Hi everyone. I’m on furlough from one of my part time jobs until mid to late April (2020) and just filed for unemployment benefits. It’s been a few years since I did a video about filing your unemployment claim, and (at least with TN) there are a few things that are a little different now. So I wanted to share 10 tips for you before you file your unemployment benefits claim. Everything below is from the state of TN’s filing process, but most of it is probably similar for your state.

1. Where ever you are filing should be online. I just web-searched “File for Unemployment TN…” Use Firefox or IE to file--not Chrome. My state's website crashed at one point early in the process and would not reload so I could proceed. I suspect it may have been due to not playing well with Chrome.

2. Count on quite a bit of time to file: It took about 2 hours to fill out the online screens and file my claim because it was slow, and I had to re-enter several screens after the state's online unemployment claim process crashed early in the process.

3. Congress has now beefed up what states can offer (in 2020 during the coronavirus crisis), including allowing PT, gig economy, and self employed workers who typically are not covered by unemployment benefits, to seek them! There was a notation at the top of most screens to choose Self Employed if you do gig work like Uber or Airbnb.

4. If you’re watching this in early-mid 2020, there IS an option to check as to if your claim relates to lost work due to the coronavirus.

5. At least with my state at a couple of points during the process, there ARE blanks to fill in where you can explain your situation. I highly recommend using this, especially if you're like me and work more than one job or have special explanations you need the claim reviewers to know.

6. Remember, you have to report your weekly earnings if you’re doing some work while you’re furloughed, so if you make more than your weekly unemployment benefit payment amount at the job you did not lose (like if you work 2 jobs), it will most likely cancel your unemployment claim.

7. Although some screens may imply you do, a couple of other places clarify that if your employer has given you a return to work date which is within 16 weeks of your separation date, you are not required to do weekly job searches, meaning apply for jobs and keep up with that info.

8. Applications typically are processed in 2-3 weeks, but with the surge in claims, it could take longer to receive your verdict, weekly benefit dollar amount, and for your weekly payments to begin.

9. It may accelerate knowing about the status of your claim if you choose "Email" when asked how you want to receive your tax document next year about the earnings from this claim as opposed to choosing snail mail.

10. Make notes and take screenshots during this process as you feel necessary. Keep up with all these into early next year in case you need to reference them--especially the Claim Center phone number to call if you have any issues with or things to explain further about your claim.

If you’re not going back to the job you’re furloughed from and youre seeking something new, remember my book Here Today, Hired Tomorrow is a great resource and very practical guide to help you get the job you want fast. It’s going to give you downloadable templates & scripts, a start-to-finish job search plan, and a lot of encouragement since I know job search time can be one of the biggest challenges you’ll deal with.

Buy the book or the eBook: www.KurtKirton.com/hthtbook

Please Like and Share this video if you have friends or family in job transition! Thank you for watching, and best wishes on your job search.

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