Filing for unemployment now more difficult

Filing for unemployment insurance has become more difficult as more jobless people clog telephone lines and the state website dedicated to processing claims.

To ease matters, the Missouri Division of Employment Security is hiring additional staff and set aside Tuesdays and Thursdays for people to make initial claims by telephone.

An unemployed worker may file an initial claim at any time while jobless, but the division asks workers to file in the week after they lose their job.

The basics for filing a claim are:

Eligibility: Workers filing claims must have earned at least $1,500 in one three-month period during their base period and at least $750 in one other quarter. Total wages in the base period must be at least one and one-half times the amount earned in the quarter the worker earned the most money.

Benefit amount: Actual benefits are based on earnings, with a maximum of $320 per week. The weekly benefit is paid for up to 26 weeks, depending on total earnings.

Extended benefits: Workers who exhaust regular benefits but remain unemployed may receive up to 13 weeks of additional aid.

Filing a claim: Claims may be filed online at any time at www.moclaim.com. Initial claims may also be made between the hours of 7:30 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays by telephone at 800-320-2519.

Renewing a claim: Once a claim has been made, an unemployed worker must call or go online each week to report their work status. Also, workers must register with Missouri Career Source and either make regular visits to a local career center or go online to update their job search.

Appeals: Unemployment claims that are denied may be appealed. Claimants who appeal successfully and have made a claim for each week while the appeal was pending will receive a lump-sum payment for the period when the claim was denied.

The website www.moclaim.com has links to more information.