[Background image: Picture of Carly, a Customer Service Representative]
[Narrator speaks]
Hi, I’m Carly, a Customer Service Representative for the Minnesota Unemployment Insurance Program.
When you submit an application for unemployment benefits online, an online account is created for you.
Your account gives you a convenient way to not only request payments, but to manage everything connected to your benefits.
You can even continue accessing your account for several years after you stop collecting benefits.
[Narrator speaks]
In this video, I’ll explain how you can use your account to:
[Background images: Screenshots of the www.uimn.org home page, Applicant Landing page, and Applicant Self-Service System Login page are displayed as mentioned in narration.]
[Narrator speaks]
Your account is available Monday through Friday between 6:00 A.M. and 6:00 P.M.
The easiest way to get to the login page is to start at www.uimn.org, and click Applicants.
Then, on the Applicant page, click "Log in to my Account." This will take you to the login page.
[Background image: Applicant Self-Service System Account Home Page.]
[Narrator speaks]
After logging in, you’ll go to your Account Home Page. You can navigate to all of the account features using the list of navigation links on the left side of the page.
[Background image: Applicant Self-Service System Account Home Page.]
[Narrator speaks]
The same links are also available in the center of the page under Unemployment Insurance Applicant Services.
Some of the links will always be available, like View and Maintain My Account.
Others display only if you need them. For example, if it’s time to request a payment and you have not done so yet, you’ll see a link to Request Benefit Payment.
Remember, this is YOUR account and YOUR information. You can click any of the links and look at any of the information that’s available.
[Background image: Applicant Self-Service System Account Home Page.]
[Narrator speaks]
One of the most helpful features of your Home Page is the message area. Under Important Messages, you’ll find out if you need to take any action in order to receive, or continue receiving, benefits.
For example, if the unemployment program needs information to help determine your eligibility, you’ll see a message along with a link to an online questionnaire.
You’ll receive the same questions in the mail, but you can often see them earlier online, and then answer them right away.
The Other Messages area will remind you of any weeks that are available to request, let you know when your yearly tax information is available, and remind you if you have an appointment to attend a reemployment session.
Checking your messages is a great way to make sure that your weekly payment requests are up-to-date.
[Background images: Applicant Self-Service System Account Home Page; View and Maintain My Account Home.]
[Narrator speaks]
Now let’s look at some of the options available when you select View and Maintain My Account.
From the View and Maintain My Account Home page, you can choose which part of your account you want to work with. We’ll start by selecting Determination and Issue Summary.
[Background image: Determination and Issue Summary page.]
[Narrator speaks]
The Determination and Issue Summary page provides details about your potential benefits, and any eligibility issues that we are currently reviewing, as well as any past issues.
The top portion of the page shows your weekly benefit amount, the maximum benefit you can collect, and your benefit effective dates.
[Background image: Determination and Issue Summary page.]
[Narrator speaks]
If there are issues concerning your eligibility, they display on the lower part of the page. You can review the status of any pending issues and review any eligibility determinations we’ve made.
This is the place where you’d start the process to appeal a determination you disagree with.
An issue with a Pending status means that we are gathering facts from you or your former employer. An issue could also be pending while you or your employer appeals a determination.
If you have a "Completed" issue, it means that a decision has been made.
To view a history of the activity on an issue, or to file an appeal, click the issue identification number.
[Background images: Applicant Self-Service System Account Home Page; Payment Information Home page.]
[Narrator speaks]
Another useful link under View and Maintain My Account is Payment Information.
[Background image: Applicant Self-Service System Payment Information Home.]
[Narrator speaks]
Among other details, the Payment Information page can display a one-year history of your payment requests. All you have to do is click Search.
[Background image: Applicant Self-Service System Payment Information Home page.]
[Narrator speaks]
For each payment you’ve requested, you can see when you requested it, if and when it was paid, as well as the payment amount and any deductions that were made.
Payment requests are processed overnight. You won’t see a date in the Payment Process Date field until the day AFTER you request benefits.
If an eligibility issue is pending, the Payment Process Date field will not be filled in until we find that you are eligible.
[Background image: Applicant Self-Service System View and Maintain My Account Home page.]
[Narrator speaks]
Now let’s look at the information you can change under View and Maintain My Account.
[Background image: Applicant Self-Service System View and Maintain My Account Home page.]
[Narrator speaks]
This includes your contact information, such as your address and phone number.
It’s your responsibility to keep your contact information up to date, in case the Unemployment Insurance Program needs to contact you.
Using the Payment Method Options link, you can change from debit card to direct deposit, or vice versa; or update your direct deposit information.
Finally, to update your tax withholding choice, select Tax Withholding Information.
If you need to update or change your contact, banking, or tax information, make sure to review your changes carefully before submitting them.
If you have any questions, contact Customer Service; we’re happy to assist you.
[Background images: Applicant Self-Service System View and Maintain My Account Home page and IRS Form 1099-G.]
[Narrator speaks]
There’s one more item you may be interested in under View and Maintain My Account. IRS Form 1099-G is a notice that we’re required to send both you and the IRS by the end of January every year.
You will need this form to complete your taxes, because it lists the total amount of unemployment benefits you received during the previous tax year.
We always mail you a 1099-G Form in January if you were paid benefits for the previous year. In most cases, you can see your 1099-G for last year online before you actually get it in the mail.
You can also find 1099-Gs for past years on this page, if you need them.
[Background image: Applicant Self-Service System Account Home Page]
[Narrator speaks]
Finally, there’s a section on your Account Home Page called Reemployment Activities that you should take a look at.
This section contains tools to help you assess your readiness to make a good work search effort, and provides suggestions for developing a reemployment plan.
[Narrator speaks]
Thank you for taking the time to view this video. I hope you found it helpful in understanding your online account.
Make a point of exploring your account soon. You may find that it answers many of your questions about your benefit status and payments.
And remember that you can also call Customer Service with any questions you have about your account or your benefits.
[Screen text: Explore your account, Log in to Your Account, Video Library | Call Customer Service: 651-296-3644 (Twin Cities area), 1-877-898-9090 (Greater Minnesota), 1-866-814-1252 (TTY for the hearing impaired) ]
