Definition of terms

Appeal: A formal request for a telephone hearing by either an applicant or employer because of a disagreement with the facts or reasoning of a determination. Testimony and documentation is taken by an Unemployment Law Judge, who then mails out a Notice of Decision.
Base PeriodBase Period: The one-year period of time (four completed calendar quarters) we look at to calculate your weekly benefit amount. We always look at the most recent wage information we have.

If you apply in the first month of a calendar quarter (January, April, July, October), your base period is the first four of the most recently completed five quarters.

If you apply in the second or third months of a calendar quarter (February, March, May, June, August, September, November, December), we look at the first four of the most recently completed five quarters. We also look at the most recently completed four quarters. We then pick the period of time that has the most wages.
Benefit YearBenefit Year: The one-year period following your benefit account date. You can only have one benefit account each year.
Calendar QuarterCalendar Quarter: There are four quarters in a year: January through March; April through June; July through September, and; October through December. Each quarter begins with the first Sunday and ends with the last Saturday.
Determination of Benefit AccountDetermination: A letter that shows the amount of benefits you might receive if determined eligible for unemployment benefits.
Determination of Eligibility (or Ineligibility): A letter informing you, and sometimes the employer, why you are eligible or ineligible for unemployment benefits.
Discharged: An employer did not allow you to continue working in any capacity. A discharge can be due to employment misconduct or for a reason other than misconduct.
Disaster Unemployment Assistance (DUA): Unemployment benefits for workers who do not qualify for regular unemployment benefits and whose unemployment was directly caused by a major disaster declared by the U.S. President. (Examples: floods, tornadoes, self-employed farmers or business owners, migrant workers)
Extended Benefits: During periods of high unemployment, extended benefits (extensions) allows you to continue receiving unemployment benefit payments after monies in your regular account have been exhausted.
Ineligible: You are not eligible for unemployment benefits. This may be temporary or ongoing. Benefits cannot be paid due to: the reason you are unemployed; you receiving other income; or, you being unavailable for work.
Maximum Benefit Amount:: The total amount unemployment benefits that you can be paid on a benefit account if you are eligible.
Nonpayable WeekNonpayable Week: The first week that you apply and are determined eligible to receive benefits. It is never paid, but you must request it in order to receive payment for your other weeks of unemployment. You cannot get nonpayable week credit or benefits for a week for which you receive severance pay.
Overpayment: Benefits incorrectly paid to you that must be repaid.
Quit: You could have continued to work for an employer, and you chose not to. You might still be eligible for unemployment benefits if the reason you quit was due to a serious illness, cut in hours or pay, job moved, etc. See Reason You Are Unemployed for more information.
Request for Reconsideration: If a party disagrees with a judge's Notice of Decision, they may file a Request for Reconsideration, and give a written statement explaining why they disagree with the decision. The judge will either affirm or change the decision, or order a new hearing if more evidence or testimony is needed that for a good reason was not provided at the first hearing.
Unemployment Law Judge: An attorney who hears and decides an applicant's or employer's appeal.
Suitable Employment: Employment in your commuting area that is reasonably related to your qualifications, recent employment and pay.
Trade Readjustment Act (TRA): A law which provides benefits to persons affected by foreign competition. Benefits may include an extended duration of unemployment benefits, and payment of school costs for retraining.
UCFE: Unemployment benefits for former Federal Employees.
UCX: Unemployment benefits for Ex-Service Personnel.
UnemployedUnemployed: You are considered unemployed in any week you work less than 32 hours in employment, self-employment or volunteer work and have gross earnings of less than your weekly benefit amount.
Weekly Benefit AmountWeekly Benefit Amount: The weekly amount you can be paid on a benefit account if you are eligible.