Kentucky Unemployment Benefits and Eligibility

COVID-19 UPDATE:Because the coronavirus pandemic has left so many Americans jobless, the federal government has given states more than flexibility in granting unemployment benefits. If you have questions almost whether you're eligible for unemployment benefits read our COVID-19 Unemployment Benefits and Insurance FAQ and check out your state'southward claimant handbook.

A guide to unemployment benefits in Kentucky

Unemployment Insurance (UI) is an employer-paid insurance program that provides you lot with benefits when y'all're separated from a job at no fault of your own. UI benefits help embrace the gap in lost wages while yous are between jobs. The benefits are not based on demand, and they're paid out in weekly payments as long as y'all meet eligibility requirements and report on a weekly basis. If yous were let go from your job, you're experiencing significantly reduced hours, or yous're out of a job due to a company closure, you're likely eligible for UI benefits.

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How do I file for unemployment benefits in Kentucky?

1. Collect your information

First, make certain you accept access to this required information for filing:

  • Social Security number or alien registration number
  • Your contact data, including address and phone number
  • Contact information for all recent employers
  • Dates worked for all recent employers
  • Wages earned from all recent employers

2. Create an account

Online

With an online Kentucky unemployment insurance account, you'll be able to file your claim, submit weekly claims, and keep track of general benefit account information. Employ the online portal to create an account and get started. The portal is available Monday through Friday, excluding holidays, from 7 a.one thousand. to 7 p.m. or Sunday from 10 a.1000. to 9 p.m..

When you create an account, you'll exist asked to select a pin at startup. File your login information away for safekeeping—you'll employ information technology to access everything yous need to file your claims and receive benefits.

By phone

Alternatively, you may file your claim by calling the Kentucky unemployment number at 502-564-2900. The line is open up Mon through Fri, excluding holidays, from vii:30 a.m. to 5:xxx p.m. A landline is suggested and you must use a touchtone phone to brand the phone call. Accept all your pertinent application information ready. Simply follow the prompts and you lot'll be on your manner to filing your claim.

The Office of Employment and Preparation suggests using a landline to make the call because if the call is dropped from a mobile phone, the merits cannot be processed and you volition need to start your application over.

iii. File a claim

One time yous've created your business relationship, you're ready to file your claim. Yous'll provide detailed data to decide your eligibility, such every bit your employment history, wages earned, contact information, and other documentation mentioned above. You lot won't be able to collect benefits until all pertinent data has been submitted, and then practise so equally quickly equally possible later becoming unemployed.

The Kentucky unemployment awarding takes roughly 15 minutes to complete, and it's all-time to complete it all at once. If you lot leave the page idle for 30 minutes, yous'll be automatically logged out and the information y'all entered may exist lost.

4. Complete your eligibility review

Your Kentucky unemployment eligibility is based on a diversity of factors. The employment part's system will prompt yous to consummate your eligibility review earlier receiving payment. Do and then in a timely manner to avoid risking your benefits.

5. Set up your payment options

Through the online organisation, y'all'll besides decide how you want to receive your Kentucky unemployment compensation payments. Y'all may choose from straight deposit or prepaid debit card.

Where do I submit my claim?

Kentucky Division of Unemployment Insurance Website

Kentucky Division of Unemployment Insurance Offices

Office of Employment and Grooming

275 East Main Street 2nd Flooring

Frankfort, Kentucky 40601

Kentucky unemployment office locations.

Kentucky Unemployment Telephone Number

How unemployment works in Kentucky

The Kentucky Department of Workforce Investment'due south Office of Employment and Grooming (OET) oversees unemployment insurance benefits for the state. In add-on to upholding Kentucky unemployment laws, the mission of the office is to provide quality jobs for people and quality people for jobs.

Services the Kentucky unemployment role offers to meet this goal include temporary fiscal assistance for unemployed individuals, labor market data (such as the Kentucky unemployment charge per unit), and the upkeep of Kentucky's Unemployment Insurance Trust Fund, which supports the cost of unemployment insurance in the country. Overall, these activities are designed to promote economic wellbeing for Kentucky.

Workforce services are administered by the Kentucky Career Center, which operates a network of career center locations throughout the country where you lot can meet one on i with career coaches and counselors.

FAQs

What are the requirements to qualify for unemployment benefits in Kentucky?

As in other states, eligibility for State of Kentucky unemployment insurance benefits is not based on need. That being said, there are many other eligibility requirements that must be met in order to receive benefits:

  • Exist a Kentucky resident.
  • Meet income requirements for work completed in Kentucky.
  • Be able, bachelor, and actively searching for work.
  • Be out of work at no fault of your own.

Earnings eligibility requirements

Every state looks at a one-year "base period" of wages when determining unemployment insurance eligibility. In Kentucky, the base of operations period is the first four out of the final five calendar quarters before your claim was made. To run across Kentucky unemployment requirements, you must meet the following requirements:

  • Have earned a minimum of $750 in at least one quarter of your base period
  • Have earned a minimum of $750 total outside the base menstruation quarter when you lot earned the most
  • Have earned at least 1.5 times your wages in the highest paid quarter of your base period
  • Have wages in the last two base of operations catamenia quarters that equal a minimum of viii times your weekly do good corporeality

Yous must be able, available, and actively searching for work

Unemployment insurance is a temporary support designed to final but as long equally it takes an individual to get back to piece of work. That's why making every reasonable attempt to state a new job is such an of import component of unemployment eligibility. In gild to be making every reasonable attempt to get a job, an individual must be able to work, available for work, and actively searching for work.

Able to work refers to being physically and mentally capable of holding a job. If you lot are sick, injured, or disabled, you do not likely authorize for unemployment benefits in Kentucky. However, if you lot have a inability or condition but are able to piece of work with reasonable accommodation, you are considered able to work.

Available for work refers to an individual who has nothing preventing them from taking a reasonable new position should it be offered to them. If you are on vacation or going to school you are generally not considered bachelor for work and are non entitled to benefits during this time. Additionally, if you lot have very limited hours you are available for work or have no transportation to go to a job, you may not be classified every bit available and therefore not be able to receive benefits.

Being able and bachelor for work is not enough to authorize for Kentucky unemployment. In addition to these two characteristics, you lot must as well maintain an active job search in an effort to get reemployed as quickly as possible. Yous volition submit a log of your job search activities in each Kentucky weekly do good claim you submit.

You must be out of work through no fault of your own

While every case is different, your Kentucky unemployment benefits eligibility is not likely if you were fired or quit your job. In these cases, you are welcome to employ for Kentucky unemployment benefits, but the claim is probable to be denied. In lodge to receive Kentucky UI, y'all must be out of work—or receiving significantly reduced hours—at no fault of your ain. This type of employment mostly occurs through lay off or company closure.

While beingness fired for misconduct or quitting are non usually grounds for unemployment insurance benefit eligibility, in that location are certain circumstances where the reason for quitting is that you had no other choice than to practise so. In these cases you may be able to collect unemployment benefits.

How long does it take to get unemployment in Kentucky?

Once it is determined that yous encounter all of the Kentucky unemployment qualifications and are eligible for benefits, yous'll begin receiving weekly payments. Yous will not receive a payment for the first week in which your claim was made. This flow is called a waiting week and no benefits are provided.

Kentucky unemployment benefits are paid for a maximum of 26 weeks, though a Kentucky unemployment extension may exist put in place to increase this limit during times of high unemployment.

Do I have to look for a job to get Kentucky unemployment benefits?

To remain eligible and keep receiving your benefits, you must actively search for work and study this activity in your Kentucky unemployment weekly claim. The first step is registered for Focus Career on the Kentucky unemployment website.

Focus Career helps job seekers who are unemployed every bit well as those looking to make a career move abroad from a current position. Services include the following:

  • Build or ameliorate your professional résumé with an like shooting fish in a barrel-to-use wizard.
  • Explore chore leads that match your transferable skills and abilities.
  • Schedule daily or weekly alerts that transport jobs straight to your inbox.
  • Explore paths and options to reach your educational activity and career goals.

Focus Career helps you start from the foundation of your chore search, which includes personal branding, exploration, and preparation for the task search. In improver to job leads, you'll learn how to prepare for finding the next job that suits yous.

What if I am denied benefits? How can I appeal a denial of my merits?

If you disagree with the determination made past the Kentucky unemployment role in regards to your benefits, y'all have the correct to appeal. You must submit your letter of appeal in writing within 15 business days of the postmarked date of your denial.

Subsequently filing your appeal, a hearing volition be scheduled. Most hearings have identify over the telephone. You'll have an opportunity to nowadays testify that helps your case. If you lot're dissatisfied with the result of the appeal, you may brand an boosted appeal to the court within 20 business concern days.

How much will my unemployment insurance payments be?

The Kentucky unemployment amount is calculated at roughly i.xix% of your total earnings during your base period. The maximum payment is $415 per week and the minimum is $39.

ten Tips for a Better Kentucky Unemployment Benefits Experience

  1. Exist accurate and complete, filling in all the information asked for in your claim. Failure to do and then may outcome in a delay in getting your benefits.
  2. Stay organized with a calendar marked with important dates, including the twenty-four hour period you file your claim, when your eligibility review is happening, your next career advisor date, when y'all demand to file your Kentucky unemployment weekly claims, etc. Delays in benefits are frequently a upshot of missing important dates and deadlines.
  3. Annals for work using Focus Career before requesting yous outset do good payment.
  4. Maintain accurate records of all job search activities to exist submitted with your eligibility review.
  5. Avoid calling the assistance line on Mondays, when wait times are longest. Choose a date later in the calendar week for quicker service.
  6. Proceed your email active and cheque it often. Y'all are required to submit a valid email address. This is the easiest manner for the Kentucky unemployment section to contact you.
  7. If someone from the Kentucky unemployment office reaches out, communicate with them as shortly as possible.
  8. Go along your UI merits information, including your business relationship pin, secure. Don't let whatsoever other person to access your business relationship or make a merits on your behalf under and circumstance.
  9. Return documents chop-chop using the certificate upload option inside the online Kentucky unemployment merits filing system.
  10. Utilize your career counselor. They are your all-time resources for finding your next job. Be in frequent contact, inquire for aid, and inquire near resource.

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