In this economy, one never knows when unemployment will happen. My husband's trade will layoff and furlow regularly and I have learned a few tricks to make it quicker to file and start receiving payments.
I use a calendar for each of us (usually get them free from a local business). Each month usually has a picture - I take a piece of paper and cut it to size and put over the picture. I use this section to staple all check stubs and income statements. I make notes on the calendar where he is. For example, on Monday, I might write UE-unemployment and draw a line to Saturday if he is out all week, or I might write something like Lagoon job and draw a line to Saturday. I also have put a sheet of paper over the back and I write company names, address, supervisor name, and telephone numbers.
When you file, you will need to have your social security number and drivers license number handy, if you don't know it. For ID purposes they use Mother's maiden name (don't laugh, but this one made my son have to think hard - he said all he could come up with was mom, and then they wanted him to spell it). A checking account makes it much faster.
One last thing before you leave the job request a written paper on your layoff. This is your documentation!
There are usually two ways to file a claim - internet and by phone. I prefer the internet because it is so much faster and you don't have to wait through busy signals or wait on hold for hours.
By Meemaw from FL
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I'm 27 years old and I just got fired from my job. I can get unemployment but that only last so long.
