Unemployment Benefits FAQs Regarding COVID-19

Updated: 2020-11-02 14:00 EDT

Disclaimer: These FAQs are subject to change based on new information. Additionally, due to modifications of the UI program as a result of COVID-19 responses, many of the FAQs have modified answers. Please check back frequently. This website is not intended as legal advice. Any responses to specific questions are based on the facts as we understand them and the law that was current when the responses were written. They are not intended to apply to any other situations. This communication is not an agency order. If you need legal advice, you must consult an attorney.

Congress passed new legislation to expand unemployment benefits. What does this legislation do and when will benefits be available?

The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act of 2020 (CARES Act) includes three key programs for workers affected by the Coronavirus.

1. Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation (FPUC)
Will provide an additional $600 to claimant’s weekly benefits. This added benefit is actively being disbursed with regular unemployment insurance benefit claims. This benefit was only available for the week beginning March 29, 2020 through the week ending July 25, 2020.

2. Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation (PEUC)
Provides workers with up to 13 weeks for claims opened after July 1, 2019. If you have exhausted the 26 weeks of regular or traditional unemployment benefits, you may all be eligible for PEUC.

Instructions:

Upon (UI) benefits expiring, your UI account information will be transferred and housed in the Delaware DOL’s PUA system. To recieve the additional 13 weeks of PEUC benefits you must next re-apply through our PUA website.
Note: Although you will be using the PUA website, you will not be applying for PUA, you will simply be re-applying for PEUC [13 weeks of additional extended benefits though the Delaware DOL PUA website].
Once you’ve reapplied for PUEC in our PUA system, you will now satisfy your weekly certifications in at pua.delawareworks.com.

You must visit pua.delawareworks.com to satisfy your weekly certification.

See also:

Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation FAQs

3. Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA)
Provides unemployment assistance to independent contractors, self-employed individuals, and religious/faith-based organizations affected by the Coronavirus.

See also:

What do self-employed, independent contractors, “gig,” 1099 workers need to do to file for unemployment?

The Delaware Division of Unemployment Insurance implemented a new system where claimants will be able to apply for Pandemic Unemployment Assistance program benefits. You must first apply for traditional UI benefits and if you are not eligible for traditional UI benefits, you will receive a notice with instructions on how to apply PUA benefits. We will be providing additional information as soon as possible. You can visit our website for updates at labor.delaware.gov. Collect the following information and get it ready to submit once you receive the notice:

Driver’s license or state-issued identification
Last year’s income tax statement or quarterly earnings statement
State of Delaware business license number (if applicable)
The complete list of required documents is listed on our website located at labor.delaware.gov

I have exhausted my unemployment claim, are there extensions?

If your benefits exhausted or expired between the dates of July 1, 2019 and Saturday, April 18, 2020, you will need to apply for the 13-week extension after 8:00 AM on Sunday April 19, 2020 by visiting ui.delawareworks.com and completing an application for benefits. If you are currently receiving unemployment insurance benefits and they will not exhaust or expire until after Sunday April 19, 2020, you do not have to take any action. When your current benefits have been exhausted, you will receive notice about filing for an extension.

Am I eligible for Unemployment Benefits if I am out of work because my employer closed (temporarily or otherwise) because of COVID-19?

Yes. File for unemployment benefits on our website. If your employer has given you an expected day to return to work you should provide that as a recall date. If you are unsure of when you are scheduled to return, then do not provide a recall date. Keep in mind that eligibility can not be determined via email or by phone. Please file a claim at ui.delawareworks.com and an eligibility decision will be rendered after your Unemployment claim is reviewed.

Am I eligible for Unemployment Benefits if I am quarantined due to COVID-19?

No, not for regular Unemployment Insurance Benefits. If you have been directed by a health care provider or public official to isolate or quarantine you will be eligible for Pandemic Unemployment Assistance. If you are currently collecting unemployment insurance benefits and have been directed to quarantine or isolate, you will answer “No” to the question about being able and available on your weekly certification. For individuals currently working, you will need to file a claim at ui.delawareworks.com and an eligibility decision will be rendered after your Unemployment claim is reviewed.

Am I eligible if I experience a reduction in hours as a result of the pandemic?

You may be eligible. Individuals experiencing a reduction in hours may be eligible. You should file a claim and report your gross wages each week. Keep in mind that eligibility can not be determined via email or by phone. Please file a claim at ui.delawareworks.com and an eligibility decision will be rendered after your Unemployment claim is reviewed.

Will I be eligible for benefits if my child’s school has been closed and I stay home with them?

You may be eligible for benefits if schools are closed by order of the Governor and you must stay home to care for them. Please visit ui.delawareworks.com or send an email to uiclaims@delaware.gov for more information. Keep in mind that eligibility can not be determined via email or by phone. Please file a claim at ui.delawareworks.com and an eligibility decision will be rendered after your Unemployment claim is reviewed.

If I am an undocumented immigrant or my work Visa has expired, am I eligible for Unemployment Claims benefits?

Individuals applying for unemployment compensation benefits must be US citizens or lawful residents of the US, or have work authorizations to work in the US. Keep in mind that eligibility can not be determined via email or by phone. Please file a claim at ui.delawareworks.com and an eligibility decision will be rendered after your Unemployment claim is reviewed.

When should I file for benefits?

You should file your claim for benefits as soon as you become unemployed. Claims begin on the Sunday of the week they are filed. If your last day of work was after the Sunday of the week you filed your claim you must report wages on your first pay authorization.

How do I know you received my claim?

You will receive a confirmation number and a monetary determination in the mail. We make every effort to pay eligible claims within 10 – 14 days due to the current circumstance. This is pending all information received is accurate and timely. If you have specific questions about your claim, please visit ui.delawareworks.com or send an email to uiclaims@delaware.gov for more information. To check on the status of your benefits, call the hotline. The hotline will let claimants know if a payment was made. The Information Hotline, at (800) 794-3032 or (302) 761-6576 is available 7 days a week, 24 hours per day.

What should I do after I file my claim for unemployment benefits?

You must begin submitting pay authorizations the Sunday after you file your claim. Continue submitting pay authorizations each week even if you do not receive a payment. If you do not submit a pay authorization each week your claim will become out of sequence and we are unable to make a payment. If you miss a week, reopen your claim and begin submitting again.

Weekly certifications can be submitted the Sunday following the day you submitted your initial claim. Make sure you submit your weekly pay authorization either online or phone.

WebBenefits: uicc.delawareworks.com
TeleBenefits: (302) 761-6576 or (800) 794-3032

How am I supposed to meet job search requirements related to my existing Unemployment Insurance claim if I am in isolation or quarantine as a result of COVID-19?

Delaware has temporarily waived the requirement to look for work during the State of Emergency. Please visit ui.delawareworks.com or send an email to uiclaims@delaware.gov for more information. If you have already registered for a Delaware JobLink account and having issues with your password or other concerns, please contact the Division of Employment & Training (DET) at (302)761-8085.

I filed a claim and received a message that said “I need an active Delaware JobLink account.” I am not looking for a job, because my employer is closed due to the coronavirus.

As permitted by the Governor’s Declaration of a State of Emergency, we suspended the work search requirement and also the requirement to create the JobLhttps://joblink.delaware.govink account. When your claim is submitted you should receive a confirmation page and confirmation email. If you receive either of those items, we received your claim and the team is working to process it.

How can I set-up or reset my PIN?

Each claimant is required to create a PIN on their 1st Pay authorization submission whether it is done through web-benefits or tele-benefits. If you currently do not have a PIN established for either WebBenefits or TeleBenefits, use “9999” as the default PIN the first time you call or login PIN. You will then be prompted to establish your own PIN. The PIN cannot contain the same number four numbers and cannot be sequential (1111 or 1234).

The four-digit number you select will become your Personal Identification Number (PIN), which you will use each time you log into WebBenefits. You are responsible for the security of your own PIN, and it serves as your electronic signature. Do not give your PIN to anyone, even family members. If you have forgotten your PIN, please click on the Forgot PIN link.

Enter your SSN
PIN
Security code
Enter the security code as it is displayed on the application
Login: ocs.delawareworks.com

How can I reset my PIN if I have already tried “9999?”

If you have attempted to reset your PIN by using 9999, please send an email to dol_dui_benefitspinN@delaware.gov with the subject line “PIN REQUEST.” Please provide your full name and phone number and a UI Staff person will contact you to assist with PIN REQUEST.

What if I don’t have Internet access at home right now?

We accept Unemployment Insurance applications outside each location. They can be returned by mail or dropped off at our secure drop box outside our Wilmington and Dover locations. Self applications must be completed in full and must be legible.

Mail:
Division of Unemployment Insurance
PO Box 9950
Wilmington, DE 19809-9959

Drop-off Wilmington:
4425 N. Market Street
Wilmington, DE 19802

Drop-off Dover:
Blue Hen Corporate Center
655 S. Bay Road, Suite 2H
Dover, DE 19901

I get a busy signal or disconnected when I call, and I have sent multiple emails and no responses. I’ve reached out on Facebook too. How can I get a hold of someone in Unemployment??

The phone lines are extremely busy and we are working to add employees to assist in responding to phone calls as well as emails. You can email your questions to uiclaims@delaware.gov. Please try to limit the number of emails, duplicated emails will delay the team from answering your questions at an efficient rate. The communications team who handles social media are DOL employees, but work in other divisions, so it may take them a while to respond to specific questions.

How do I update my contact information (mailing address)?

Update your contact information (such as your address) on the claimant portal: ocs.delawareworks.com

Should CARES Act stimulus be reported as income or earnings for Unemployment Insurance Compensation?

No. CARES Act stimulus is not considered income or earnings for Unemployment Insurance Compensation. You do not need to report it when making your weekly pay authorizations.

Should the Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation (FPUC) be reported as income or earnings?

No. FPUC is not considered income or earnings for Unemployment Insurance Compensation. You do not need to report it when making your weekly pay authorizations.

What does it mean if you get an email that your case is being escalated to a deputy?

There is an issue on your claim that requires an investigation before entitlement to the unemployment benefit can be determined. An investigator, called a claims deputy or an adjuticator, will review your claim if you were fired or quit your job, you are not able and available to work, you are receiving severance or pension or other reasons that may affect your eligibility for benefits. You should continue to submit pay authorizations each week while your claim is being reviewed. The claims deputy will contact you with any questions.

Will payments be retroactive if my claim is being investigated or is in appeal status?

If a claimant filed a claim and continues to submit weekly pay authorizations they will be paid for any week in which they are eligible for benefits. If you applied for benefits and there is a hold-up with your claim, once the hold is lifted you will receive benefits retroactive to when you originally applied. If you are an independent contractor or are self-employed, your benefits will be retroactive from the day after the State of Delaware signed the agreement with the federal government under the CARES Act which was Sunday 3/29/20.

How do I submit pay authorizations for previous weeks that were missed?

You can only submit a pay authorization for the current week. If you miss a week, you must reopen your claim and submit your pay authorizations on the following Sunday. It is very important to submit a weekly pay authorization as soon as you file your initial claim and to continue to do so even if you haven’t received payment. If you do not submit a pay authorization for a week then you cannot receive a benefit payment for that week.

I applied and only got a blank Monetary Determination letter, I have no confirmation number. I don’t even know if it was approved. Why did I get a blank letter?

If you received a monetary determination with no wages and you worked for a covered employer in 2019, please send your W2 via email to uiclaims@delaware.gov.

If all your wages were earned in another state during the last 18 months, you need to file in that state. If you have all Delaware wages, you would file in Delaware.

If you applied for benefits and there is a hold on your claim, once the hold is lifted you will receive benefits retroactive to when you originally applied.

If you are an independent contractor or are self-employed, your benefits will be retroactive from the day after the State of Delaware signed the agreement with the federal government under the CARES Act which was Sunday 3/29/20. Self-employed/ independent contractor wages need to be cross referenced with the IRS data to find out how much that person will receive.

How do I set up direct deposit for benefit payments?

Direct Deposit is a convenient, safe and reliable way to receive your unemployment insurance benefits. If you are filing a new claim online you can enter your Direct Deposit information directly on the application. To enroll online you will need to provide the following information and sign up on our website:

Your social security number,
Your financial institution’s nine-digit bank routing/transit number,
Your checking/savings account number (up to 17 digits), and
Your state-issued driver’s license or a state motor vehicle agency issued identification card.

I would rather get a debit card to receive benefit payments.

Debit cards are sent to claimants from a third party vendor, not from the Department of Labor. If your debit card is lost or stolen or you have questions about your card you must contact the bank issuing the debit card. Call 1-866-567-8590 or visit usbankreliacard.com.

I was denied benefits by a claims deputy or a referee. How do I file an appeal?

Claimants must file appeals in writing either by mail or email. Claimants must include their full name, contact information and case number in their appeal.

Mail:
Division of Unemployment Insurance Appeals Unit
PO Box 9950
Wilmington, DE 19809-0951

Or by email: dol_dui_appeals_request@delaware.gov.

Appeals must be filed by the deadline indicated on their determination.

Is the Delaware Department of Labor hiring?

There is information out there on Goodwill’s website for anyone who may be interested in helping out with UI claims: goodwillde.org/work-at-gw and delmarvatemporarystaffing.com.