Unemployment Runs Out September 2021
You might get a busy signal when calling the Charlotte Center for Legal Advocacy’s unemployment insurance hotline because of the green light for the American Rescue Plan. Benefits have been extended for the CARES Act unemployment insurance expansion through Sept. 6, 2021.
If you’re a claimant drop to the bottom of this article. If you’ve been struggling with job insecurity since 2019 at the start of the pandemic you’re feeling the pain, but there’s hope for a little bit to buy some time. Look for programs outlined in the plan to take flourish or stumble because the details are unclear which has resulted in a significant increase in calls to Charlotte Center for Legal Advocacy’s Unemployment Insurance Hotline at 980-256-3979. The organization’s Unemployment Insurance Project offers some basic information and answers for frequently asked questions.
IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR CLAIMANT:
A claimant’s “benefit year” for state unemployment insurance is the 52-week period beginning from the date the person files a valid claim. For example, if a claimant began receiving benefits at the start of the pandemic (March 2020), they are at the end of their benefit year and, if they are still filing for unemployment, will be prompted to file a new claim when the new benefit year begins.
In North Carolina, people who apply for unemployment after March 15, 2021, including those who file a claim for a new benefit year, are required to complete work search activities each week in order to receive benefits. The American Recovery Plan allows the first $10,200 of 2020 unemployment benefits to be excluded from federal taxable income, but current North Carolina law does not.
The U.S. Dept of Labor is still in the process of updating the benefits system so there are some delays but back pay is expected for qualified claimants.
