How to calculate unemployment eligibility and the weekly benefit amount

This information should be in your manual of benefits and it is posted on the AWI website. I'm posting it here for convenience. You can download the entire Word Doc at this link, under "FAQs" on the lower left: http://www.floridajobs.org/unemployment/uc_bpc_default.htm

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2. How are the weekly benefit amount and maximum available credits calculated?

To qualify monetarily, a person must:

• Have been paid wages in two or more calendar quarters in the base period;
• Have total base period wages of at least 1-1/2 times the wages in the quarter having the highest earnings;
• Have at least $3,400 total wages in the base period.

As required by Florida law, the base period is the first four of the last five completed quarters. For claims filed during April, May and June of 2007, the base period is January 1, 2006 through December 31, 2006. To calculate the weekly benefit amount, use the quarter in the base period with the highest earnings. Divide the earnings in that quarter by 26. This figure will be your weekly benefit amount. The minimum weekly benefit amount is $32 and the maximum weekly benefit amount is $275. To calculate your maximum available credits, you divide your total wages in the base period as shown on the Wage Transcript and Determination by four (4). This figure will be the benefits you have available to receive if you are determined otherwise eligible. The total amount of available credits can range from a minimum of $850 to a maximum of $7150 depending on your earnings in the base period.

The wage transcript also informs you of the effective date of your claim and the ending date of the benefit year. You have a one year period, the benefit year, to use the maximum available credits. That does not mean you are entitled to a year of benefits. To calculate the number of weeks to which you are entitled, divide the maximum available credits by the weekly benefit amount. This figure will be the number of weeks for which you may be paid. The maximum number of weeks a claimant may receive regular benefits in Florida is twenty six (26) weeks.

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Note that any limits on benefit year mentioned in the main document do not apply to the current extension of benefit programs for anyone whose benefit year started after mid-May of 2006. Allowances were made in federal law for extended benefits to go beyond the usual individual benefit year cutoff date.