Idaho Unemployment Eligibility Calculator
Unemployed workers in Idaho who have lost their job through no fault of their own may be able to receive Idaho unemployment insurance while they search for a new job. To qualify for these benefits, however, you must meet the rules and regulations outlined by the Idaho Department of Labor.
How to qualify for Idaho unemployment benefits
In order to receive Idaho unemployment compensation, you must meet the basic eligibility requirements. This includes:
- Losing your job through no fault of your own
- Earning enough money during your base period
- Being able, available, and actively seeking new work
- Registering for work with IdahoWorks
- Keeping a record of your weekly work search activity
- Filing weekly certifications on time
Monetary eligibility requirements
Your weekly benefit amount is based on how much money you earned during your base period. This base period is typically the first four out of the last five calendar quarters before you applied for benefits, though if you do not qualify under this base period, the Idaho Department of Labor may use an alternate base period to help you meet the eligibility requirements. The alternate base period uses the last four calendar quarters.
During your base period, you must have earned at least $1,872 in one quarter. Your wages in the other three quarters must also be at least 25% of the wages in your highest earning quarter.
You can estimate your weekly benefit amount by using our Idaho Unemployment Calculator.
Wage credits
A wage credit is any income earned by an employer who pays an unemployment insurance tax. This is the only income that will be included in your base period to determine whether you meet the eligibility requirements.
Non-monetary UI benefit eligibility requirements
Idaho unemployment insurance benefits are intended for workers who have lost their job due to circumstances outside of their control and are able and willing to find a new full time job. This means you must be able to work, available for work, and actively seeking work.
Able to work
You need to be physically capable of working full-time. If you have a sickness, injury, or some other physical or mental condition that prevents you from working, you need to tell the Idaho Department of Labor. Most health problems won’t prevent you from getting unemployment benefits as long as you are actively searching for work that you can do. However, you may not be able to receive unemployment benefits if you refuse work due to illness.
Available for Work
When you’re looking for a job, it’s important to be flexible and open to different options. You can’t have strict personal requirements, such as the hours you want to work, the amount of pay you expect, the locations you prefer, or the types of jobs you’re willing to take. To receive unemployment benefits, you must be ready and able to work both full-time and part-time jobs during normal work hours and days. If you have limited availability due to shifts, days, or distance to work, you may not be eligible for benefits.
Having availability for work is critical. For instance, you must have a plan for childcare, a mode of transportation to work, and no other personal commitments that will prevent you from accepting a job offer.
Actively seeking work
You also must satisfy the state’s work search requirements by contacting two employers each week. You also need to register for job placement services through IdahoWorks, the Department of Labor’s job search database.
When you are actively seeking work, you need to reach out to employers who are hiring people with skills similar to yours. If you are unable to find work in your usual field, you need to search for any type of job that you are capable of doing.
It’s important to broaden your job search and not keep contacting the same employer every week. As the length of your unemployment continues, you may be asked to look for work in a different field, accept lower pay, or look for job opportunities in other locations.
How many weeks of Idaho unemployment do I qualify for?
Unemployed Idaho workers are eligible for 10 to 26 weeks of unemployment benefits based on how much they previously earned and Idaho’s current unemployment rate. Benefits last one year from the week you initially apply.
Maintaining Eligibility
Once you file your initial application for benefits, you will need to file weekly certifications to maintain your eligibility. This will require you to report any income you earned throughout the week, as well as the steps you took to find new employment
You will also need to provide information about the employers you contacted, including the company name, address, and method of contact you used to get in touch.
If you do not file your weekly certifications on time, it could result in a delay of payment or denial of benefits.
What is considered “suitable work?”
Suitable work, as it relates to Idaho unemployment, refers to any job that you are capable of performing based on your skills, education, and work experience.
To be eligible for UI benefits in Idaho, you must be able to accept any job offer that is considered suitable work. This means that you can’t refuse a job offer just because it’s not your preferred type of work or because the pay is lower than what you’re used to.
In general, suitable work should be comparable to the type of work you have previously performed, and it should offer similar pay and work conditions.
Can I quit my job and collect benefits?
To be eligible for benefits, a person who leaves a job on their own must have a good cause that is related to the job’s pay, hours, or working conditions. If you quit your job for a reason not related to your employment, you will not be eligible for benefits.
If your employer creates a significant change to your working conditions or breaches your employment agreement, that may be a good reason to quit. Additionally, if your job is causing health problems or making an existing condition worse, that could also be a good reason to quit. You will need to provide medical proof.
In most cases, you can only quit for good cause if you first let your employer know about the problem and tried to fix it before leaving. If you do end up quitting, you must be able to prove that you had a good cause for leaving your job.
Can I get unemployment benefits if I was fired?
If you are fired from your job, you may not be eligible for benefits if your employer can show that you were let go because of something you did wrong while working. However, if you are fired, your employer will need to provide evidence that you did something wrong to justify firing you. This is called “work-related misconduct.”
Will pregnancy affect my unemployment eligibility?
If you are pregnant and meet the same requirements as other people who are applying for benefits, you can still receive benefits. This means that if you are able and willing to work and are actively looking for a full time job, your pregnancy will not affect your ability to receive benefits.
Can I attend school while receiving unemployment benefits?
You can receive benefits as long as your education or training doesn’t stop you from being available for full time work. You may also qualify if you are participating in certain training programs, such as the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act or Trade Adjustment Assistance program.
What would disqualify me from the Idaho UI benefit program?
Sometimes the Idaho Department of Labor may have to stop paying unemployment benefits and deny your claim for different reasons. A few examples of why your claim may be denied include:
- You quit your job without a good reason that’s related to your job
- You were fired because you did something wrong at work
- You turn down a job that you are qualified for and that pays the normal salary for that type of job in your area
- You’re not able to work because of a physical or mental condition
- You’re not available to work immediately because you’re not in the local job market
- You’re going to school, and it stops you from finding or accepting work
- You’re in jail or prison
- You don’t actively search for work
- You don’t give the information that’s asked of you
- You lie or hide information to get benefits
- You become self-employed or can’t work because of it
What can affect my claim for benefits?
If you encounter a situation that makes it hard for you to work or take a full time job, it might impact your request for benefits. This could include losing your child care, going to school, getting sick, traveling, or starting your own business. If any of these situations happen to you, it’s important to let the claims office know immediately.
Your weekly payment amount could also be decreased if you have earnings from other sources, like wages from part time work, severance pay, or retirement income.
When do I no longer qualify for Idaho unemployment benefits?
If you find a full time job or start earning 1.5 times the amount you receive in unemployment compensation, you no longer qualify for benefits in Idaho. When this happens, you can stop filing your weekly claims for benefits, and the Idaho Department of Labor will assume you have returned to work full time. You do not need to contact them to stop getting benefits.
Additionally, you won’t be eligible for Idaho unemployment once you have maxed out our weekly benefits unless Extended Benefits programs are available.
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