Claimant Guidebook - Wyoming Department of Workforce Services

Wyoming Department ofWorkforce ServicesPO Box 2760Casper, WY 82602307-473-3789Your Guide toUnemploymentBenefitsGet started atwww.wyomingworkforce.org/uiorCall 307-473-3789

Table of ContentsThis guide provides general information to claimants who have filed for unemployment benefits. It does not give legaladvice. For more information, go to www.wyomingworkforce.org/ui.Services for job seekers ..............................................................................................................................................2Fraud and overpayments ..........................................................................................................................................3Online resources ...........................................................................................................................................................4Quick reference .............................................................................................................................................................5Avoiding benefit delays ..............................................................................................................................................5Qualifying for benefits ................................................................................................................................................6Payment process ..........................................................................................................................................................7Maintaining Your eligibility for benefits .............................................................................................................8Items affecting your claim .........................................................................................................................................9Understanding your appeal rights .........................................................................................................................10Earnings & Work Search Logs ....................................................................................................................................11What is Unemployment Insurance?Unemployment Insurance is a program to help workers who have lost their job through no fault of their own. TheUnemployment Insurance Program helps to lessen the negative impact that unemployment has on theeconomy. This program is not paid for by employees. Employers fund the Unemployment Insurance program. To file forunemployment, contact wyomingworkforce.org or call 307-473-3789. In exchange for Unemployment Insurancebenefits, your job is to look for work. Please remember, you are responsible for knowing the information in thisbooklet.Services for job seekersWorkforce Centers across Wyoming provide a variety of no-cost services to job seekers. In addition to job searchassistance, your local Workforce Center can help with writing your resume, interviewing skills and trainingassistance.Other services include:• Career counseling• Computer and internet access• Certification programs• Updated and comprehensive job listings• Programs for veterans, youth and those with disabilities• Training and skills upgrading• Hiring events and job fairs in your area• Information on career and salary trends• Workers’ Compensation• Labor Standards• And much moreRemember!Register at wyomingatwork.com the first week you file for unemployment orgo to your local Workforce Center to register for work. This is required in orderto receive benefit payments. If you live outside of Wyoming, go to your nearestWorkforce Center in your state of residency.2 www.wyomingworkforce.org/ui

Online ResourcesOur site www.wyomingworkforce.org/ui has a wealth of information to assist you with your unemploymentbenefit needs.Services• Job search tools• File for a payment• Self-service resource guide• Work registration• Unemployment insurance forms• Address change• Telephone number change• Payment method selection• Pay orderFiling Onlinehttps://doe.state.wy.us/InetClaims/• File bi-weekly claim (request payment)• Change payment method from debit card to directdeposit• Update direct deposit accounts• Change direct deposit to debit cardInformational VideosGo to wyomingworkforce.org to see videos aboutunemployment benefits.Facebook and TwitterKeep updated on items that may affect your benefits byfollowing us on Facebook and Twitter.• Facebook: facebook.com/wyomingworkforce• Twitter: @WyomingWorkforceFrequently Asked QuestionsVisit our website for answers to these FAQs:• Appeals• Debit card• Emergency Unemployment Compensation• Overpayments• General unemployment benefitsWyoming Workforce CentersYou are required to register for work. You can find avariety of job seeker services at a Workforce Center nearyou or at wyomingworkforce.org.If you live outside of Wyoming, find your state’s WorkforceCenter at www.careeronestop.com.4 www.wyomingworkforce.org/ui

Quick ReferenceClaims Center307-473-3789866-729-7799 (If calling from outside of Wyoming)Unemployment Insurance Appeals307-235-3246Monday through Friday8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. (Mountain Time)Fax: 307-235-3215To Avoid Delays...• Register at wyomingatwork.com the first week youfile for unemployment or go to your local WorkforceCenter to register for work. This is required in orderto receive benefit payments.• Return any required paperwork by the deadline.• Look for your ReliaCard in the mail from U.S. Bank.• Make sure your address and telephone number arecurrent on your Unemployment Insurance claim.Mail from the Unemployment Insurance Division isnot forwarded by United States Postal Service.• Request payment in a timely manner.• Report all earnings including tips and hours workedeven if it is one dollar or one hour. Earnings must bereported when earned, regardless of when paid.• Actively search for full-time employment and trackyour progress. You can utilize the Work Search Log inthe back of this guide.• Find more work search forms online atwyomingworkforce.org.Quick ReferenceAvoiding BenefitDelaysEqual Opportunity• U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commissionenforces federal anti-discrimination laws.• If you believe that you have been discriminatedagainst, contact the Equal Employment OpportunityCommission at 1-800-669-4000.Self-Employment EarningsIf you are self-employed, you’ll report your incomefor the week you worked, and not the week you arepaid. Keep track of your hours, earnings and expenses.Subtract your expenses from the amount earned andreport the remainder as self-employment earnings. Youmay be required to provide records of your income andexpenses. When you request payment, the amount ofself-employment you reported will be subtracted fromthe weekly benefit amount. The remainder will be theamount you receive in benefits for that week.Tips for Filing for Payment• Have your unemployment PIN and social securitynumber handy.• Make sure you report your earnings and hoursworked, including tips, even if you have not receivedwages yet.• You are asked yes or no questions; be sure to answerthese accurately.File online at:https://doe.state.wy.us/InetClaims/or Call:307-473-3789www.wyomingworkforce.org/ui 5

Qualifying forBenefitsYou will receive a form called “Unemployment InsuranceMonetary Determination of Benefits,” also known as FormWYO 122, that shows how much you earned and howmuch you may receive in benefits.6You must:1. Have earned adequate wages during your baseperiod.2. Be unemployed through no fault of your own.3. Be able, available and actively seeking work.1Determine Your Base PeriodYou must have earned the required amount during thestandard base period (the first four of the last fivecompleted calendar quarters before the start date ofyour claim). You must have earned wages in at least twoquarters and have total base period earnings of 1.4 timesyour highest quarter.Qtr 1 Qtr 2 Qtr 3 Qtr 4Jan, Feb, Mar Apr, May, July, Aug, Oct, Nov, DecJuneSeptExample 1 - File Date: Qtr 4 2012Example 2 - File Date: Qtr 1 20132Job SeparationsIn order to qualify for benefits, you must have lost your jobthrough no fault of your own.3Able, Available & Actively SeekingWorkIn order to qualify for benefits, you must be able andavailable for work. You must also be actively seeking work.By being able and available for work, you are:• Actively seeking work and meeting your worksearch requirements of two different employercontacts each week.• Physically and mentally able to work.• Available to accept work immediately if a job isoffered.Remember!Keep track of your work searches using the WorkSearch Log in the back of this guide. You may be askedto produce a record of your work searches at any time.Withdrawal of Initial ClaimsYou may withdraw an initial claim only upon writtenrequest. If your wages are from:• Wyoming only: the postmark or fax date must bewithin seven (7) days of the mailing date of the firsteligible Monetary Determination, Form WYO122.• Two or more states combined: the postmark or faxdate must be within fifteen (15) days of the mailingdate of the first eligible Monetary Determination,Form WYO122.Wage Credit FreezeIf you received Temporary Total Disability under WyomingWorkers’ Compensation, you may claim UnemploymentInsurance using earnings from the four completedcalendar quarters prior to your injury date. You must havebeen released from Temporary Total Disability and filewithin 60 days from the mail date of the notice of releaseand within 36 months of the injury date.www.wyomingworkforce.org/ui

Payment ProcessProcessing Your PaymentAfter you file your claim, we request separationinformation from your last employer when necessary.When processing is complete, you will either receivepayment or a notice explaining why you will not receive apayment. We will mail you a personal identification number(PIN). You must retain this PIN for access to unemploymentbenefits and services.How to Request PaymentYou will request payment every two weeks. Rememberto request payment on time even if your claim isineligible or if you are filing a protest. You must waitfor both weeks to be completely over before filing. Ifyou don’t request payment within six days, you may bedenied payment.Going GreenBy choosing to request payment using the internet orthe voice response system, you will not receive paper payorders in the mail. If you need to receive paper payorders, use mail or fax to request payment. It is importantthat you keep track of the correct dates to file.Payment MethodWhen you file your initial claim, you will receive aReliaCard debit card issued by U.S. Bank in a plain, whiteenvelope – watch for it in the mail. The card is issuedon all Wyoming claims to make sure payments can bemade in an emergency where it is not possible to pay bydirect deposit. Follow the instructions for activatingthe card and getting a Personal IdentificationNumber (PIN) by calling (866)276-5114. The four-digit PINyou create to access your account is different from theunemployment PIN mailed to you by the Departmentof Workforce Services to request payment. If you havequestions about the card, such as deposits, the PIN orcard balances, you can contact ReliaCard customer service24 hours a day at (866)276-5114.You will receive a new debit card each benefit year,and can request to be paid by direct deposit anytime during your claim. If you request to be paid bydirect deposit when you file your initial claim, keep the ReliaCardissued on your claim in a safe place in the event of anemergency. Whether you select debit card or directdeposit for payment, you must inform the Department ofWorkforce Services in writing of any change of address.Direct DepositYou can have your unemployment benefits deposited directlyto your checking or savings account. To do so, youmust go to https://doe.state.wy.us/InetClaims to updateyour payment method. You will need your social securitynumber, unemployment program PIN, bank account androuting number.To request payment use:Our online access at:https://doe.state.wy.us/InetClaims/Or call:307-473-3789Save Yourself a Call...Do:• Check your mail for your PIN,Relia- Card and other notices.• Request payment every two weeks.• Register at:www.wyomingworkforce.org/ui.Don’t:• Lose your PIN numbers; you receiveone from Reliacard and one fromUnemployment Insurance.• Request payment too early or toolate.www.wyomingworkforce.org/ui 7

Maintaining yourEligibility for BenefitsTo Maintain your Eligibility for Benefits:• Report all information accurately• File for payment every two weeks• Be actively seeking work and record this on your WorkSearch Log• Be physically and mentally able to work• Be willing to accept suitable work• Be available to begin work immediately if a job isoffered• Report any hours you worked and money you earned,including tips, each time you request payment. Even ifit is one dollar or one hour, you must report it.8Work-Search RequirementsYou must make a continued and organized effort tolook for work. You must contact at least two differentemployers each week.You must keep a list of these efforts. We may requestproof at any time during your claim. We provide a WorkSearch Log sample in this guide. You may also find thison wyomingworkforce.org.For every job contact, you must keep a verifiable list of:• Date of employer contact• The method by which you applied for a job• The type of work you were looking for• The person you contacted, a telephone number,email address or other reliable contact information• The outcome of the contact• Name of employer/company contactedWe may conduct an audit of your claim at any time.You may be asked to provide your Work SearchLog. If you are unable to produce the log with allrequirements, you may not be eligible for benefits.Accepting Suitable WorkYou must be willing to look for and accept suitable work.Various factors are considered when determining if workis suitable including, but not limited to, rate of pay, priorexperience and length of unemployment.Hired!You do not need to call us to tell us you have foundfull-time work. If you file a request for payment for theweek(s) before you start work, tell us on that request orjust stop filing for payment.Working and Reporting Your Hours andEarningsYou are allowed to work part-time (less than 35 hours aweek) while you are collecting unemployment benefits. Wecan pay you part of your benefits for a week when you workpart-time, but you must have earned less than your weeklybenefit amount. The law states that you can earn up to 50percent of your weekly benefit amount and still get your fullunemployment payment. After that, we must reduce yourunemployment payment by one dollar for each dollar youearn.Keep track of your hours and earnings using ourearnings log in the back of this guide. You will need toreport this information when you request payment.Additionally, you must report when you no longer workfor an employer.Reopen Your ClaimWhen we say that your claim has “shut down” we mean thatour online system does not recognize you when you requestpayment. You must reopen your claim prior to requestingpayment. You may reopen your claim online or contact theClaims Center.Save Yourself a Call...Do:• Actively search for suitable work.• Maintain a work search log.• Report all earnings and hoursworked.Remember:Stop requesting payment on your next regularlyscheduled date after your first day of full-time work,not when you receive your first pay check.www.wyomingworkforce.org/ui

Items AffectingYour ClaimBenefit YearYour claim lasts for one year. You may run out ofunemployment benefits before the benefit year ends.After the benefit year end date, we cannot pay any moreunemployment benefits, even if there is money left onthe claim.TaxesYour unemployment benefits are taxable by the federalgovernment. You can choose to have taxes taken fromyour payment. While you are on unemployment, youcan change this decision only once.Work in Other StatesYou may have wages in more than one state. Youmay choose to use these wages on your Wyomingunemployment claim. In order to use out-of-state wageson your claim, you must have wages in Wyoming duringthe base period. If you have not already told us about ajob you worked in another state, call the Claim Center toadd the employer to your claim.Federal Civilian WagesThe federal government does not automatically reportyour wages to us. We request your federal wages afteryou file for unemployment. Those wages are added toyour claim after they are verified by the federal agencyfor which you worked. Your federal wages may notappear on your first Unemployment Insurance MonetaryDetermination of Benefits form. When we add thewages to your claim, you will receive a new UnemploymentInsurance Monetary Determination of Benefitsform. You must sign and return the Claimant’s Affidavit ofFederal Civilian Service, Wages and Reason for Separationform. Be sure to complete and return any forms asquickly as you can so that we can pay your benefits,including forms with “UCFE,” which stands forUnemployment Compensation for Federal Employees.Child SupportChild support will be withheld from your Unemploymentbenefits according to the most recent court order providedto the Unemployment Insurance Division by the courtsystem.Military WagesYour branch of service does not automatically report yourwages to us. We add wages to your claim based on theinformation on the DD Form 214, Member 4. Your militarywages may not be reported on your first UnemploymentInsurance Monetary Determination of Benefits form. Whenwe add the wages to your claim, you will receive a new UnemploymentInsurance Monetary Determination of Benefitsform.We will send you a notice that tells you whether we canpay you benefits. We make the decision based upon whatyour branch of service allows as a reason for separationfrom the service. If you disagree with the notice, you mayappeal the decision. Send your appeal to the address onthe back of the form.Vacation, Severance, Pension or 401(k)If you received vacation, severance, pension, sick,bonuses or some other form of payment from your employer,report these when you request payment. It may affect yourunemployment benefits.Sharing Your InformationWe check with federal government programs tomake sure that your information is correct. We verifyinformation such as your name, social security number,employer’s name, address and wages. We may share yourinformation with other government agencies if the lawallows.Address UpdatesKeep your address updated with Unemployment Insuranceat all times. Your tax information, a 1099-G, will bemailed to the address we have on file.Save Yourself a Call...Do:• Report all additional paymenttypes; e.g., vacation or severancepay.• Keep requesting payment whilewaiting for wages to be added toyour claim.www.wyomingworkforce.org/ui 9

Understanding yourAppeal Rightsdocuments or evidence you may wish to present. If youhave additional evidence you wish to submit, you mustbe sure to mail or deliver it to the hearing officer and allother interested parties before the day of the hearing.Hearing ParticipationYou must participate in the hearing if you want to providetestimony and evidence. The hearing officer will make thedecision based only on the testimony and evidence given atthe hearing. If you cannot participate at the time scheduled,contact the Division of Appeals ahead of time by calling 307-235-3246.AppealsIf we send you a determination informing you that youcannot receive unemployment benefits, you may appealthat determination by mailing or faxing a signed statementthat you disagree with the determination to Appeals at theaddress or fax number listed on the determination. You mayalso deliver the appeal to a Workforce Center in Wyoming. Theappeal must be filed in writing no later than 15 days fromthe mailing date on the determination.Your appeal should include...• Your name and social security number.• Your current mailing address and telephone number.• A copy of the determination that you are appealing.• The reason you disagree with the determination youare appealing.If you fax your appeal, the stamp date received on the faxwill be used to determine timeliness. If you do not havea fax machine, you can use a fax machine at your localWorkforce Center. Ask a Workforce Center representativeto date stamp the appeal prior to faxing it. If you mailthe appeal, the postmark will be used to determinetimeliness.Who Can Appeal?You or your employer may file an appeal. The appeal mayresult in a hearing before a hearing officer. All interestedparties may participate in the hearing. We will mail youa hearing notice packet with the date and time of yourhearing and instructions on how to submit any additionalYou may call witnesses to testify on your behalf. If youor any of your witnesses do not speak English, call theDivision of Appeals immediately. If you or your witnessesneed special services, such as for hearing impairedparticipants, request those as well.Further AppealAfter the hearing you will receive a written hearingofficer’s decision in the mail. If you do not agree withthis decision, you may appeal it to the UnemploymentInsurance Commission. The hearing officer’s decision willbecome final unless a written appeal is filed within 15 daysof the date mailed. Appeal information is contained at theend of the hearing officer’s decision.For more information go to wyomingworkforce.org.Questions? Call 307-235-3246Save Yourself a Call...Do:• Check out the Preparing for YourAppeals Hearing video atwww.wyomingworkforce.org/ui.• Keep requesting payment whileyour appeal is being processed.Remember:• You must appeal no later than 15days from the mailing date on thedecision letter.10 www.wyomingworkforce.org/ui

Work Search LogDateMo/Day/YrEmployer NameAddress, Phone #,Email or WebsiteHow ContactedPersonContactedand TitleWork Sought Results Application orRésuméSubmitted?Email or WebsiteConfirmation #In PersonPhone/FaxMailEmailWebsiteNot HiringPendingHiredYesNoIn PersonPhone/FaxMailEmailWebsiteNot HiringPendingHiredYesNoIn PersonPhone/FaxMailEmailWebsiteNot HiringPendingHiredYesNoIn PersonPhone/FaxMailEmailWebsiteNot HiringPendingHiredYesNoIn PersonPhone/FaxMailEmailWebsiteNot HiringPendingHiredYesNoEarnings LogDate Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday Total Hours Pay Rate Gross PayRegularHoursOvertimeHoursHours atOther RateWeek-Ending DateDate Filed onPhone or InternetDateReceivedPaymentAmount of UnemploymentInsurance BenefitPaymentRegular X$ =$Overtime X$ =$Other Rate X$ =$TotalHours*Total Earnings*Date Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday Total Hours Pay Rate Gross PayRegularHoursOvertimeHoursHours atOther RateWeek-Ending DateDate Filed onPhone or InternetDateReceivedPaymentAmount of UnemploymentInsurance BenefitPaymentRegular X$ =$Overtime X$ =$Other Rate X$ =$TotalHours*Total Earnings*www.wyomingworkforce.org/ui 11

Wyoming Department of Workforce ServicesPO Box 2760Casper, WY 82602307-473-3789For more information, visitwww.wyomingworkforce.org/ui