Unemployment Insurance Benefits - Updates
Sequestration Reduces Extended Unemployment Benefits
South Dakota will be reducing extended unemployment compensation (EUC) benefits by 16.8 percent as part of the federal sequestration cuts required by the Budget Control Act of 2011.
This reduction does not impact the 26 weeks of state unemployment benefits. It does affect all claimants filing for EUC benefits beginning the week of June 2, 2013, and ending the week of Sept. 28, 2013. The cuts do not affect EUC benefits for weeks prior to June 2, 2013. Individuals will still be eligible for up to 14 weeks of extended benefits.
A notice of the upcoming reduction will be mailed to all claimants who have an active EUC claim as of May 13. Amended monetary determinations will be sent the first week of June. - posted May 14, 2013
Extended unemployment compensation
On January 2, 2013, President Obama signed the legislation passed by Congress to extend unemployment benefits for jobless Americans. Eligibility to start new extended unemployment compensation (EUC) claims will now continue until December 28, 2013, for most applicants. The extension does not increase the number of weeks that may be paid to unemployed workers. Workers who exhaust their regular claims after that date will not be eligible unless Congress acts to extend the program.
Those claimants who have not already filed an EUC application need to contact the South Dakota Unemployment Insurance (UI) Call Center at 605.626.3179 to request EUC benefits.
Applicants still claiming regular benefits will be notified by the UI Division when those benefits are exhausted. They can then contact the Call Center at 605.626.3179 for the extension. There will be no waiting week. - posted January 3, 2013
Federal Employees on Furlough May be Eligible for Benefits
For information on eligibility requirements, read the Facts About Unemployment Insurance booklet (available here in Adobe .pdf format). Unemployment insurance benefits claims can be filed online at www.sd.uiclaims.com 24/7 or by calling the Call Center at 605.626.3179. The Call Center operates Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4:20 p.m. (CDT).
Previous Updates:
Extended unemployment compensation ending - posted December 3, 2012
New extended unemployment compensation - Originally posted December 21, 2010; updated March 25, 2011, December 30, 2011, and April 16, 2012
FAC payments end December 11 - posted November 29, 2010
EUC benefits extended - posted July 26, 2010
Additional UI benefits available for workers attending approved training - posted July 1, 2010
Emergency Unemployment Compensation program ends - posted June 2, 2010
Latest benefits extension - posted April 19, 2010
Benefits extended - posted November 10, 2010
Initial notice regarding additional benefit payment - posted December 10, 2009; updated January 8, 2010
Extended unemployment compensation ending
Attention extended unemployment compensation (EUC) claimants: The Federal EUC program is ending. Final payment of benefits under this program will be made for weekly certifications filed for the week ending December 29, 2012 regardless or whether a balance remains on your claim. (Posted December 3, 2012.)
New extended unemployment compensation
On February 22, 2012, President Obama signed the legislation passed by Congress to extend unemployment benefits for jobless Americans. Eligibility to start new extended unemployment compensation (EUC) claims will now continue until December 29, 2012 for most applicants. The extension does not increase the number of weeks that may be paid to unemployed workers. Workers who exhaust their regular claims after that date will not be eligible unless Congress acts to extend the program.
Those claimants who have not already filed an EUC application need to contact the UI Call Center at 605.626.3179 to request EUC benefits.
Applicants still claiming regular benefits will be notified by the UI Division when those benefits are exhausted. They can then contact the Call Center at 605.626.3179 for the extension. There will be no waiting week.
--Originally posted December 21, 2010; updated March 25, 2011, December 30, 2011, and April 16, 2012.
The Federal Additional Compensation (FAC) program, providing an additional unemployment benefit payment of $25 per week for qualifying claimants, ends on December 11, 2010. No additional payments will be made after that time. FAC was authorized by Congress as part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. - posted November 29, 2010
On July 22, 2010, President Obama signed the legislation passed by Congress to extend unemployment benefits for jobless Americans. Eligibility to start new extended unemployment compensation (EUC) claims will now continue until November 30, 2010 for most applicants. The extension does not increase the number of weeks that may be paid to unemployed workers. Workers who exhaust their regular claims after that date will not be eligible unless Congress acts to extend the program.
All claimants who have exhausted their claims will be contacted by mail. Those claimants who have not already filed an EUC application need to contact the UI Call Center at 605.626.3179 to request EUC benefits.
Applicants still claiming regular benefits will be notified by the UI Division when those benefits are exhausted. They can then contact the Call Center at 605.626.3179 for the extension. There will be no waiting week.
If claimants have questions, they should call the UI Benefits Section at 605.626.2452.
Additional UI benefits available for workers attending approved training
Legislation effective July 1, 2010 provides 26 additional weeks of unemployment insurance (UI) benefits to workers in approved training. The additional benefits are available to workers who have exhausted all other benefits and are enrolled in full-time school prior to the end of the benefit year of their UI claim.
To be eligible, a worker must be separated from employment in a declining occupation or have been involuntarily and indefinitely separated due to a permanent reduction of operations at their employment. They must also be enrolled in state-approved or WIA-funded training for entry into a high-demand occupation. For additional information and to inquire about eligibility, please call the UI Division at 605.626.2452.
Emergency Unemployment Compensation program ends
The Emergency Unemployment Compensation (EUC) program ended June 2, 2010 for filing new applications. However, Congress may act to extend the program. If Congress extends the program, individuals who are potentially eligible will be notified by mail.
On April 15th, President Obama signed the legislation passed by Congress to extend unemployment benefits for jobless Americans. Eligibility to start new extended unemployment compensation claims will now continue until May 29, 2010 for most applicants. Workers who exhaust their regular claims after that date will not be eligible unless Congress acts to extend the program.
Applicants still claiming benefits will be notified by the UI Division when those benefits are exhausted. They can then contact the Call Center at 605.626.3179 for the extension. There will be no waiting week.
If claimants have questions, they should call the UI Benefits Section at 605.626.2452.
On November 6, President Obama signed the legislation passed by Congress to extend unemployment benefits for jobless Americans. The South Dakota Department of Labor is prepared to assist unemployment claimants in receiving 14 additional weeks of benefits.
All claimants who have exhausted their claims will be contacted. Those claimants will need to contact the UI Call Center at 605.626.3179 to reinstate their claims.
Applicants still claiming benefits will be notified by the UI Division when those benefits are exhausted. They can then contact the Call Center for the extension. There will be no waiting week.
Eligibility to start new extended unemployment compensation claims will end February 28, 2010. Workers who exhaust their regular claims after that date will not be eligible unless Congress acts to extend the program.
If claimants have questions, they should call the UI Benefits Section at 605.626.2452.
Initial notice regarding additional benefit payment
Congress has approved an additional payment of $25 per week for weeks of unemployment paid from week ending February 28, 2009 to February 28, 2010. In some cases, payment will continue through August 31, 2010.
In addition, you will not pay Federal income tax on the first $2,400 in unemployment insurance benefits paid to you for 2009. You can change withholding status for unemployment insurance by calling the Benefit Section at 605.626.2452.
Unemployment insurance provides financial assistance for persons who have lost their jobs through no fault of their own. Its purpose is to provide a temporary source of income to individuals while they look for work. These payments also provide economic stability to the community. Unemployment insurance is financed entirely by a tax on payrolls paid by employers. To qualify for benefits you must have worked for an employer who was required to pay the tax. South Dakota workers do not contribute to this plan. Unemployment benefits are considered taxable income.
If you apply for unemployment benefits on or after July 5, 2009 and do not qualify based on the regular base period, you may qualify under an alternative base period that uses more recent wages.
Emergency Unemployment Compensation (EUC) claims may be filed by telephone at 605.626.3179 or online at www.sd.uiclaims.com. Trade Readjustment Allowance (TRA) claims must be filed by telephone at 605.626.3179.
.700 Governors Drive
Pierre, SD 57501-2291
Tel. 605.773.3101
Fax. 605.773.6184
