Multi unemployment filing (collect, file, apply, claim)

[danimal45]

Im a contractor recently I worked in Alabama my home state is Georgia and my contract house is in Baltimore Maryland
So when my 8 weeks of benefits runs out can I file in Maryland? I was informed that I can only collect 8 weeks regardless
Of the amount of money I made per quarter
Thanks Dan

[Rabrrita]

Were you paid as a W-2 employee or as a 1099 contractor?

[danimal45]

W2

[Ariadne22]

Originally Posted by danimal45

Im a contractor

recently

I worked in Alabama
my home state is Georgia and
my contract house is in Baltimore Maryland

So when my 8 weeks of benefits runs out can I file in Maryland? I was informed that I can only collect 8 weeks regardless Of the amount of money I made per quarter

Amount of money you can collect depends on:

(1) state in which you file and
(2) base-period wages used at the time you file and
(3) where those wages were earned

Some states will pay 26 weeks benefits based on only one quarter of earnings if that quarter is high enough - so you cannot assume you will only get eight weeks.

A combined-wage (Alabama/Maryland) claim may provide a higher weekly benefit for a longer period than separate claims filed in two states.

Please clarify:

• Sounds like your last job was in Alabama, you are currently unemployed, want to file for benefits based on the Alabama employment. Is that correct?

• Sounds like you WILL BE working Maryland, and want to file for benefits there when your "contract house" is completed? Is this correct?

Also, please provide:

• Your exact work history - by date - in all states going back to October 2014.

• Have you had any earlier claims? If so, (1) when and (2) in which state?

[danimal45]

Ok
I work as a contractor in South Carolina for 7 years ending 5/17/15 than I collected unemployment from the state of Georgia till 7/22/15 when I picked up another contract job in Alabama which ended 12/5/15 and I am unemploymented at this time.
Thanks

[Chyvan]

You poor soul. You should have REOPENed the Georgia claim. The Georgia claim looks to have some weeks of benefits left unless they are a state that's only paying 8 weeks, or maybe that's what AL did is let you interstate claim the remaining amount on your GA claim.

There may even be time to exhaust and then be able to get a second year claim around 5/17/16 using your paystubs from AL (don't throw them away) to show attachment to the labor market.

[danimal45]

I did reopen the claim in Georgia problem is the fine state of Georgia only allows 18 weeks of unemployment in a 1 year period....hence the question can I draw in another state after this claim is done...my contract house is in Maryland and that is most likely the state where the unemployment insurance was paid and perhaps I could open a claim in this state

[Chyvan]

Originally Posted by danimal45

Ok
I work as a contractor in South Carolina for 7 years ending 5/17/15 than I collected unemployment from the state of Georgia

You have to be more precise with stuff. From reading this, my gut instinct was why didn't you file in SC the first time around.

It's not about where the company's located, it's about where you worked, but there can be reporting errors that you can take advantage of, but you were asked to document your wages by state (as in where were you working when you earned them) for the past 18 months, you haven't, so you're not going to get the best answer.

[Ariadne22]

Originally Posted by danimal45

Im a contractor recently I worked in Alabama my home state is Georgia and my contract house is in Baltimore Maryland

Thanks Dan

Originally Posted by danimal45

Ok

• I work as a contractor in South Carolina for 7 years ending 5/17/15 than I
• collected unemployment from the state of Georgia till 7/22/15 when I
• picked up another contract job in Alabama which ended 12/5/15 and
• I am unemployed at this time.

Originally Posted by danimal45

I did reopen the claim in Georgia problem is the fine state of Georgia only allows 18 weeks of unemployment in a 1 year period....hence the question can I draw in another state after this claim is done...my contract house is in Maryland and that is most likely the state where the unemployment insurance was paid and perhaps I could open a claim in this state

The obvious state in which to have applied the first time would have been South Carolina.

That said, if you have exhausted the GA claim, yes - you may be able to qualify for a claim in another state - depending on the employer and where it paid FUTA taxes.

If you worked on a house in Maryland for an Alabama employer, there's a very good chance you'll need to apply in Alabama - unless that employer is in the habit if paying FUTA taxes to every state in which it works.

Many multi-state employers choose one or two states to which to pay UI FUTA tax - no matter where they do the work - usually the states with the lowest benefits. We had a case of a Hawaiian worker who could only get benefits from Alabama because that was the state where his employer reported the Hawaii wages - for obvious reasons. HI benefit is over $500/wk; AL more in the area of $300.

Chances are your Alabama employer reported your wages and paid UI taxes in Alabama. But, apply in MD first - request a combined-wage claim which will include SC earnings Jan-May 2015 and your MD earnings from the Alabama employer. If MD won't grant the claim because it shows no earnings for you, apply in AL. Again, request a combined-wage claim.