application now, they would be. And from the sound of it, her wages in those quarters would give her a much higher weekly benefit amount.

But the unemployment office is not actually considering those quarters for the purposes of this recertification just because they're not part of the 12 months of her benefit year?

That seems odd.

What if she just closed her existing unemployment claim and then refiled?
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Old 11-22-2010, 02:40 PM
 
Location: Wisconsin
25,589 posts, read 56,236,996 times
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Quote:
Originally Posted by kirstenj578 View Post
Unfortunately, it also told me I was ineligible for a second benefit year because I did not earn any wages during my first benefit year.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Sweater Fish View Post
But the unemployment office is not actually considering those quarters for the purposes of this recertification just because they're not part of the 12 months of her benefit year?
Yes. In order to qualify for a new claim year, claimant must have worked during her first claim year. That is a criteria for establishment of a new claim year in all states.
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Old 11-22-2010, 02:47 PM
 
Location: Wisconsin
25,589 posts, read 56,236,996 times
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ETA: Here from WI website:

Quote:
To qualify for unemployment benefits you must have been paid wages from covered employment in at least two quarters of your base period. You need:
  • Enough wages in your high quarter to qualify for the minimum WBR;
  • Wages in your 3 lowest quarters that equal at least 4 times your WBR when added together;
  • Total base period wages equal to at least 35 times your WBR; and
  • If you were paid benefits in a prior benefit year which has ended, you must have worked since the beginning of that benefit year and earned at least 8 times the WBR of that claim.
Computing UI Benefit Entitlement

Last edited by Ariadne22; 11-22-2010 at 02:56 PM..
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Old 11-26-2010, 12:26 PM
 
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Default Letter received

Alright, well, I just received another letter in the mail today telling me there is an issue with my certification. It says I cannot be paid for the weeks I certified for until I contact my local office regarding this issue. The issue is stated to be "You have been found ineligible for a second benefit year. Refer to the Finding you previous received. If you wish to appeal this decision and have not already done so, contact your local office."

Upthread we already determined that I'm not eligible for a second benefit year, but I thought they would continue the tier I was previously on. This letter is throwing me off. Is this standard procedure for them before they reopen my previous claim?

I have called the office multiple times and can't get in touch with anyone. If anyone has any other insight into this situation, I'd appreciate hearing from you.

Thanks in advance!
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Old 11-26-2010, 12:42 PM
 
Location: Wisconsin
25,589 posts, read 56,236,996 times
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Unfortunately, you need to keep trying. If there is an UI office you can visit, do that. Most states require you to contact them personally to recertify. Meanwhile, if the system allows you to at least claim, do that.
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Old 11-26-2010, 05:02 PM
 
Location: Stuck in NE GA right now
4,585 posts, read 12,325,280 times
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Quote:
Originally Posted by kirstenj578 View Post
Alright, well, I just received another letter in the mail today telling me there is an issue with my certification. It says I cannot be paid for the weeks I certified for until I contact my local office regarding this issue. The issue is stated to be "You have been found ineligible for a second benefit year. Refer to the Finding you previous received. If you wish to appeal this decision and have not already done so, contact your local office."

Upthread we already determined that I'm not eligible for a second benefit year, but I thought they would continue the tier I was previously on. This letter is throwing me off. Is this standard procedure for them before they reopen my previous claim?

I have called the office multiple times and can't get in touch with anyone. If anyone has any other insight into this situation, I'd appreciate hearing from you.

Thanks in advance!
Your best bet is to just go in to the the unemployment office, that's what I had to do. Go really early and your wait time will be limited. There you can sit down with a person who can fix everything in a few moments...good luck!
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Old 11-26-2010, 06:19 PM
 
Location: Wisconsin
25,589 posts, read 56,236,996 times
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If it makes you feel any better, Kirsten, in WI when our benefit year ends we get a letter asking if we want to apply for a new benefit year, saying if we do not want to apply for a new benefit year, we should return the letter.

They also say we will not need an initial claim to start our new benefit year, but if we do not file a weekly claim for the BYE week, we have to contact a claims specialist to establish a new benefit year. It also states if we are eligible for a new benefit year we forfeit all right to EB.

Are you confused yet?

Nowhere does it say that (1) if we don't return the letter they automatically apply for a new claim for us provided we continue to file, and (2) if our application for a new claim is denied, our old claim is reopened and we continue on the tiers.

A week later, I got a letter saying my application for unemployment insurance benefits had been received. (I never applied, they did this for me.)

A month later I got another letter saying my UI benefits had been exhausted, it was the end of a quarter and they were reevaluating my earnings and I may be eligible for additional benefits and to continue to file.

A day after that letter and one month after my BYE - I get another letter saying my EUC08 has been extended by $xxxxx - equivalent to 13 weeks.

Well, I didn't return the original letter or respond or call about any of the other correspondence, and my claim continued automatically. Throughout this 5 week period, I was able to claim and received payments for every week without interruption.

If I had not been reading this board for almost a year, I would have been totally confused by all that seemingly contradictory correspondence, probably would have sent back that first letter which would have been a huge mistake, not to mention numerous emails and calls to DWD trying to figure out the meaning of it all and get my benefits rolling again. Fortunately, in this case, I did NOTHING and had no problems whatsoever.

They don't make it easy, that's for sure.

Last edited by Ariadne22; 11-26-2010 at 06:48 PM..
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