Reader Question: I started receiving unemployment but now I received a letter stating that I am not eligible due to not having earned enough wages. Please help!
If you were getting PUA and are currently receiving weekly payments, then don’t worry about the letter.
Want to be extra sure?
Check the four points below. If they all apply to you, then definitely rest easy.
- You are getting PUA, not regular unemployment. Don’t know if you are currently receiving regular unemployment or PUA? Read ‘Am I on PUA or Regular Unemployment?’
- Your Payment History section is active and shows your weekly benefit amount.
- You are still getting your weekly payments as before.
- The date on the letter is very close to the date that you were approved online for PUA.
If everything is OK, why did you get the letter?
Here is what I think happened: When you applied, they first checked to see if you were eligible for regular unemployment. You were not eligible (didn’t earn enough wages), so it automatically triggered a letter stating that you are not eligible.
They then checked and approved you for PUA (PUA doesn’t require a minimum amount of wages).
Now, even though you were approved for PUA, the original letter stating that you are not approved for regular unemployment was still sent out. This part of the system was not updated to either not send you the letter or add on that although you were not approved for regular unemployment, you were approved for PUA (Pandemic Unemployment Assistance). This is most likely a system error with the DOL – this error can join the many others that can be blamed on the sudden influx of unemployment claims and an old archaic unemployment system.
10 thoughts on “Received a Letter that You are Not Eligible for Unemployment? Don’t Worry!”
I had paid into the system for regular unemployment and was also self-employed but I received an denial letter stating because I resigned fro. A job back in January and conti nue to work my job as a realtor i was not eligible for hourly employment. The gdol fail to ask me how long I had working as a realtor. The gdol said you needed to have paid at least $3650 to qualify. I have made more than enough to qualify and I have been working as a realtor for over 17 years.
It sounds to me like you were denied regular unemployment. You should still be eligible for PUA (Pandemic Unemployment Assistance). Check your account online if you have an option to complete the PUA form. Good luck!
I have been filing since the pandemic started because my work slowed up they keep denying me,I still file every week. This week they made me start the process over as if its my first time applying what is going on
If you are currently working part time, there is a maximum you can earn and still get unemployment, depending on your state. For example, NY is $504/week.
What if you have SSDI and was not able to get to work, covid-19
Stopped going to place of income.
Busses stopped running.
Started to work but fear of spreading covid-19 after Dr. visit, slowed work down.
Do I qualify for PUA on SSDI?
Check with https://www.ssa.gov/disability/ to see if you are eligible if you get SSDI.
I have been filing for unemployment since the start of this pandemic. Finally got to speak with someone in unemployment. They said they will not pay me because i have been overpaid back in 2018. That’s why i was denied unemployment funds. I will file the right paper work for this craziness. Know i sit here broke and can’t return to work because i have HIV. I guess DETR will kill me before the corona virus will.
Sorry to hear. Wishing you the best of luck.
Hi,
I received the declined unemployment insurance letter, like pictured above. I put down last employer (2017) not sure if I was supposed to write that or put self employed (even though I didn’t make money this past year..)
Out of the four points you wrote;
2.Your Payment History section is active and shows your weekly benefit amount. – It shows $182, although didn’t receive anything yet..
4.The date on the letter is very close to the date that you were approved online for PUA. – I sent the pua form the day before the letter is dated.
So will I still get unemployment? And how do I know if I am approved for PUA?
When did you apply and have you certified your weeks?