Nebraska Unemployment

A Guide to Nebraska Unemployment Insurance

Between 2000 and 2003, the Nebraska unemployment rate increased from 2.7% up to a high of 4.2%. That rate stayed relatively constant up until April 2005, when it then dropped down to a low of 2.7% in about a year. This rate remained relatively stable until the beginning of 2008 where it started to sharply rise, reading a high of 5% in June 2009. It remained there for about six months until coming down to about 4.2% as of October 2011.

Apply for Nebraska Unemployment Insurance

If you are currently unemployed, you can receive unemployment insurance benefits under Nebraska's Unemployment Insurance Program. Unemployment Insurance is a government program that provides weekly benefits to insured workers who are either unemployed or are working reduced hours. The purpose of Nebraska's program is to temporarily help unemployed workers and to keep the economy stable in Nebraska. You can currently apply for Nebraska Unemployment Insurance benefits either by phone or online. If you are planning to file your claim by phone, you must call the Nebraska Claim Center between the hours of 8AM to 5PM from Monday through Friday at (402) 458-2500. If you plan to file your Nebraska unemployment claim online, you can use the service provided by the Nebraska state Department of Labor. Regardless of which method you choose, you will have to provide the following information:

• You name, including any prior names such as married names or maiden names

• Home mailing address, county you live in, and telephone number

• Social Security number and number on your driver's license or state identification card

• If you are a non-citizen, your employment authorization number with expiration date

• Form DD 214 if you have served in the military in the last 18 months

• Bank routing number and account number for a direct deposit

• Your employment history for the last 18 months as shown on your paycheck stub or W-2 form, as well as all complete addresses of each business, start and end date of each employer, total wages earned with each employer, how often you were paid with each employer, reasons for leaving each employer

Eligibility for Nebraska Unemployment Insurance

In order to be eligible to receive Nebraska unemployment insurance benefits, you must meet the following requirements for every week you receive benefits:

• You must have earned at least $3770 from all of your employment in a base period and at least $1850 must be in one quarter and $800 in the other one

• You are unemployed or partially unemployed, but are available for work and you are actively looking for new employment

• You are both physical and mentally able to work

• You are unemployed for a eligible reason (lack of work, reduced hours, on the job injury, etc) • You are a U.S. citizen or you are legally allowed to work in the country.

How to Maintain Nebraska Unemployment Insurance

The maximum unemployment insurance benefits payable under normal circumstances in Nebraska cannot exceed 26 weeks. In order to keep your benefits, you must make sure to file your weekly claim. However, because of high unemployment, extended benefits are available from the Federal government through the Emergency Unemployment Compensation program and the Extended Benefits Program. If you are eligible for these programs, you will be notified though the mail. It will explain how to file a claim for the benefits provided under the. However, at the end of 2011 and the beginning of 2012, both programs will be slowly phased out.

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