Due to modifications of the UI program as a result of COVID-19 response many of the FAQs have modified answers that are NOT reflected here. Please see the supplemental Department of Labor Unemployment Benefits FAQs for the most up to date information.
Example:
If you file your claim in March, your base period will be the 12-month period from October 1st through September 30th before you filed your claim. The table shows the base period for a new claim filed in any month of the year:
If you have worked outside of Delaware or for the federal government or served in the Armed Services during your base period, you must report this information when you file your claim. Under certain circumstances, these wages can be combined with your Delaware wages to give you a higher weekly benefit amount. If you have no Delaware wages during the base period, you may be required to file a federal claim or an interstate claim.
Alternate Base Period
When you receive your “Determination of Monetary Eligibility” if it indicates you have insufficient wages during the above base period, you may be eligible to receive benefits using an alternate base period. Report to the local unemployment office where you filed your original claim and speak to a claim representative. We’ll need your Social Security card, check stubs, W-2 forms and any other proof of wages that you have.
Check this form carefully. See if it:
If you think a correction should be made, report to the local unemployment insurance office where you filed your claim within 10 days and ask for a correction. We’ll need your Social Security card, check stubs, W-2 forms and any other proof of wages that you have.
Remember, you must report in person to the local office within 10 days for your protest to be accepted. Bring the determination of monetary eligibility with you when you report. You must continue to file weekly claims while you await the result of the protest.
In addition to being monetarily eligible, you must be unemployed through no fault of your own, able to work, available for work, looking for full-time work, and willing to accept a job for which you are qualified in order to collect benefits.
The maximum amount of unemployment insurance benefits payable in Delaware under normal circumstances in any benefit year may not exceed 26 times your weekly benefit amount. Since Delaware has a weekly claim processing system, you will receive a check for every weekly claim you make. You may file claims for more than 26 weeks if you work part-time and partial benefits are paid. If you have received all the benefits to which you are entitled (normally 26 weeks), then you may receive no more until the benefit year is over, even if you work again and become unemployed. However, during periods of high unemployment, a special program is placed in effect, which provides additional weeks of benefits.
At the end of your benefit year, you may be eligible to establish a new benefit year. If you have been employed during the current benefit year and earned at least 10 times the weekly benefit amount for which you would be eligible during the new benefit year. An employee at your local unemployment insurance office can provide you with further information on establishing a new benefit year.
Here’s an example:
You have a Weekly Pay Authorization that covers the week ending June 19, 2010. This Weekly Pay Authorization should be completed by you and mailed on Sunday, June 20, 2010. You should get a new Weekly Pay Authorization in the mail that covers the week ending June 26, 2010 with your check for June 19, 2010 by Saturday, June 26, 2010. If you don’t get the new Weekly Pay Authorization on or before that day, you should call the UI information hotline (761-6576 in New Castle County and 1-800-794-3032 in Kent and Sussex counties) to see if one has been mailed to you. If one has not been mailed, you should report to your local office immediately. Don’t wait. It is very important that you fill out your Weekly Pay Authorizations completely, correctly and honestly, and that you return them by mail on time.
If you have selected to claim benefits using “TeleBenefits”, please follow the instructions in the “TeleBenefits” brochure, Filing for Weekly Unemployment Insurance Benefits by Telephone, or on the “TeleBenefits” webpage.
You may also occasionally receive a notice asking you to report to the local office for some specific reason. The notice will tell you when and where to report. You must report on the date and at the time shown on the notice. Bring the notice with you.
If you are unable to report as asked, contact your local office immediately. You should send the notice back to the local office, explaining why you cannot report. Also, provide any information about the reason you were called in. Be sure to include your name, address and Social Security number. Failure to report to the local office when called in may delay payment of your check and may result in denial of your benefits.
If you are eligible to receive benefits, your first check will normally be mailed within three weeks after filing your claim, and a check should arrive every week after that if you continue to mail your Weekly Pay Authorizations weekly. However, the checks will not always arrive on the same day of the week. For your convenience, a check stub is provided with pertinent information needed for your records. Be sure to keep your check stubs to refer to if you think you are missing a check or have been paid improperly. Each time you receive an unemployment insurance check the Weekly Pay Authorization (for the following week will be received with the check. Remember, if you make false statements or fail to give required information in connection with your claim, you may be subject to prosecution for fraud, which could result in disqualification for one year and an overpayment on benefits received after the date of the false statement or both, plus interest on the fraudulently collected benefits.
The telephone information service will be able to tell you:
It is your responsibility to verify that your financial institution will accept Direct Deposit to your account. Some banks and credit unions will not accept Direct Deposit or they require that a special account number be used for Direct Deposit. Many brokerage accounts will not accept electronic transactions of any type.
A. You can file your claim for unemployment benefits online via the internet.
This site permits an unemployed Delaware worker to file an initial claim for unemployment insurance benefits via the Internet.
Related Topics: CARES Act, Claimant Handbook, COVID-19, Extended Benefits, File a claim, Frequently Asked Questions, Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation (PEUC), Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA), Self Application, Unemployment Insurance, Web Benefits