Archive 2023

Kentucky Career Center Thanksgiving holiday schedule

All Kentucky Career Centers offices in the commonwealth will be closed on Thursday, Nov. 23, 2023, and Friday, Nov. 24, 2023, in observance of Thanksgiving. Please note that unemployment insurance claimants may experience a delay in payments due to banks being closed.​​

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​ ​Nov. 17, 2023

UI claimants: U.S. Bank upcoming system maintenance schedule; key dates to remember
Kentucky unemployment insurance claimants relying on U.S. Bank ReliaCards for benefit payments should be advised that the bank has scheduled system maintenance to occur at various times during the month of November for multiple systems. Customers could experience intermittent service availability or downtime on the company's website during these periods (all times EST):

• Between 1 a.m. on Friday, Nov. 17, 2023, and 12:55 a.m. on Monday, Nov. 20, 2023; expect downtime between 1 a.m. and 1:30 a.m. on Friday, Nov. 17.​
  
  

• Between 8 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 24, 2023, and 4 a.m. on Saturday, Nov. 25.
  

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Nov. 14, 2023

Attention UI claimants and employers: Application and system updates scheduled for Nov. 18, 2023
Please be advised that the Office of Unemployment Insurance will upgrade numerous applications and information systems between 8 a.m. and 1 p.m. EST on Saturday, Nov. 18. The following applications and systems will be unavailable during those hours:

• KEWES Internal
• KEWES External
  
• Employer Website
• Tax Applications
• Print System
  
• Collections
• Images​
  

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​ ​Nov. 6, 2023

Attention UI claimants and individuals seeking career services:

All Kentucky Career Centers Offices in the commonwealth will be closed on Friday, Nov. 10, 2023, in observance of Veterans Day. Unemployment insurance claimants could experience a delay in payments due to banks being closed.

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Oct. 10, 2023

UI Strike Information: FAQ for the Claimant
I am currently unemployed or have a reduction in hours due to the circumstances of a Labor Strike. 

How do I file a claim?

To file online visit the Kentucky Office of Unemployment Insurance Website: https://kcc.ky.gov

To file by phone call(502)875-0442 (M-F 7:30 am to 5:30 pm EST)

What are my rights and responsibilities?

Reference: https://kcc.ky.gov/career/Documents/PAM400.pdf

 Am I eligible for unemployment insurance benefits?

If you are unemployed through no fault of your own, you MAY be eligible for unemployment benefits. 

Reference: https://kcc.ky.gov/career/Documents/PAM400.pdf

Reference: KRS 341.350 statute.aspx (ky.gov)

 What is a Strike/Lockout? 

A strike is a situation in which employees agree to an organized stoppage of work until the employer and the union reach an agreement about working conditions, wages and benefits.

A lockout is a  situation in which the employer prevents employees from entering the workplace until the employees/union accept a new proposal regarding working conditions.

A labor union is a group of employees who join together to advance common interest such as wages, benefits, schedules and other employment terms and conditions.  Members often pay dues to the union and elect officers to represent the group during contract negotiations.

*General knowledge terms

Reference: KRS 341.360 (1) statute.aspx (ky.gov)

 Am I required to look for work?

To be eligible for Unemployment Insurance benefits, you must actively seek full-time work. Claimants must report at least five (5) work search activities each week. At least three (3) of these must be job applications or interviews. If you do not meet the work search requirements, you will lose benefits for the week(s) being claimed.

Only claimants with a Work Search Exception are exempt from seeking work. You are not required to conduct a job search if:

• You are a member of a trade union that finds work for you.
• You are a student in an approved training program (and have received a determination).
• You have a definite recall date within 16 weeks of your initial claim filing date. Note that you will be required to provide documentation from your employer with your return-to-work date.  If you do not provide documentation, you will be subject to work search requirements.
• You are on temporary leave of absence while still considered an employee.
• Your employer filed a mass electronic claim (E-Claim) or Work Share Claim on your behalf.
  

Reference: https://kcc.ky.gov/career/Documents/PAM400.pdf

Reference: KRS 341.350 statute.aspx (ky.gov)

How do I request a payment?

It is recommended that you request benefits online instead of by phone.

You must report all earnings, wages and income to the Office of Unemployment Insurance.

Reference: Instructions on Requesting Benefits

For additional assistance:
Call (502) 564-2900
Or visit: https://kcc.ky.gov

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​ ​Oct. 11, 2023

UI Strike Information: FAQs for the Employer
What are my responsibilities? 

• Click here for Employer Guide: EMPLOYER GUIDE (ky.gov)
• An employer must notify the Office of Unemployment Insurance in writing when a strike or labor dispute occurs within seven (7) days.  The notification should be submitted to the attention of the UI Executive Directors Office:

Mail: 500 Mero Street, 4SC, Frankfort, KY 40601
Fax: (502)564-5502
Reference: KRS 341.360(1)(a) https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/law/statutes/statute.aspx?id=52451​

Is the employer eligible to submit E-claims or Work Share Claims on behalf of its employees?

Requirement to participate in an E-claim:

• Click here for E-claim information: https://kcc.ky.gov/Employer/Pages/Filing-Your-Mass-Electronic-Claim-(E-Claim).aspx

• Workforce of at least 100 workers at the time of layoff.
• Minimum of 25 workers on layoff.
• Workers have a definite recall to work date within 4 calendar weeks. A worker who will be off for 5 weeks or more will need to file an individual claim for the entire period.

Requirement to participate in the Work Share Program:

The Kentucky Work Share (WS) program is an alternative to layoffs for employers experiencing a reduction in available work. 

• Submit a signed, written Work Share plan to the Offices of Unemployment Insurance (OUI) for approval.  Click here for Work Share application: https://kcc.ky.gov/career/If-you-are-an-Employer/Pages/default.aspx
• The plan applies to and identifies the specified affected group (2 or more employees)
• The employer approved plan expires after twelve (12) full calendar months from its effective date.
• Includes an estimate of the number of layoffs that might have occurred if the plan was not made available.
• The normal weekly hours of work for employees are reduced by not less than 10% and not more than 40%.
• The plan must consist of at least 10% of the workforce.

For additional assistance:
Call: (502)564-2900 and/or (502)564-3240
Or visit: https://kcc.ky.gov

​ 

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​Oct. 11, 2023

​UI Claimants: U.S. Bank website system maintenance through Oct. 21; key dates

​Kentucky unemployment insurance claimants relying on U.S. Bank ReliaCards for benefit payments may experience intermittent service availability on the company's website due to scheduled maintenance during the following hours (all times EDT):

•  9 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 13, through midnight on Sunday, Oct. 16.
• 8 p.m. Friday, Oct. 20, through 4 a.m. on Saturday, Oct. 21.​
  

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​ ​Oct. 3, 2023

​UI Claimants: Note Upcoming Federal Holiday Oct. 9

Unemployment insurance claimants can expect a delay in benefit payments during the week of Oct. 9 due to banks closing in honor of Columbus Day.​​

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Sept. 26, 2023

Attention UI claimants:

Due to a technical issue, unemployment insurance claimants may experience a one-day delay in payments. We apologize for any inconvenience. ​​

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​ ​Aug. 31, 2023

Kentucky Career Center Offices Closed Monday, Sept. 4

All Kentucky Career Center Offices will be closed on Monday, Sept. 4, 2023, in observance of Labor Day. Unemployment insurance claimants may experience a delay in payments due to banks being closed.

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July 20, 2023

UI claimants: U.S. Bank website system maintenance through July 28; key dates
Kentucky unemployment insurance claimants relying on U.S. Bank ReliaCards for benefit payments may experience intermittent service availability on the company's website during the following hours (all times EDT):

• ​The company will perform system maintenance from 9 p.m. Friday, July 21, through midnight on Monday, July 24. Between 1 a.m. and 6 a.m. on Saturday, July 22, there will be intermittent downtime scheduled when applications may be unavailable.
  
  
• Between 8 p.m. on Friday, July 28, and 4 a.m. on Saturday, July 29, the cardholder website may experience intermittent interruption.
  
  

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​ ​July 3, 2023

Kentucky Career Centers Closed Thursday, July 4
Tuesday, July 4, 2023, is a federal holiday. All Kentucky Career Centers Offices are closed. Unemployment insurance claimants may experience a delay in payments due to banks being​​ closed.​ 

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June 16, 2023

UI claimants note: Juneteenth federal holiday June 19, 2023
Unemployment insurance claimants may experience a delay in benefit payments due to banks being closed on Monday, June 19, in observance of the Juneteenth Holiday.

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​ ​June 15, 2023

UI claimants: Please note UI Claimant Portal navigation changes
Claimants visiting the UI Claimant Portal will notice that Manage Account and View Payment History links no longer appear on the homepage: 

Access your account information and payment history by:

• Clicking the File New Claim/Payment Request button on the portal homepage.
• Clicking My Information menu in the upper-right corner of the following page.

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June 8, 2023

UI claimants: U.S. Bank is planning website system maintenance during the month of June; key dates to note

Kentucky unemployment insurance claimants who rely on U.S. Bank ReliaCards for benefit payments should be advised that the company will perform scheduled website maintenance during the month of June. Cardholders may experience intermittent service availability or downtime on the company's website during the following hours (all times EDT):

• Beginning at 9 p.m. Friday, June 9 until 12 a.m. June 12; Cardholders will not be able to access accounts between 1 a.m. and 5 a.m. on Saturday, June 10.
  
  
• ​Beginning at 8 p.m. Friday, June 23 until to 4 a.m. Saturday, June 24. 

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​ ​June 2, 2023

​Eligible benefit weeks increase for UI claimants applying ​for benefits and filing claims on or after July 1​
Kentucky unemployment insurance claimants who apply for benefits and file a new UI claim on or after July 1, 2023, will be eligible to receive up to four additional weeks of benefits.

Gov. Andy Beshear signed HB 146 into law on March 23, 2023, which increases from 12 to 16 the number of benefit weeks available for those filing a new claim on or after July 1, 2023.
Visit the 2023 UI Changes page for additional details.
Reminder: All claimants must continue to report up to five verifiable, unique work search activities each week to remain eligible for the program pursuant to HB 4 which took effect Jan. 1. See the FAQ page for more information about meeting work search requirements.​

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​May 25, 2023

UI claimants: Beginning June 5, you can get in-person assistance with claims at regional career center offices ​without an appointment
Need assistance with an unemployment insurance claim?

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​ ​May 22, 2023

​Kentucky Career Centers Closed Monday, May 29

Kentucky Career Center offices will be closed on Monday, May 29, 2023, in observance of Memorial Day. ​

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April 28, 2023

UI claimants: U.S. Bank planning website system maintenance duirng the month of May; key dates to note

Kentucky unemployment insurance claimants who rely on U.S. Bank ReliaCards for benefit payments should be advised that the company will perform scheduled website maintenance during the month of May (all times EDT):

• ​8 p.m. Friday, May 5 to 4 a.m. Saturday, May 6.
• 9 p.m. Friday May 12 to 12 a.m. Monday, May 15
• 8 p.m. Friday, May 26 to 4 a.m. Saturday, May 27

 Cardholders may experience intermittent service availability on the company's website during those times.​

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​ ​April 14, 2023

OUI Performing Scheduled Computer System Update April 20-April 23

The Kentucky Office of Unemployment Insurance will take its computer system offline from 7 p.m. EDT on Thursday, April 20 through 10 a.m. EDT on Sunday, April 23 to perform a scheduled system update. Individuals with an existing claim, and those who need to file an application for benefits will not be able to access the system during that time.

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March 22

Good Friday Hours of Operation
​The Kentucky Office of Unemployment Insurance Call Center will close at 12 pm EDT on Friday, April 7 in observance of Good Friday. Regular business hours will resume on Monday, April 10.
Some Kentucky Career Center offices may be closed on Good Friday or have limited hours of operation. Please contact your local career center office for holiday business hours.​

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​ ​Jan. 9, 2023​

Unemployment insurance claimants: 1099-G

Unemployment Insurance Claimants: 1099-G documents will soon be available in the claimant portal and mailed via the U.S. Postal Service by Jan. 31, 2023. Please watch this short video to learn more about your 1099-G form and how to access.​​

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Jan. 5, 2023

Important message for job seekers and employers regarding your Focus/Career or Focus/Talent account

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Jan. 3, 2023

U.S. Bank will conduct routine system maintenance

Attention claimants,
US Bank will conduct routine system maintenance that might affect batch processing. While we do not foresee interruption to the use of your Reliacard, please note the following system maintenance scheduled for January 2023:​

• 1/6, beginning at 9 P.M. ET until 1 A.M. ET on 1/7
• 1/18, beginning at 12 P.M. ET until 5 P.M. ET
• 1/20, beginning at 9 P.M. ET until 12 A.M. ET on 1/23
• 1/27, beginning at 9:15 P.M. ET until 5:15 A.M. ET on 1/28
  
  

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​​​​​​​​​​Jan. 3, 2023
Upcoming Holiday Office Closures

Due to the upcoming ​state holidays in 2023​, the Kentucky Office of Unemployment Insurance will be closed on the following days. Banks may also be closed which could delay UI benefit deposits.​