Ky.gov

Claimant FAQs

​​​​​​​These FAQs should serve as a quick reference to many popular unemployme​nt insurance topics. All UI claimants should visit the Kentucky Career Center website homepage and download the Claimant Guide to get a full understanding of their rights and responsibilities and in-depth information about filing a claim, requesting benefits, weekly eligibility requirements, and more.


Table of Contents



​​​Unemployment insurance benefits are meant for individuals who lose their job through no fault of their own, such as an employer's lack of work or a layoff due to downsizing. If you voluntarily quit a job for reasons that are not work-related or you were terminated for misconduct, your eligibility will need to be reviewed.

To be eligible for benefits you must:

  • Be unemployed or working less than full-time
  • Have earned enough money to establish a valid claim
  • Be unemployed through no fault of your own
  • Be able to work, available for work, and looking for work.

Process
A representative from OUI will conduct a fact-finding review to determine eligibility. Employer(s) may also be requested to participate. The office will review the facts that you and your employer(s) provide, and determine your eligibility based on the law. If you were fired due to misconduct or you quit voluntarily, your benefits may be delayed or denied. Please reference the Claimant Guide, an in-depth resource that explains claimant rights and responsibilities.


Last updated: 11/30/2022 8:15 AM

​​​Unemployment insurance benefits are for individuals who are unemployed or whose work hours have been reduced to less than full-time work. To claim benefits in Kentucky, you must have earned wages in Kentucky during your base period. If you have not worked in Kentucky in the last 18 months, you will need to apply in one of the states where you worked. You are not eligible for benefits in Kentucky if you have a valid claim in another state. After your claim is filed, the UI system will automatically determine whether you have enough earnings in your base period to establish a valid claim. You will receive a document in the mail called a “Monetary Determination" a few days after you file an initial claim. The Monetary Determination will inform you whether your claim is monetarily valid and, if valid, the maximum benefit amount that you may receive per week. Note: The Monetary Determination is not a guarantee that you will receive benefits but tells you how much you may receive if you are otherwise eligible.​


Last updated: 11/30/2022 8:15 AM

​​​​​​The Kentucky General Assembly passed unemployment insurance reform during the 2022 regular session that changes how jobless benefits are calculated for Kentuckians. Gov. Andy Beshear vetoed the legislation on March 18, 2022, although lawmakers chose to override that veto.

Effective Jan. 1, 2023, eligible claimants will now receive between 12 weeks and up to a maximum 24 weeks of benefits depending on the State Average Unemployment Rate (SAUR). That rate is defined as the seasonally adjusted statewide unemployment rate that applies to a six-month period beginning either January 1 or July 1.

  • That rate is determined twice annually by the Kentucky Office of Unemployment Insurance on Jan. 1 and July 1 of each year, based on data published by the Kentucky Center for Statistics.

  • Effective Jan. 1, 2023, all UI claims are subject to a new lookback provision. For the purposes of calculating benefit weeks, the agency will reference the SAUR as recorded during the previous six-month period from the date of the claim filing.

Example
The State Average Unemployment Insurance (SAUR) rate was 3.7 percent on July 1, 2022. An individual filing a claim for benefits between Jan. 1 and June 30, 2023, could receive a maximum 12 weeks of benefits if determined eligible because the SAUI rate was less than 5 percent during that period.

​State Average Unemployment Rate of Less Than or Equal Percent
​Weeks of Benefits Available
​
​
​4.50%
​12
​5%
​13
​5.50%
​14
​6%
​15
​6.50%
​16
​7%
​17
​7.50%
​18
​​8%
​19
​8.50%
​20
​9%
​21
​9.5%
​22
​10%
​23
​10.5%
​24

*Claimants should be advised that filing a new unemployment claim locks them into the maximum weeks available at the time the claim is established for a period of one year.​

  • If the number of maximum benefit weeks should increase or decrease following a Jan. 1 or July 1 SAUR​ review, existing claims will not be impacted.

Last updated: 12/2/2022 3:54 PM

​​​No. Depending on your benefit tier at the time you file your claim, you will only be eligible to receive between 12 weeks (minimum) and 24 weeks (maximum) of benefits.
Your eligibility is based on the State Average Unemployment Rate and its lookback provision (see benefit tier chart in the How many weeks of benefits am I eligible to receive? FAQ).
If benefits expire before you reach the 24-week threshold, you can qualify for up to five additional weeks of benefits (up to but not exceeding the 24-week limit) by enrolling in an approved job training or certification program with an eligible training provider. Please visit this webpage for more details on enrolling an approved training or certification program.


Last updated: 12/2/2022 1:59 PM

​​​

The weekly benefit amount (WBA) is calculated based on the amount of wages that you earned during your base period.

The weekly benefit amount is the maximum amount of benefits you are eligible to receive each week that you request unemployment insurance benefits. The minimum rate is $39 per week and the current maximum rate is $626 per week. The maximum weekly benefit amounts are reviewed before July 1 of each year to determine if an increase will be triggered.

Please be advised that in some instances your weekly benefit payment may be less than your weekly benefit amount.

​


Last updated: 11/30/2022 8:16 AM

​​​Benefit Year Ending. This is when the claim will expire.​​


Last updated: 11/30/2022 8:16 AM

​​​Yes. Claimants are responsible for reporting unemployment insurance income. Each claimant will be issued a 1099 for tax reporting purposes by the Kentucky Office of Unemployment Insurance. ​​


Last updated: 11/30/2022 8:16 AM

​Claimants can access the 1099 in their account once it becomes available. Click here for additional information. ​​


Last updated: 11/30/2022 8:16 AM

​To file a claim with the Kentucky Office of Unemployment Insurance, please visit the Kentucky Career Center website, click on the Unemployment Services tab and select File or Access Your Claim. Claimants can also file a claim for benefits by dialing (502) 875-0442.​​


Last updated: 11/30/2022 8:20 AM

​Yes​​


Last updated: 11/30/2022 8:21 AM

​All UI claimants must verify their identity through ID.me, OUI's third -party identity verification vendor. Please visit this Kentucky Career Center webpage to learn more about Acceptable ID Documents and to get access to ID.me Tutorials. Additionally, OUI has created an ID.me Frequently Asked Questions page to assist claimants with the process.​​


Last updated: 11/30/2022 8:21 AM

​

Personal Information

Social Security OR Alien Registration Number
Date of Birth
Complete Mailing Address
Phone Number
Email Address
Valid driver's license or state-issued ID
​Social Security card​

​

Employer Information (For the last 18 months- this many include multiple employers):

Company Name or Name of Temporary Agency
Company Mailing Address
Company Phone Number
The start and end dates of your employment
The reason you are no longer working for that Employer​


Other Information You May Need:

Details about your retirement pension (if are receiving a retirement pension)
A list of states in which you worked (if you worked outside of Kentucky)
Name/Address of Temporary Agency (if you worked for a temporary agency)
Agency Name, Component name, copy of your Standard Form SF8/SF50 (if you worked for the Federal Government)
Copy of your DD214 Member 4 (if you were in the Military)
Name of Contractor and Union details (if you are a member oTrade Union)
Birth certificate



Last updated: 11/30/2022 8:21 AM

​

In Kentucky, all initial claims must serve a “Waiting Week.” That means that benefits are not paid for the first week that you are eligible. You must claim benefits in order for the week to count as your Waiting Week. Only one waiting period must be served per claim. 

Last updated: 11/30/2022 8:22 AM

​Document upload is the most efficient method to provide requested or required information to our office.  If you are having issues uploading documents, please contact our Call Center at (502) 564-2900 for assistance.​​


Last updated: 11/30/2022 8:22 AM

​Claimants who made an error on their existing claim should contact the UI Call Center at (502) 564-2900 to “Amend" their original claim.  Failure to do so may cause a delay in your eligibility determination and payment.​​


Last updated: 11/30/2022 8:22 AM

​The Kentucky Office of Unemployment Insurance offers two safe and convenient payment options. The most convenient method for claimants is direct deposit into their bank account, but claimants can also choose to receive benefits through U.S. Bank ReliaCard. Please note that claimants opting for a U.S. Bank ReliaCard as their preferred method of payment will receive the first payment by paper check. Once the first payment has been issued, claimants should receive the card from U.S. Bank within seven days. If the first payment issued includes multiple weeks, all of those weeks will be paid via check. Subsequent weeks would be deposited into the debit card account.​​


Last updated: 11/30/2022 8:23 AM

​In order to receive unemployment payments via direct deposit, claimant will need to provide their bank's routing number along with their bank account number.​​


Last updated: 11/30/2022 8:23 AM

​Claimants can change their preferred method of payment online via the “Payment Method" link in their claim. If claimants do not change the payment method to Direct Deposit, the default method of payment will be a U.S. Bank ReliaCard. Detailed information about direct deposit and debit card payments can be found in the Payment Options section of the Claimant Guide.​​


Last updated: 11/30/2022 8:23 AM

​

If you have previously filed a UI claim in Kentucky, then you will log in to your account by clicking “Log In" on the top right corner of the UI Claims Portal page. After logging in, please click on “Request User Login Verification Code." You will be required to request an access code will each time that you request a benefit payment, file a claim, or otherwise manage your claim. Please reference the Claimant Guide for additional information about logging in. 


Last updated: 11/30/2022 8:23 AM

​You must enter your email address, password, Social Security Number, and PIN each time that you access your claim. On April 9, 2021, the Office of Unemployment Insurance reset all existing PINs and created a more secure system, which includes our Two-Way Authentication System. All users are now required to use an 8-digit PIN. If you previously used a 4-digit PIN and have not already done so, you may obtain your 8-digit PIN by contacting our office by phone at (502) 564-2900.

Last updated: 11/30/2022 8:24 AM

​Kentucky unemployment insurance does not account for any dependent allowance to increase your weekly payment.​​


Last updated: 11/30/2022 8:24 AM

​Any time a claimant returns to work and has another job separation, a new claim must be filed.  ​​


Last updated: 11/30/2022 8:24 AM

​Employers are required to report all wages earn by their employees, including any tips or bonuses.​​


Last updated: 11/30/2022 8:25 AM

​​​The Kentucky General Assembly enacted changes to the state’s unemployment insurance program during the 2022 regular session. As an active UI claimant, your work search reporting requirements 
will change on Jan. 1, 2023.

Beginning on that date, you will be responsible for reporting five unique, verifiable work search activities per week to the Kentucky Office of Unemployment Insurance (OUI) at the time you submit a claim for benefits to remain eligible for the program.

The following three groups do not have to search for work while they are receiving unemployment insurance benefits:

  1. People who are members of a union with a hiring hall,
  2. People who have a definite return to work date that is within 16 weeks of the date they filed for benefits, and
  3. People who are in a labor dispute/strike with their employer.

Failure to meet reporting requirements can result in a loss of benefits for the week you are claiming. Please be advised that you must certify and attest each week that you are providing accurate and honest information for your work search activities.

All verifications must be kept for up to one full year after your claim has expired for auditing purposes. All weekly work search activity information is subject to random audits by OUI. It is critical that you have the documentation that was certified when you received your benefits.

Work search activities are documented actions taken by a claimant from any of the following categories below. At least three of those work search activities must be from the first two categories of formal job application and job interview.

​
​​


​At least three of the five weekly work search activities you are responsible for reporting must come from the first two categories on the right.

​
Formal Job Application
  • ​Copy of application confirmation from website or submission email
  • Copy of application email sent to employer
  • Copy of fax application confirmation
  • Copy of your completed paper application, legibly signed and dated by employer or KCC staff
  • Screen shot of text message showing application submission

Job Interview
  • Documentation of interview scheduling
  • Form letter signed by employer


​​




The two remaining weekly work search activities you are responsible for reporting can include actions from any of the six categories on the right.
​
Job Shadowing
  • Form letter to be completed by employer, includes dates/hours/etc.

Job Fair or Networking Event
  • ​Business card from participating employer
  • ​Form letter signed by participating employer or Kentucky Career Center staff

Job Search Skills Workshop or Seminar
  • Email and/or certificate from Kentucky Career Center staff
  • Form letter signed by the presenter to certify participation
  • Screen shots from online participation

Employment Search Program Through Kentucky Career Center or Partner
  • Confirmation of registration in KEE Suite
  • Documentation of job referral email
  • Form letter signed by program staff to certify participation
  • Screen shots from online participation


If you have questions about the new work search reporting requirements, please contact the Kentucky Office of Unemployment Insurance Call Center at (502) 564-2900.


Last updated: 12/13/2022 1:14 PM

​When you request your benefit payments online, you provide that information during your payment request process. All claimants having to do work search must request payments online. ​​


Last updated: 11/30/2022 8:41 AM

​​​

The Kentucky General Assembly defines suitable work as:

  • Any employment offered to a worker who has received at least six (6) weeks of benefits during his or her present period of unemployment.
  • Acceptable pay for which the worker will be paid one hundred twenty percent (120%) of his or her weekly benefit amount.  Example Someone making $25.00 per hour when they became unemployed after 6 weeks, offered a job paying $13.50 an hour, that is now considered suitable.

  • A job that is located within thirty (30) miles of the worker's residence, or is work that can be completed remotely on a permanent basis; and

  • Any work the customer is able and qualified to perform, regardless of whether he or she has related experience or training.

​


Last updated: 11/30/2022 8:42 AM

​​​Refusing suitable work can result in a delay or denial of your unemployment Insurance benefits.​​


Last updated: 11/30/2022 8:42 AM

​​​Yes, a self-employed individual would search for work and report at least five unique job contacts per week. Claimants have to able and available for work to receive unemployment benefits.​​


Last updated: 11/30/2022 8:43 AM

​​​Yes.​​


Last updated: 11/30/2022 8:43 AM

​​​If a claimant has a verifiable, definite return-to-work or recall-to-work prospects within a period of sixteen (16) weeks from the date of filing of the initial or reopened claim, then the claimant will not have to participate in the required work search activities. The claimant will, however, be responsible for providing documentation for the definite return or recall date. If the return-to-work or recall is not provided, the claimant will be required to participate in the required work search activities to remain eligible for benefits.​​


Last updated: 11/30/2022 8:44 AM

​​​No, you are not required to seek work.​​


Last updated: 11/30/2022 8:44 AM

​​​Yes.​​


Last updated: 11/30/2022 8:45 AM

​​​Yes.​​


Last updated: 11/30/2022 8:45 AM

​Failure to engage in at least five (5) verifiable work search activities during each week of unemployment benefits claimed will result in ineligibility for the week being claimed.​​


Last updated: 11/30/2022 8:46 AM

​The Office will conduct audits as required. Once OUI initiates an audit, you will receive an e-mail with directions on how to complete the required information. You will have only 10 calendar days to provide the requested information. If the results of the audit reveal any unverifiable job contact or activity, the claimant will be denied benefits for the week of audit. A Notice of Determination will be mailed with information about the denied benefits and notify claimants of appeal rights. This can also result in an overpayment, which means that you would be required to pay back any benefits released to you with penalty and interest and result in a loss of future benefits.​​


Last updated: 11/30/2022 8:46 AM

​Claimants have 10 days to respond from the date the email was sent.​​


Last updated: 11/30/2022 8:46 AM

​​Yes. If you receive a Notice of Determination, you may file an appeal with OUI's Appeals Branch. Please refer to your Notice of Determination for instructions and deadline to file an appeal.​​


Last updated: 11/30/2022 8:48 AM

​You have the right to appeal a decision made by the Appeals Branch to the UI Commission. Appeal rights can be found on the last page of each Notice of Determination document. You may also consult the Appeal Rights section of the Claimant Guide for specific instructions on how to file an appeal with Kentucky's Unemployment Insurance Commission. ​​


Last updated: 11/30/2022 8:48 AM

​You also have the right to appeal the Kentucky Unemployment Insurance Commission's decision to the circuit court in the county in which you were last employed. See the claimant guide for additional information.


Last updated: 11/30/2022 8:48 AM

​An overpayment may be established on a claim if a claimant received benefits during a period that they were not eligible. If you are overpaid, then benefits must be repaid to the Office of Unemployment Insurance. ​​


Last updated: 11/30/2022 8:48 AM

​

Checks or money orders can be made payable to the Kentucky UI Trust Fund. You can also make a secure payment on the Kentucky Career Center website (kcc.ky.gov) by clicking on “Unemployment Services" and selecting “Make a Payment." For payment arrangements, contact the Benefits Payment Control Office at (502) 564-2387 or UIoverpayments@ky.gov.​


Last updated: 11/30/2022 8:49 AM

​The Kentucky Office of Unemployment Insurance can recoup overpayments through income tax refunds that may be intercepted in order to satisfy your repayment obligation, pursuant to KRS 341.415. However, overpayments resulting from office error will be recovered only by deducting 25% of the weekly benefit rate from any future benefits.​​


Last updated: 11/30/2022 8:49 AM

​

Overpayments due to fraud or misrepresentation will receive a 15% penalty in addition to the amount of overpaid benefits. Interest at the rate of 1.5% per month will be added to the unpaid balance of a fraud overpayment, beginning one calendar year from the date of the determination. For more information regarding Fraud and Misrepresentation, see the Claimant Guide.


Last updated: 11/30/2022 8:49 AM

​​Any Kentucky Career Center office can provide job leads, job search assistance, as well as adult education and vocational rehabilitation services.

Staff in each center can provide information about apprenticeship opportunities and help with a resume. The location of regional centers can be found on this page of the kcc.ky.gov website.

Appointments may be required in some locations.

Career centers can help you:
Conduct job searches and placements
Measure skills and abilities
Create a resume and prepare for interviews
Explore career training resources
Discover job specialty services for military veterans
Gain computer skills
Access job assistance for people with a disability
Evaluate financial well-being
Get GED assistance and access adult learning opportunities
Use resource center computers with free internet access for job searches​


Last updated: 11/30/2022 8:49 AM

​The Kentucky OUI Call Center hours have been extended to provide additional help for claimants. You can now call (502) 564-2900 between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. EST Monday through Friday. Claimants can also schedule a phone appointment or meet in-person with a claims specialist at any regional KCC office on the KCC website. New appointments become available at 9 a.m. local time Monday through Thursday. If you have difficulty scheduling an appointment at one particular regional KCC office, please try scheduling an appointment at other locations. The KCC website also has several informative instructional videos that may also be of assistance.​​


Last updated: 11/30/2022 8:50 AM