You may have asked yourself “What can I do to extend unemployment benefits in Mississippi?” if your benefits period is coming to an end. As a general rule, federal unemployment extension programs are only available during periods of high unemployment.
- Learn About Requesting an Unemployment Benefits Extension in Mississippi
- Federal-State Extended Duration in Mississippi
- Past Emergency Unemployment Compensation in Mississippi
Beneficiaries who need to know how to get an unemployment extension should understand the conditions under which extensions are granted.
Mississippi Unemployment Resources
Learn About Requesting an Unemployment Benefits Extension in Mississippi
During times when the jobless rate remains high, the United States Congress can vote to extend unemployment insurance benefits for an additional period of time. Unemployment benefits extension programs are available through both the state and federal governments during periods of high unemployment, providing a higher level of economic security to those who are out of work.
Extended benefits can be obtained by workers who have run through their regular unemployment insurance benefits. The basic Extended Benefits allows for 13 additional weeks of benefits if a state is experiencing a period of high unemployment. Some states have also initiated a voluntary program to pay an additional seven weeks of extended benefits totaling a maximum of 20 weeks.
Not everyone who meets the standard qualifications for unemployment will qualify for extended benefits. The weekly benefit amount of extended benefits is the same as the amount the recipient receives for regular unemployment compensation unless otherwise specified by the unemployment office.
Recipients of unemployment aid asking “How can I extend unemployment in MS?” should note that you cannot file for unemployment extensions of their own volition. An unemployment benefits extension can only apply to eligible applicants when MS is experiencing very high rates of unemployment. It is only during these times that the state/federal government will activate these extended benefits programs, and they will actually mail out notifications to the eligible candidates who will receive extended benefits.
In addition to keeping weekly job-seeking activities, unemployment claim beneficiaries are urged to keep a detailed log of the benefits received up to date. If you are unsure about whether you might be eligible for an unemployment compensation extension, you can always contact your unemployment counselor to check on whether extended benefits are available.
Federal-State Extended Duration in Mississippi
Another unemployment extension program is known as the Federal-State Extended Duration (FED-ED), also called Extended Benefits (EB). This program was developed as a more permanent solution to unemployment insurance recipients running out of benefits in times of high unemployment rates and poor economic standing nationwide. You can only qualify for EB unemployment benefits extension if you have exhausted all of your regular unemployment benefits.
If you qualify for an EB unemployment extension, you will receive additional benefits in the amount of 20 weeks or 80 percent of the maximum benefit amount on the original unemployment claim, whichever amount is less.
Remember, these programs are only available during high unemployment periods, and you cannot initiate an unemployment benefits extension in Mississippi. If you are eligible for an unemployment extension, the government will notify you by mail.
Past Emergency Unemployment Compensation in Mississippi
The federal unemployment extension program that was formerly active, known as the Emergency Unemployment Compensation (EUC08), expired in 2013. The program was signed into law to combat the recession and keep the American economy from slipping into an economic depression.
Granting an unemployment benefits extension to citizens already receiving aid would encourage spending to and keep businesses afloat. It is not presently known if it will become active again, considering a new program was developed in its stead. If you are curious about this program, it is suggested you contact Mississippi labor authorities or follow developments in the national news.
In general, if you consume all of your regular unemployment benefits, you normally do not have to apply for an unemployment benefits extension because the system automatically applies for you if you are eligible. If you approach the point where your benefits will run out, contact your employment counselor to see what you have to do to receive an unemployment extension.
And in 2020, the federal government initiated the Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation (PEUC) program, which ended in 2021.
Last Updated: February 28, 2023