Nevada Unemployment Eligibility Calculator
How to qualify for Nevada unemployment benefits
The Nevada UI benefit program provides compensation to individuals who are unemployed through no fault of their own. To receive these benefits, claimants must meet the UI eligibility criteria outlined by the state of Nevada.
In order to receive Nevada unemployment benefits, you must meet the following requirements:
- Be completely or partially unemployed
- Earn enough wages during the base period
- Submit an initial application
- Register for work with Nevada Job Services
- Be mentally and physically able to work full time
- Be available to work without any barriers
- Be actively looking for a new job
- Keep a record of your work search activity
- File your weekly claims in a timely manner
Monetary eligibility requirements
Your weekly benefits are determined based on your earnings during a specific period known as the base period, rather than your financial needs. The amount you earned during your highest quarter in the base period determines your weekly benefit amount, up to a certain maximum. The base period is typically the first four of the last five completed calendar quarters before you filed for UI benefits.
If an unemployed worker fails to meet the wage criteria using the standard base period, they may qualify for benefits using an alternate base period. The alternative base period uses the last four quarters that have been completed at the time the unemployment claim is filed. It is important to note that the use of the alternate base period is not a choice. It can only be used if a claimant does not meet the criteria for any benefits using the first four of the last five completed quarters to calculate their benefit amount.
If you have experienced an on-the-job injury, you may also be eligible for an extended base period claim that uses your wages before your injury.
You can estimate your benefit amount by using our Nevada Unemployment Calculator.
Wage credits
A wage credit is any compensation paid by an employer. To qualify for unemployment benefits in Nevada, you must have earned one and a half times the wages in your highest earning quarter OR you must have earned wages in at least three of the four quarters of your base period. No matter which condition you meet, you must have earned at least $400 during your highest-earning quarter.
Non-monetary UI benefit eligibility requirements
Unemployment insurance benefits are exclusively for workers who are without a job due to reasons beyond their control and are capable and willing to seek full-time work. Your eligibility for UI benefits can only be decided after you apply for Nevada unemployment benefits and provide information about yourself and your previous employers.
Nevada unemployment applicants also must meet the state’s work search requirement and enroll for job placement services with Nevada Job Services by visiting their local Nevada Job Connect office.
How many weeks of Nevada unemployment do I qualify for?
Nevada workers qualify for 26 weeks of unemployment benefits. This assistance lasts for one year from the week you apply. This is known as the “benefit year.”
Maintaining Eligibility
After you have filed your initial claim for unemployment benefits, you will need to file a weekly claim to be paid. This involves reporting any work you performed and income you received during the week, as well as the steps you took to find a new full-time job.
While there is no set amount of job search activity you must perform each week, you do have to show you are making a full-faith effort to secure new employment. You will need to provide a log of this activity each week you file an unemployment claim.
Failure to file a weekly claim can lead to a delay in unemployment compensation.
What is considered “suitable work?”
When job searching, it’s important to know what the typical pay and hours are for the type of work you’re looking for in the area. If you don’t know, you can ask for help at a Nevada JobConnect office near you. A representative will be able to look up local labor market information to help guide your search.
You should be ready to accept any job offer that’s reasonable for your skills and experience.
Can I work part time and receive unemployment benefits?
You can work part time and receive benefits so long as you report any wages you earned for the week and those wages do not equal one and a half times your weekly benefit amount.
Any wages you earn will be deducted from your weekly benefit amount by 75%.
Do I qualify for unemployment if I am self-employed?
Not if you don’t have enough wage credits from outside employers. However, if you worked for yourself at any point during your weekly claims, including gig workers or as an independent contractor, it’s important to report the time you spent on that work, even if you didn’t make any money.
If you have any questions about this, and you only worked for yourself part-time, you can contact the Nevada UI claim center for guidance on how to report this.
What would disqualify me from the Nevada UI benefit program?
There are many reasons why your request for benefits might be denied. Some of these reasons include, but are not limited to:
- Voluntarily quitting your job
- Being fired for misconduct
- Failure to report wages on your weekly claims
- Unable or unavailable for full-time work
- Refusing a suitable job
- Unemployed due to a labor strike
- Receiving unemployment benefits in another state
- Fraudulently obtaining benefits by lying or withholding information
If you were denied benefits but believe the division made a mistake, you have the right to appeal the decision.
What can affect my claim for benefits?
If something happens that makes it difficult for you to work or accept a full-time job, it could affect your request for benefits. This could include things like losing child care, going to school, traveling, getting sick, or starting your own business. If any of these situations apply to you, it’s important to tell your local claims office right away.
Your weekly benefit amount could also be reduced due to wages or earnings from other sources, including part-time work, severance pay, and retirement income.
When do I no longer qualify for Nevada unemployment benefits?
Once a claimant returns to work full time or starts earning one and a half times their weekly benefit amount, they no longer qualify for unemployment benefits in Nevada. When this happens, you can simply quit filing weekly claims for benefits. The unemployment division will assume you have returned to work full-time—you do not need to contact them to stop benefit payment.
You also no longer qualify for Nevada unemployment insurance once you have collected 26 weeks of benefits, provided there are no Extended Benefits programs in place.
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