How to Apply for Extended Unemployment Benefits

Once you near the end of your initial unemployment benefits, you may be worried about how you will continue to pay your bills. Fortunately, there are federal extended unemployment benefits that are available in all 50 states. Some states even have their own state extended programs once you use up all of the federal extensions. Just like with your initial unemployment claim, you must continue to look for a job and be ready to accept one if offered.

Instructions

1

Exhaust all of your available benefits. You cannot qualify for the federal extended benefits until you have used up all of your existing unemployment benefits.

2

Meet the eligibility deadline for each tier of extended unemployment benefits. As of December 2010, the following are the tiers and their deadlines: Tier One -- November 21, 2010; Tiers Two, Three and Four -- November 28, 2010. Some states, such as California, have a special state extension as well. Deadlines for state extensions vary.

3

Wait for notification from your state unemployment office to see if you qualify for the extended benefits once you have used up all of your other benefits. Typically, you get a letter in the mail to let you know if you have qualified or not. If so, your state unemployment office automatically files your application for you, so that there is no disruption in benefits. If you don't get any such communication, you can call your state unemployment office.

4

Complete your weekly claim forms as you receive them for your extended unemployment benefits. The claim forms are identical to the claim forms used for initial unemployment benefits.