Learn About New Hampshire Unemployment Insurance

New Hampshire Unemployment is a benefit program to help the loss of income from an employer that is not due to the fault of the employee. In general, New Hampshire Employment Security, which is known as “unemployment insurance” nationwide, manages all aspects of unemployment benefits in the state.

Unemployment insurance (UI) for eligible workers who are looking for new employment is considered temporary income, which is funded by a beneficiary’s previous employer. This also refers to partially unemployed individuals in New Hampshire.

The employee will not see any deductions made for unemployment insurance on his or her paycheck. This is a weekly benefit paid to eligible former employees.

In order to start the unemployment claim process in NH, unemployed individuals must file an application online within three business days of the last day of employment. If a former employee is receiving any type of separation pay, the timeline may change.

Applicants are encouraged to review information regarding the amount and duration of benefits prior to filing an initial claim. There are two steps in the process of filing unemployment insurance claims: initial and continued.

An initial claim is the first claim that is filed by an unemployed individual through an unemployment application. A continued claim requires an unemployed beneficiary to log in periodically to claim benefits.

Unemployment eligibility considers various factors including searching for work, availability to work full-time, and physical and mental ability to work, among other requirements. A former employee can be denied unemployment insurance coverage for several reasons, most likely for not meeting eligibility requirements.

When a denial for benefits is received, the claimant has the option to appeal the decision. Reporting any changes is an integral part of maintaining your New Hampshire unemployment insurance benefits.

Learn About New Hampshire Unemployment Resources

If an unemployment applicant is denied benefits, he or she would be able to file an appeal. There are also rare circumstances in which unemployment insurance benefits can be extended through the federal unemployment extension program.

New Hampshire Employment Security has several local offices and resource centers that can help with the application and reporting process. These centers also offer reemployment assistance services. Ultimately applying and claiming unemployment insurance benefits in New Hampshire is a simple process and helpful resource for any unemployed individual.

Understand Requirements for Unemployment in New Hampshire

Receiving New Hampshire unemployment benefits is based on how an employee separated from his or her employer. In order to qualify for unemployment, the petitioner may not have lost the job due to it being his or her own fault.

Candidates are not eligible for unemployment insurance in NH if they quit or were fired for a disciplinary reason. While these benefits are meant to help an unemployed individual during the time they are actively looking for new employment, the amount issued to qualifying candidates is based on the taxes paid by the former employer.

The fault is determined by the NH Employment Department, not by the previous employer. Unemployment benefits are only given to an individual for a certain amount of time. In order to receive benefits, the UI petitioner must complete an application online or visit a resource center.

Applying for Unemployment Benefits in New Hampshire

Petitioners can file an unemployment claim online is the first step in receiving unemployment insurance benefits. To file for unemployment the petitioner must go through a two-step process and the initial claim can take some time to complete. Applicants seeking unemployment insurance in New Hampshire need to have all documents and information ready prior to filing a claim, as this will make the process easier.

Once a claim is filed, the eligibility and possible amount of benefits will need to be determined by the NH Employment Department. The Department comes to a decision by following federal guidelines. Once a decision has been reached, a claimant’s benefits begin.

Learn About Unemployment Benefits in New Hampshire

An unemployment benefits claim in New Hampshire covers a period of one week. The calendar year that is being requested would be the previous week beginning on Sunday and ending Saturday. In NH, the claimant has up to 7 days to file for unemployment benefits for the week.

The weekly benefit amount is determined by looking at how much the claimant earned over the last 18-month period. Eligibility and benefit amounts are determined on a case-by-case basis, and the initial benefit payment may take longer to process than the continued claim benefit requests.

Claimants can file for an unemployment benefits extension during times of high unemployment rates. A non-monetary determination denies or allows unemployment benefit claims eligibility based on issues not related to the benefit amount. Monetary determination is the benefit amount that an NH claimant may receive.

Appealing a Denial of Benefits in New Hampshire

An unemployment insurance petitioner may be denied unemployment benefits for several reasons. When eligibility requirements are not met for a particular week, the claimant may not be paid benefits for the week.

A candidate will have New Hampshire Unemployment compensation benefits denied when he or she chose to leave the employer willingly. This would also include no call/no show scenarios.

Another reason unemployment may be denied would be if the unemployed individual closed his or her business, or ceased self-employment. An unemployment benefits denial will also result if an applicant is discharged from his or her former employer for misconduct, intoxication or theft.

Moreover, yet another reason for denied unemployment would be the refusal or unavailability to work when offered suitable work. On occasion, being part of a voluntary strike is considered to be a disqualifying factor for benefits denial. The reason a petitioner has been denied unemployment benefits also determines the time period the petitioner will not receive them.

Learn About the Federal Unemployment Extension Program in New Hampshire

New Hampshire unemployment compensation extensions are only available during periods of high unemployment. The basic federal unemployment extended benefits program can cover up to an additional 13-week period.

During extremely high unemployment periods, some states offer a voluntary program that can pay 7 additional weeks. If a claimant were to qualify for both programs, the maximum amount of additional benefit weeks would amount to 20.

Not all states are eligible at any given time. Simply because a petitioner qualified for regular benefits does not mean he or she qualifies for extended benefits. An unemployed individual cannot apply for extended benefits at any time.

This benefit can only be activated by the state and federal government, and claimants who may qualify will receive notice.  Once notice is received, the claimant may follow instructions in order to receive the unemployment benefits extension. Extended unemployment cannot be requested any time an individual deems necessary.