If you have lost your job in New Jersey or Pennsylvania, you might be eligible to receive unemployment benefits. To receive benefits, you will need to meet the state’s requirements. All states require applicants for unemployment to have recently worked before they became unemployed. The connection to the workplace is measured by earning minimum amounts and working a minimum amount of time. The rules are in place to prevent people who have been out of the workforce for a long time from seeking unemployment. If you have questions about your eligibility for unemployment compensation, you should talk to the attorneys at Swartz Swidler for advice.
What is a base period?
A base period is the time during which an applicant has recently worked enough to qualify for benefits. the state will look at the number of hours that you worked and your earnings during the base period to see if you qualify for benefits. In most states, the base period is one year or the earliest four out of five quarters before you file for unemployment benefits. For example, if you file for unemployment benefits in Nov. 2020, your base period would be June 30, 2019, through July 31, 2020. The base period does not include the quarter during which you file for benefits or the quarter that preceded it.
Most states let workers count the recent period of work if they would not otherwise qualify for unemployment benefits with the regular base period. For example, New Jersey calculates alternate base periods if you do not qualify under the regular base period. If you have been out of work for some time before you file for benefits, you might not qualify for unemployment.
Work requirements for unemployment eligibility
Many states require unemployment applicants to have worked a minimum amount of hours during the base period before they will qualify for unemployment benefits. Typically, applicants will be required to have performed work in a minimum of two calendar quarters during the base period.
Earnings requirements for unemployment eligibility
A majority of states require that applicants for unemployment have earned a minimum amount in the base period. The states might look at the total wages earned during the base period or the earnings during the highest quarter. Other states require that unemployment applicants have earned a multiple of the weekly benefit amount that they would receive to qualify. For example, a state might require unemployment applicants to have earned at least 30 times the weekly benefit they would receive to qualify for benefits. The following is a look at how unemployment benefits eligibility is calculated in New Jersey and Pennsylvania.
Earnings and work requirements for unemployment benefits in New Jersey
The New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development determines eligibility for unemployment benefits of applicants. To qualify for unemployment benefits, you will need to meet the following requirements:
- You must have earned at least the minimum set by the state.
- The reason for your unemployment must not have been your fault.
- You must be available and able to work, and you must be actively looking for a job.
Like other states, New Jersey considers the earliest four out of the five complete calendar quarters that preceded the date that you file for benefits. During your base period, you must have earned a minimum of $10,000. You must also have lost your job through no fault of your own. For example, you must have been laid off or fired for a reason other than gross or serious misconduct. If you simply quit your job, you will not be eligible regardless of your earnings or work record during the base period.
Earnings and work requirements for unemployment eligibility in Pennsylvania
The Pennsylvania Department of Labor & Industry determines the eligibility of applicants for unemployment. To qualify for unemployment benefits, you must meet the following three criteria:
- Your earnings must have exceeded the minimum set by the state.
- The reasons for your unemployment must not be your fault.
- You must be available and able to work, and you must be actively looking for a job.
In Pennsylvania, the state will look at your work history and earnings during the earliest four out of the five last calendar quarters before your claim was filed. During your base period, you must have earned a minimum of $116 per week for at least 18 or more weeks. You must also have earned a minimum of $1,688 in the highest quarter of your base period and a total of at least $3,391 during the base period.
Contact the attorneys at Swartz Swidler
If you have lost your job and are unsure whether you might be eligible for unemployment benefits, you can talk to the attorneys at Swartz Swidler. We can assess your benefits eligibility and explain your options to you. If you have received a denial of your claim for benefits, we can talk to you about whether you have grounds to appeal the decision. Contact us today for a free consultation by calling us at 856.685.7420.
