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Unemployment Updates
- Important Notice about Your Unemployment Insurance Claim and Increased Fraud
Important Notice about Your Unemployment Insurance Claim and Increased Fraud
The Indiana Department of Workforce Development (DWD) issued the below fraud alert on June 16, 2020. As a result of continued attempts by fraudsters, DWD is reminding you of this information. DWD is also asking that all claimants do these two things BEFORE filing your voucher for week beginning August 2, 2020:
- Change your password in Uplink to something no one else will know and something that you have not used in the past on other sites (use the password reset option on the Uplink homepage); AND
- Check your payment election status to ensure it is the payment election that you chose; if you chose direct deposit to your bank account, ensure that the correct bank account is listed. If it is not, immediately fix it. It is recommended that you check this each week prior to completing your weekly voucher.
Filing for Unemployment is As Easy As 1... 2… 3…
- Step 1 - APPLY: File for Unemployment Insurance
Step 1 - APPLY: File for Unemployment Insurance
Click to FileFile an initial application for benefits as soon as you become unemployed.
You will need the following information when filing:
- A valid email account – your email address will become your Uplink Username.
- Driver’s license or valid ID, address, Social Security number, date of birth and phone number.
- Last employer’s name, mailing address, phone number, dates of employment and reason you are unemployed.
- Bank routing number and account number if choosing direct deposit as your payment option (NOTE: Key2Benefits prepaid MasterCard® is also available).
Read the Claimant Handbook (Spanish Version) prior to applying. Also, watch online tutorials to assist with filing.
NOTE:
- Independent contractors, self-employed individuals, and others who are not eligible for regular UI benefits: You are likely eligible for Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) under the federal CARES Act. You must file a regular claim for benefits, as it is necessary to file a state claim and be denied, before you can be considered eligible for PUA. If you are denied, you will have a PUA application on your claimant homepage as a TO DO.
- Additional $600: If you are eligible for regular UI or are eligible for Pandemic Unemployment Insurance (PUA), you will receive the additional $600. You will not need to do anything additional to receive the $600.
- Step 2 - VOUCHERS: File your Weekly Vouchers
Step 2 - VOUCHERS: File your Weekly Vouchers
Click to FileYou must file a voucher WEEKLY through the online filing system (called Uplink). Submit your weekly voucher the week following your initial application and each week thereafter.
- Benefits are paid weekly.
- The week runs from Sunday, 12:00 a.m. to Saturday, 8:59 p.m. Eastern time.
- Vouchers cover the previous week and may be filed starting on Sunday. Please NOTE: Sunday and Monday are the highest filing days so the Uplink system might be slow. File later in the week for a better filing experience.
- You should file a weekly voucher even if you have an issue delaying your benefits or are appealing a decision. When a determination is made all eligible payments will be released.
- Remember to report any income earned during the week a voucher is filed. Otherwise, you will be subject to a possible fraud prosecution.
- Step 3 - AFTER FILING: What to expect after you file
Step 3 - AFTER FILING: What to expect after you file
Within 10 business days of filing, you will receive a Monetary Determination of Eligibility form.
- This does not mean you qualify for unemployment insurance.
- Instead, it is a statement providing a possible weekly benefit amount and an overall maximum benefit amount should you be eligible.
- The maximum length of benefits is typically 26 weeks, but the federal CARES Act has added 13 weeks, for a total of 39 weeks.
Eligibility should be determined within 21 business days of filing if there are no issues with your claim. Click here for the top 8 reasons people wait for their claim.
If there are issues on your claim, a DWD Claims Investigator will review those and contact you or your employer if additional information is needed. This could take longer than 21 days.
We encourage you to check your claimant homepage on Uplink daily throughout this time. All information will be posted there.
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Equal Opportunity is the Law. (La Igualdad De Oportunidad Es La Ley.)
Equal Opportunity Employer/Program Auxiliary aids and services are available upon request to individuals with disabilities.
