Can I File Dc Unemployment For Periods Prior To When I Registered?

Unemployment insurance (sometimes chosen unemployment benefits) is temporary financial assistance for unemployed individuals who run into certain requirements. Typically, you employ for unemployment in the state where you worked. Each state has its ain unemployment programme and its own requirements. Here is some bones information to figure out if yous're eligible for unemployment in Washington, DC, Maryland, or Virginia.

Is there a borderline to file for unemployment?

In DC, Maryland, and Virginia, in that location is no deadline. However, your eligibility depends on your previous employment. If yous wait too long to apply, records from your previous task(s) may no longer exist available. Besides, you won't receive back benefits for any time before you apply.

Does the reason I lost my job matter?

Aye. If you see other requirements, you lot should be eligible if you and your employer agree that you were laid off or subject to a reduction in force (RIF) due to no fault of your own. Even so, you may non qualify if your employment concluded because of some other reason:

Voluntary quit: In DC, Physician, and VA, you lot won't authorize if yous voluntarily quit, resigned, or retired without skilful cause.
Misconduct: In DC and Virginia, you won't authorize if you were fired for misconduct. In Maryland, you are either butterfingers or will receive less benefits depending on the blazon of misconduct.

Yous may still be eligible if your employment concluded for another reason. For example, depending on the circumstances, you may qualify if you lost your job because you failed to perform or lacked the skills to do your job.

Do I accept to earn a sure amount to qualify?

DC, Maryland, and Virginia use the same base menses, which is a ane-year period that includes the earliest 4 of five complete agenda quarters before the date you lot apply. For example, if you apply for benefits in April 2020, your base menses is from January i, 2019, through December 31, 2019. If you don't authorize according to the base of operations catamenia, Maryland may use an alternate period to determine your eligibility.

In DC, y'all must meet all of the post-obit requirements to qualify:

You earned at least $1,300 in the highest paid quarter of the base of operations menstruation.
Your total earnings for the base menstruation are at least $one,950.
Y'all earned wages in at least ii quarters of the base catamenia.
Your total earnings for the base period are at least 1.5 times your earnings in the highest paid quarter, or within $seventy of that amount.

In Maryland, you must meet both of the following requirements:

Yous earned at least $1,176 in the highest paid quarter of base of operations menstruation.
Your full earnings for the base menstruum are at least 1.5 times your earnings in the highest paid quarter.

In Virginia, you must run into both of the following requirements:

Your earned wages in at least ii quarters of the base of operations flow.
Your full earnings for two quarters are at to the lowest degree $iii,000.

How much will I get if I'm eligible for unemployment?

In DC, Maryland, and Virginia, you may receive a weekly benefit for upwards to 26 weeks. The weekly benefit corporeality varies past location:

Chart showing amount of weekly unemployment benefit for DC, MD, VA

What do I have to practice to keep getting benefits?

After your claim is canonical, you must encounter requirements to continue receiving benefits:

Exist able, available, and willing to work;
Accept any suitable job offer, unless you have good cause to decline;
Report all earnings; and
File weekly claims for benefits.

Additionally, each state has its own requirements for continued eligibility:

In DC, the requirements for continued eligibility include, but are not limited to:

Registering with the Commune of Columbia Department of Employment Services (DOES);
Registering for piece of work through your local American Job Center;
Contacting at least two employers each week to enquire near jobs; and
Keeping detailed written notes about the contacts.

Maryland's requirements for continued eligibility include, but are not limited to:

Actively searching for work based on your occupation and the labor marketplace, and
Keeping records of your job search.

In Virginia:

Registering for VEC Workforce Connection within five days of applying for benefits;
Actively searching for a new job; and
Reporting the following on a weekly footing:
All work you perform,
All money y'all earn,
The reason you were separated from any job, and
Any job offering you declined.

Are in that location any exceptions for COVID-19?

In response to COVID-19, DC, Maryland, and Virginia have all fabricated changes to their unemployment programs to expand benefits. Here is some bones information about the changes:

Washington, DC

DC's COVID-nineteen Response Emergency Amendment Act of 2020 expands coverage for employees who are quarantined or isolated, or who are otherwise unemployed or partially-unemployed due to the pandemic. Visit the DC DOES website for helpful resources, including a nautical chart to help you determine if you're eligible for benefits during the pandemic and answers to frequently-asked questions.

Maryland

For the rest of the calendar year, Maryland's Pandemic Unemployment Help plan expands eligibility for affected workers affected by the pandemic:

Up to 39 weeks of benefits;
Eligibility for gig-workers, gratuitous lancers, independent contractors, and other self-employed workers;
Temporary suspension of the work search requirement for continued eligibility.

For more data, check out Maryland Department of Labor's answers to frequently-asked questions almost unemployment benefits during the pandemic.

Virginia

Beginning with claims constructive March 15, 2020, the Virginia Employment Committee is suspending both the i-calendar week waiting period and the weekly job search requirement.

Visit the Virginia Employment Commission'southward website for more data about filing coronavirus-related claims.

How can Alan Lescht and Assembly assist me?

If you need legal advice most your employment, Alan Lescht and Assembly can assist. Our attorneys will evaluate the facts of your case and suggest you about your eligibility for unemployment benefits and ability to bring whatever other claims. Alan Lescht and Associates represents federal government employees around the globe, and state and local government and private sector employees in DC, Maryland, and northern Virginia.