How to get your

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How to get your Unemployment Insurance benefits
2
Unemployment Insurance provides temporary
financial assistance to qualified workers who
become unemployed through no fault of their own.
Benefits are not based on need.
3
How do I apply for unemployment insurance
benefits?
4

• When you become unemployed or have a reduction in
  your work schedule, you can call HAWAII
  TELE-CLAIM at the phone numbers below to file
  your unemployment claim. TTY relay service is
  available.
• 643-5555 (from anywhere in Hawaii)
• 1-877-215-5793 (from outside the State of Hawaii,
  toll- free)
• Hours of operation
• 630 am to 12 midnight (Sunday to Thursday)
• 630 am to 430 pm (Friday)

5
Your claim will be effective from the week in
which you finalize and complete the claim filing
process after talking to a customer service
representative. Your claim is good for a one year
period called the benefit year.
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• Be prepared to provide your
• Social security number
• All employment information such as
• Employers name and address
• Dates of employment
• Reason for separation for the past 18 months
  (incl. part-time work)
• If you relocate to another state, you can still
  file your application by calling the toll-free
  number.

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What is my base period?
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To find your base period, go back to the last 5
completed quarters before you applied for
unemployment and use the first 4 quarters. If
you do not have sufficient wages in the first 4
quarters, you can also use an alternate base
period consisting of the last 4 completed
quarters. Sufficient wages means you have
wages in at least 2 quarters and wages totaling
26 times your weekly benefit amount in your base
period.
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How much would I get per week?
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To calculate your weekly benefit amount, take the
quarter with the highest wages in your base
period and divide by 21.
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How often will I get my unemployment check?
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The normal filing period will be weekly for the
first 2 weeks and bi-weekly for the following
weeks. The first week of unemployment is a
waiting period week and no benefits are paid out.
Your first unemployment check for the second
week of unemployment is normally paid in 3 weeks
and thereafter, you will be paid on a bi-weekly
basis.
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What is the maximum weekly benefit amount? How
do you qualify for that amount?
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The maximum weekly benefit amount is computed
each year based on a percentage of the states
average weekly wages. For 2008, the maximum
amount is 523 and it usually changes every year.
To receive the maximum benefit amount, you
must have been paid wages of 26 times your weekly
benefit amount in the highest quarter of your
base period.
15
How will the unemployment office know if I am
actually looking for work?
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All individuals claiming benefits must actively
seek work and are required to make at least 3 job
contacts every week. You are required to keep a
record of your job contacts on Form UC-253
"Record of Contacts Made for Work". Job contacts
can be made in-person, by phone or through the
internet. Periodically, your local claims office
will request a copy of your job contacts or
schedule you for an in-person interview to check
on your job search activities. If you are a
member of a referring union, you must follow your
union procedures to obtain new work. The 3 job
contact requirement is waived.
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Do I have to accept a job that pays lower than
what I want?
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You must be willing to accept the wages that are
prevailing or customary for your occupation in
the community in which you are seeking work.
If your unemployment continues, you may be
required to lower your wage demand.
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What happens if I am offered another position and
refuse?
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If you refuse a job that is suitable for you and
you do not have good cause for the refusal, you
will be disqualified as of the week of your
refusal.
21
What if I have a part-time job? Can I still
collect?
22
You may be able to collect while part-time
employed. You can earn up to 150 without any
reduction in your weekly benefit amount. Any
earnings above 150 will be deducted from your
weekly benefit amount and you will be paid the
balance. If your earnings are equal to or exceed
your weekly benefit amount, no benefits will be
paid to you.
23
Can I still collect even if I am receiving
regular severance payments and benefits?
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Yes. If you are separated from employment and no
longer have any obligation to perform services
for your former employer, severance payments have
no effect on your unemployment benefits.
25
If I choose to retire when the company shuts
down, am I still eligible?
26
You should still be eligible for unemployment if
the loss of your job and company closing was the
primary reason for your unemployment. If you did
not have a choice to continue working, it does
not matter if you exercised your option to retire
at the time your employment was terminated. If
you leave or retire prior to the closure and work
is still available to you, your termination is
considered a voluntary quit and your quit must be
with good cause to be eligible.
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Are retirement benefits deductible from my
unemployment?
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Retirement benefits are deductible only if you
did not make any contributions to the pension
plan, the pension plan is maintained or
contributed by a base period employer and the
base period services affect the eligibility for
or increase the amount of the pension. Social
security is not deductible since you do make
contributions to the plan.
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What if I attend school? What if I go on
vacation? Can I still collect?
30
You must be able and available for work to
collect unemployment benefits. If you attend
school and cannot accept work or restrict your
availability for work because of your schooling,
benefits will be denied. Similarly, if you go on
vacation and are not available for work, benefits
will be denied. When you are once again
available for work, benefits can resume.
31
What if I am having surgery? What if I am
pregnant? Can I still collect?
32
If you are having surgery and cannot work, you
are not available for work and benefits will be
denied. The medical waiver provision in our law
may be applicable if you are already collecting
unemployment prior to the start of your
disability and you have a physician's certificate
in regards to your disability. If you are
pregnant and can still accept work, you are
considered able and available for work.
33
What happens if I relocate out-of-state? Can I
still collect? What do I do?
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You must notify us about your change in address
and you will be able to continue collecting
benefits as an interstate claimant. You will
file your claim certifications by calling Hawaii
Tele-Claim directly using an out-of-state
toll-free number.
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Can I look for work on the mainland?
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You can continue to file your claim
certifications from the mainland while making an
active search for work. You can call Hawaii
Tele-Claim directly using an out-of-state
toll-free number. Be sure to keep a record of
your job search activities.
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• For more information, please visit us at
• http//hawaii.gov/labor/ui
• If you have any questions, call your local
  unemployment office
• Honolulu 586-8970 or 586-8971
• Kaneohe 233-3677
• Waipahu 675-0030
• Hilo 974-4086
• Kona 322-4822
• Maui 984-8400
• Molokai 553-1750
• Kauai 274-3043
• Liable Interstate Unit 1(808) 586-8960