Utah Unemployment Benefits

The Utah Department of Workforce Services (DWS) oversees the state’s unemployment insurance benefits program. This faction of the state government also establishes the rules for how to apply for unemployment online. Candidates wondering about these enrollment methods and the types of information they are required to provide in their petitions will find this information below. Similarly, the sections to follow will also address how petitioners may claim unemployment benefits each week and what they must do to prepare for their UI interviews.

What is unemployment in Utah?

The Utah unemployment insurance benefits program endows enrollees with monetary compensation during the weeks when they are without work. UI receives its funds through employers’ tax contributions, and these money values do not become less available to petitioners throughout the year. As a result, claimants must not worry about which month they apply for unemployment insurance in. Once petitioners have been approved to receive UC funds, they may begin using this money to provide for themselves and their dependents.

While the benefits enrollees are able to collect through their unemployment claim are expansive, the state imposes maximums on how long petitioners may collect UI. Throughout the state, beneficiaries may not cash in UC benefits for more than 26 weeks during a single calendar year. Conversely, enrollees will be awarded unemployment insurance coverage for at least 10 weeks. Once claimants utilize their UI compensation, they will need to find alternative means to support themselves.

What are the requirements to get unemployment in Utah?

When researching Utah eligibility for unemployment requirements, candidates will notice stipulations that encompass a variety of criteria. When determining who qualifies for unemployment, the DWS will examine the following:

• Why claimants are without work – In order to be eligible for UC, petitioners must have lost their jobs due to situations that were not their fault. As a result, most UI recipients are unemployed because they were either laid off due to a lack of work or because their employers permanently closed.
• Petitioners’ citizenship or status – Unemployment insurance eligibility requirements indicate that candidates must be United States citizens. However, claimants who are foreign-born may qualify for UC if they have legal permission to work in the country.
• Residency – Assessing who qualifies for UI means the DWS will confirm whether or not petitioners live in the United States. Furthermore, candidates will only be admitted into the UC benefits program if they are also pursuing full-time work opportunities in the country, as well.
• Availability – Petitioners hoping to qualify for UC must also demonstrate that they have schedules that permit them to work full-time jobs. This means candidates may not have obligations or enroll in coursework that prohibits them from working standard hours in their fields.

Finally, eligibility for unemployment addresses petitioner’s’ financial situations when determining whether or not candidates qualify for UI. In order to assess if claimants meet these requirements, the DWS will look at how much wages candidates earned during their base periods. UI standards across the country define the base period as the first four of the five most recent calendar quarters that predated when claimants applied for benefits. In total, a base period consists of 12 months. Once petitioners’ base periods have been established, financial UI eligibility requirements are as follows. Candidates must have earned:

• Income in at least two of their four quarters.
• A total of $3,600 throughout their base periods.
• Total wages throughout their base periods that equal at least 1.5 times what they earned in their highest quarters.

How can I sign up for unemployment in Utah?

Claimants who have access to a computer should know how to apply for unemployment online in Utah. This is the most efficient way for petitioners to submit their claims because the DWS can immediately receive their applications. However, claimants may choose to file their petitions online instead of via the online application for unemployment. In either instance, applicants must provide specific information when they apply for unemployment benefits. This includes:

• Personal information – Candidates are required to submit their Social Security Numbers. If petitioners do not have this documentation, they must provide their Alien Registration Number from their cards. If applicable, petitioners must also provide their driver’s license or state-sponsored identification card numbers.
• Employment history – The DLW requires all petitioners to relinquish a summary of their work history. This document must encompass all employers they have had in the past two years. Furthermore, enrollees need to record their employers’ business names, addresses with zip codes and office phone numbers. In addition, applicants also need to disclose the reasons why they are not working with these employers anymore.
• Military information – If applicable, military members who served within the previous two years must submit their long form Member 4 copy of the DD Form 214.

How do I prepare for the unemployment insurance interview in Utah?

In order to prepare for the unemployment insurance interview in Utah, claimants must first understand the reasons these conversations are necessary. The DWS will require an unemployment phone interview once the department has reviewed petitioners’ applications but still has questions regarding claimants’ eligibility. Sometimes these interviews are imperative because claimants accidentally left some questions blank on their applications. In other situations, however, the department may request a UI phone interview because it needs more information regarding how and why claimants lost their jobs. In these cases, the DWS may even require an unemployment interview with the employer, as well. When this is necessary, the department will use the employers’ interviews to fact check what the petitioners say in their testimonies.

Due to the nuanced nature of the UI enrollment process, the questions asked during the unemployment interview pertain directly to the points of concern the DWS found with each particular application. As a result, there is not one uniform script that all state agents follow for these conversations. However, petitioners may prepare for the unemployment insurance interview by gathering and organizing in advance any documents that support their claims. For example, petitioners who quit their jobs but say they spoke with their supervisors about office conditions should have notes of their conversations on-hand. If applicants plan on citing specific workspace policies or protocol, they should prepare and mark copies of their employee handbooks. The DWS agents are only interested in hearing facts. As a result, claimants who are able to support their arguments with specific citations will encounter more success in these conversations.

How do I claim unemployment benefits in Utah?

Even after petitioners are admitted into the program, they will need to file and claim unemployment benefits in Utah each week they are enrolled in UC. This helps the DWS ensure only the most qualified enrollees are receiving payment, and it motivates beneficiaries to continue searching for reemployment venues. In order to keep an unemployment benefits claim active, candidates must report specific information each week they collect benefits. In particular, enrollees must disclose:

• How much income they earned – Petitioners need to report if they earned any income throughout the weeks they are claiming. Applicants must enter exact dollar amounts.
• If they received any work offers – The DWS must know if enrollees received any job offers. Likewise, applicants must report if they rejected any employment opportunities.
• If they went to school or training – In an effort to keep claimants’ schedules open for work opportunities, the DWS obligates enrollees to mention if they attended any classes or trainings. Regardless whether these trainings were paid or not, candidates must disclose this information.
• Whether or not they traveled abroad – Enrollees must tell the DWS if they participated in any international travel during the weeks they are claiming benefits for unemployment.

Finally, the DWS requires that all enrollees who claim unemployment benefits make four or more full-time supervisor contacts each week. To fulfill this step, petitioners must disclose:

• When they contacted the employers.
• How they reached out.
• Who they contacted and what those individuals’ positions are.
• Where the companies are located, along with their addresses, phone numbers and websites.
• Whether or not these inquiries produced any results.

What do I do if I am denied unemployment benefits in Utah?

Even after claimants are denied unemployment in Utah by the DWS, this does not mean there is no possible way they may collect UC benefits. In fact, petitioners are able to file appeals. These requests are eventually reviewed by administrative law judges (ALJs). This same right is extended to employers who find the departments’ determinations to be unfavorable and inaccurate. The DWS prefers candidates who are denied unemployment benefits submit their appeals online. However, petitioners without access to the internet may also file their claims via fax or through the mail. Regardless of the methods claimants use, they must include in their appeals the reasons why they are requesting to have these decisions upturned.

Once the Appeals Unit receives the unemployment denial appeal, it will mail hearing notices to claimants and their former employers. This document will contain information relating to when their hearings will take place. However, candidates who have their unemployment benefits denied will also receive a number they must call as soon as possible. Completing this task confirms their participation in the denied UI appeal hearings. After completing this step, petitioners may devote their time to preparing any relevant evidence they would like to present in their hearings. This is also the time when claimants should work on arranging witnesses and legal representation, if they would like the support.

The UC denial appeal hearing is recorded, and the ALJs will hear all evidence and make decisions independent of what the DWS previously ruled. Afterward, the ALJs will mail their new determinations to petitioners and their former employers. However, if either party continues to disagree with these decisions, they may request additional appeals. However, these requests must be submitted to the Workforce Appeals Board. Either party has 30 days to submit these additional appeals.

How can I apply for a federal unemployment extension in Utah?

When available, a federal unemployment extension in Utah permits enrollees to receive benefits for more than 26 weeks during a single calendar year. However, an unemployment benefits extension is not commonplace. Congress mandates when these additional enrollment periods become available to petitioners. However, the DWS will notify qualifying candidates when an unemployment extension becomes available. In order to qualify, petitioners must have previously claimed 26 weeks’ worth of UC benefits.

How do I contact the Utah unemployment office?

The Utah unemployment office exists to help manage enrollees’ petitions and claims for benefits. As a result, candidates may contact their local UI office if they have any questions regarding the program. This same level of open communication is also extended to employers. Either party may call their local unemployment office at any point during their application process. In addition, the Salt Lake City DWS is situated at:

720 S 200 E

Salt Lake City, Utah 84111

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Who pays for unemployment in Utah?

In Utah, the employer pays 100% of the unemployment benefits.

When should I file for unemployment in Utah?

The best time to file for unemployment insurance in any state is right away. You should always try to file an unemployment claim on or after the last day you worked. You should never wait longer than a week to file for unemployment benefits as the state only recognizes the day you file your claim as being significant when awarding your benefits.

When is the effective day of my claim?

The effective day of your claim is the first Sunday of the week you made the claim.

What is a waiting week?

When you first file for unemployment benefits, the state will typically take a week to process your claim, The first week after you apply for benefits is typically known as the waiting week. This week is usually not paid as it is used to determine if you qualify for benefits.