If you find yourself without a job and qualify for unemployment insurance, here are the best practices to follow so you can make the most of the unemployment benefits you receive—and get the maximum amount of money you’re eligible for. “Starting early is essential so you can get the maximum benefits before you land your next job,” says Irene McConnell, executive coach, hiring manager, and managing director at Arielle Executive. You will only receive payments from when you applied for unemployment benefits, not for any weeks before you applied—so be sure to file a claim right away, so you get the full amount you’re eligible for. Once you apply for unemployment benefits and get approved, make sure you certify each week (or once every two weeks depending on the state you live in) to continue receiving checks. “To maximize the benefits, be careful about your state laws and be vigilant while filing your claims,” advises Steve Anevski, CEO and co-founder of staffing platform Upshift. Any errors can delay your payments. You will not get benefits for weeks that you don’t certify for. “The specifics vary from state to state, but job search records usually require names, dates, addresses, and numbers of all employers contacted, along with the job titles you have applied for,” says Dror Zaifman, financial planner and director of digital marketing at fintech company, iCASH. Keep track of these in a spreadsheet or on paper, so you can provide the information each time you certify for benefits or if the unemployment agency requests to see it. “If the labor market conditions in your state are worse, the extended benefits can be granted for another seven weeks,” says McConnell. Extended benefits are usually granted when a state has high levels of unemployment, according to the Department of Labor. The federal pandemic unemployment benefits extension ended as of September 2021, but check with your state’s unemployment agency to see if you might still be eligible for an extension. “When the next tax season starts, you’ll have to pay those taxes,” says Justin Nabity, certified financial expert. Still, it can be helpful to receive the maximum amount possible with each unemployment check.
