Emergency Unemployment Compensation (EUC)
Eligibility
Note: EUC was expanded by Congress and the President effective November 8, 2009. We updated the information below to reflect the changes as we know them today.What is emergency unemployment compensation (EUC)?
EUC is a federal emergency extension that provides up to 53 additional weeks of unemployment benefits. You must run out of your regular benefits by December 19, 2009, to qualify for EUC benefits.
The EUC program has four tiers. Federal law requires you to run out of benefits in a tier before we can pay the next tier. You must run out of a tier by December 26, 2009, to get the next tier.
- Tier 1 -
We can pay up to 20 weeks of tier 1 benefits. - Tier 2 -
We can pay up to another 13 weeks of benefits. We will send you a Statement of Wages and Hours if you qualify for these additional weeks. You do not need to apply or contact us to receive these additional weeks. If you run out of tier 1 benefits by December 26, 2009, we will automatically set up these benefits.
Effective 11/8/2009, tier 2 was expanded by one week. We can now pay up to 14 weeks of benefits after you run out of tier 1 benefits. We will automatically add up to one more week of benefits to your tier 2 benefits if you already been set up for tier 2. - Tier 3 -
Effective 11/8/2009, we can pay up to another 13 weeks of benefits. We will send you a Statement of Wages and Hours if you qualify for these additional weeks. You do not need to apply or contact us to receive these additional weeks. If you run out of tier 2 benefits by December 26, 2009, we will automatically set up these benefits. - Tier 4 -
Effective 11/8/2009, we can pay up to another 6 weeks of benefits. We will send you a Statement of Wages and Hours if you qualify for these additional weeks. You do not need to apply or contact us to receive these additional weeks. If you run out of tier 3 benefits by December 26, 2009, we will automatically set up these benefits
Do I qualify for EUC?
You may qualify for Washington EUC if:
- You are not eligible for a regular claim in any state (including Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, the District of Columbia) or receiving unemployment benefits from Canada; and
- You have a Washington claim that began on or after May 7, 2006; and
- The benefit year on the claim has ended or you received all of the benefits.
Application
How do I apply for EUC?We will mail a paper EUC application to you when you get within two weeks of running out of regular unemployment benefits. If you do not receive an application, you can get one from your local WorkSource office or call the EUC Unit at 1-877-558-8509.
Return your completed EUC application to:
ESD
Attn: EUC Unit
P.O. Box 9046
Olympia, WA 98507-9046
You cannot apply for EUC using the Internet. We cannot accept faxed applications.
You do not need to apply for the additional tiers of EUC. We will automatically set up these benefits if you qualify as each tier of EUC benefits runs out.
When do I apply for EUC?
You can apply once we send you an application. If you do not receive an application within one week of your regular benefits running out or your benefit year ending, call the EUC Unit at 1-877-558-8509.
We cannot set up your EUC benefits until you run out of your regular benefits or your benefit year ends.
You do not need to apply for the additional tiers of EUC. We will automatically set up these benefits if you qualify as each tier of EUC benefits runs out.
What is the deadline for applying for EUC benefits?
We can only pay EUC if you run out of regular benefits by December 19, 2009.
I have a Washington claim but I live in another state. Do I qualify for EUC?
You are potentially eligible for EUC because it is a federal program.
Filing your weekly claims
After I am approved, how and when do I file my weekly claims for EUC?Filing EUC weekly claims is the same as for regular benefits: use the Internet or call the weekly claims line.
I stopped claiming because I ran out of EUC benefits. Do I need to send in a new EUC application or reopen my claim to get the additional EUC benefits effective with the week of November 8, 2009?
No. If you already applied for EUC, no new application is required. The additional EUC amount will be automatically added to your EUC benefits.
If you ran out of EUC benefits before November 8, 2009, and stopped claiming, we will automatically reopen your claim and send you instruction on when to begin filing weekly.
Benefits
How quickly will I receive a benefit check?If you qualify, your benefits will begin as soon as we approve your application.
How much money will I receive?
The most you can receive from EUC is 53 additional weeks of benefits. Your weekly benefit amount is the same as your regular weekly benefit.
- Tier 1 -
The maximum benefits payable for tier 1 is the lesser of: - 20 times your weekly benefit amount; or
- 80 percent of the maximum regular benefits payable.
Not everyone qualifies for 20 weeks of benefits. 80 percent of the maximum regular benefits payable may result in less than 20 weeks of EUC.
We will mail you a "Statement of Wages and Hours" after we set up your EUC claim. It will tell you how much you are potentially eligible to receive on tier 1 EUC.
- Tier 2 -
When you run out of tier 1, you may qualify for tier 2. We will send you another "Statement of Wages and Hours" if you qualify. Tier 2 pays the lesser of:
- 14 times your weekly benefit amount; or
- 54 percent of the maximum regular benefits payable.
Not everyone qualifies for the additional 14 weeks of benefits. 54 percent of the maximum regular benefits payable on your regular claim may result in less than 14 weeks of additional EUC.
You must run out of tier 1 by December 26, 2009, to get tier 2.
- Tier 3 -
After you run out of tier 2, you may qualify for tier 3. We will again mail you a "Statement of Wages and Hours" showing how much you can potentially receive. Tier 3 pays the lesser of: - 13 times your weekly benefit amount; or
- 50 percent of the maximum regular benefits payable.
Not everyone qualifies for the additional 13 weeks of benefits. 50 percent of the maximum regular benefits payable on your regular claim may result in less than 13 weeks of additional EUC.
These additional EUC benefits are based on the unemployment rate in Washington at the time you run out of tier 2. You must run out of tier 2 by December 26, 2009, to get tier 3.
- Tier 4 -
After you run out of tier 3, you may qualify for tier 3. We will again mail you a "Statement of Wages and Hours" showing how much you can potentially receive. Tier 4 pays the lesser of: - 6 times your weekly benefit amount; or
- 24 percent of the maximum regular benefits payable.
Not everyone qualifies for the additional 6 weeks of benefits. 24 percent of the maximum regular benefits payable on your regular claim may result in less than 6 weeks of additional EUC.
These additional EUC benefits are based on the unemployment rate in Washington at the time you run out of tier 3. You must run out of tier 3 by December 26, 2009, to get tier 4.
I received a "Statement of Wages and Hours" in the mail and it states that I am not eligible. Why don’t I qualify? And if I disagree, what can I do?
The reasons you don’t qualify may include:
- You originally applied for unemployment benefits before May 7, 2006, which is before the EUC eligibility period started; or
- The total wages on your original claim are less than 40 times your weekly benefit amount; or
- The total wages on your original claim are less than 1.5 times your high-quarter base-year earnings; or
- You qualify for a regular unemployment claim in Washington or another state; or
- Your last claim was not a Washington claim.
We will consider any information you provide.
An appeal is a written letter of disagreement with our decision. Send your appeal to:
EUC UnitThe appeal hearing is scheduled by the Office of Administrative Hearings, a separate agency. See Your Right to Appeal for more information.
P.O. Box 9046
Olympia, WA 98507-9046
Job-Search Activities
Do I document my job-search activities while I'm waiting to see if my application is approved?Yes. Potentially eligible claimants must document at least three job-search activities each week.
What are the job-search requirements while I am getting EUC?
The same as for regular benefits. You must:
- Make at least three employer contacts during each week claimed, or
- Participate in three approved in-person job-search activities at your local WorkSource office, or
- Make a combination of employer contacts and in-person job-search activities, for a total of three.
If you are approved for Commissioner-Approved Training (CAT) or the Self-Employment Assistance Program (SEAP), you do not have to meet the job-search requirements if you are making satisfactory progress in your schooling program.
I get work through my union. Do I have to look for other work outside of the union to receive EUC?
No. If you are in good standing with a referral union that participates in our program and you meet the union’s dispatch requirements, you satisfy the work-search requirement for EUC. We will verify your status with your union.
If I am on standby with my employer, do I have to look for other work while on EUC?
If we have approved you for standby, you satisfy the job-search requirement. If you do not return to work when your standby ends, you must start meeting the job-search requirements above. We will approve no more than eight weeks of standby in your benefit year. If you have not returned to work with your employer after eight weeks, you must comply with the job-search requirements described above, and report for all scheduled WorkSource appointments.
Miscellaneous
I have been approved for training benefits. Do I need to apply for EUC?Yes. We are required to pay you EUC before training benefits. If you do not apply for EUC, your benefits may be delayed or denied.
If you have been approved for training benefits but you are still receiving regular benefits, you will need to apply for EUC when your regular benefits end.
If you are currently receiving training benefits, you must apply for EUC. If you are not eligible for EUC because you qualify for a new claim, you will have the option of filing the new claim or continue drawing training benefits.
Can I continue to receive Trade Readjustment Allowances (TRA) instead of EUC?
No. We must pay EUC before TRA. We will mail an application packet to you if it appears you may qualify for EUC. We will review your application and make a decision about the status of your payments.
What happens if EUC ends and I still have money available?
Federal law says we cannot pay EUC benefits after the week ending May 29, 2010, even if you have a balance left.
Am I eligible for EUC if I had a denial on my claim while receiving regular benefits?
If you had a prior denial on your claim for benefits, the denial remains in effect until you meet the requalification requirements.
I’m an employer. How does EUC affect my experience rating and benefit charges?
EUC will not affect your experience rating or benefit charges. It is 100 percent federally funded. You will not receive a “Notice to Base Year Employer” (EMS 166). If you are a reimbursable employer, you will not be billed.
