Hoosiers who have previously exhausted their unemployment benefits and remain unemployed now may file for the new federal unemployment extension. The federal government enacted the up-to-20-week extension of benefits Nov. 6.
Any Hoosier who has previously exhausted either of the first two federal extensions of unemployment or state extended benefits and remains unemployed may be eligible to receive this new federal extension. Hoosiers currently collecting unemployment will be directed to this new extension automatically.
Hoosiers who have previously exhausted their unemployment can file for this extension as follows: Reopen an unemployment claim through Uplink, Indiana’s online benefits system; complete two weekly vouchers, covering the time since the extension became law Nov. 6. Deposits for eligible vouchers should be posted to individual debit cards the next day; each subsequent week, file your weekly voucher online similar to other unemployment programs.
Uplink and answers to “Frequently Asked Questions” about this extension can be accessed through www.in.gov/dwd. Hoosiers without Internet access can also apply online through the local WorkOne Center.
The Department of Workforce Development estimates that approximately 50,000 Hoosiers may qualify for this extension between now and the end of the year.
Due to the increased number of claims generated by this federal extension, next-day deposits on eligible claims without unresolved issues can no longer be guaranteed by 10 a.m. Deposits are now guaranteed by 5 p.m. Eastern time the next business day.
“DWD hopes this change of a few hours does not cause any hardship for our claimants, but this extension is arriving at Indiana’s peak period of unemployment filings due to traditional holiday factory shutdowns and the end of seasonal construction,” said Marc Lotter, communications director at the Indiana Department of Workforce Development.
Claimants can sign up to receive a free phone or e-mail notification when their weekly deposit has been posted to their account. Claimants can sign up for notification by calling 1-888-393-5866 or visiting www.eppicard.com.
