The loss of a job can be a stressful time for you and your family. Unemployment insurance is here to help.
This is a temporary assistance program for people who become unemployed due to no fault of their own. In order to receive benefits, you must be eligible.
To find out if you meet the eligibility requirements, refer to the information for workers brochure or visit labor.mo.gov and click on the unemployed workers tab. You can apply for benefits online at ui.labor.mo.gov 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Once enrolled, you will need to file your weekly request for payment online to certify that you continue to be eligible for benefits. This includes reporting your work search activities from the previous Sunday through Saturday period.
Work Search Activities
A key part of unemployment insurance is to become reemployed by making an active job search. To receive benefits, you are required to complete at least three new work search activities each week and document them when filing your weekly request for payment online.
Work search activities include more than just looking for jobs. It means actively seeking work with a new or previous employer. Some examples of work search activities include:
- Submitting applications
- Writing a resume
- Networking
- Completing an online job search profile
You can apply for a job in person, over the phone, or email an application or resume to an employer.
It’s important to keep a record of your work search activities because you’re required to report details of your search when requesting payment each week. Make sure to include:
- Date of contact
- Name of company
- Company address
- Phone number
- Web link or person contacted for position
- Title and reference number
- Method of contact
- Results
Reporting Part-Time or Temporary Work
While searching for a job, you may have an opportunity to work part-time or temporarily. This can help keep your skills current and you may still be eligible for part of your benefit payment.
When filing your weekly request for payment, you must report the work you did during the week, even if you have not been paid yet. Report your gross earnings, which is the amount of money you earned for that week’s work before taxes and other deductions are taken out.
For example, if you worked 5 hours a day at $10 per hour from Wednesday to Friday, you would report 15 hours worked at a rate of $10 per hour, totaling $150 in gross earnings.
Consequences of Failure to Report
Failure to report work and earnings, conduct an active work search, or inaccurately report your availability for work can result in stopping your benefit payments and may require you to pay back the benefits. Reporting false information is considered fraud and is a crime.
If you have made a mistake or have any questions on how to report information accurately, contact your local claim center for assistance.
Resources and Assistance
We are here to help you succeed, whether you qualify for unemployment benefits or not. Helpful information and frequently asked questions can be found online at labor.mo.gov by clicking on the unemployed workers tab.
Keep in mind that most people are able to do their work search and report correctly. If you have questions, we’d be glad to help. Together with your local Missouri Job Center, we work to connect job seekers like you with Missouri jobs.
Visit jobs.mo.gov to check out the resources available or visit one of our many job centers located statewide. Your primary obligation during this time of receiving unemployment benefits is to find a job, and we are here to help and answer your questions.