In the event of a Federal government shutdown, Federal employees may be eligible for Unemployment Compensation for Federal Employees (UCFE). The UCFE program is administered by state unemployment insurance (UI) agencies acting as agents of the Federal government. The program is operated under the same terms and conditions that apply to regular state UI. In general, the law of the state in which an individual’s official duty station in Federal civilian service is located will be the state law under which an individual’s eligibility for benefits is determined.

Delaware started taking claims for federal employees on Friday.

What is the weekly amount of UCFE benefits paid, and how long do benefits last?
The maximum weekly benefit amount In Delaware is $330.00 for up to 26 weeks.

Who qualifies?
Due to Delaware Law, essential federal employees, who are still responsible for reporting to work will not qualify for unemployment benefits.

Section 3302-17 states that ‘unemployment exists and an individual is ‘unemployed’ in any week during which the individual performs no services and with respect to which no wages are payable to the inidividual.

Unfortunately these individuals who are still actively performing services on a full time basis are not eligible.

All other federal employees affected by the shutdown, who are not working through no fault of their own, can apply.

How and where to file:
To file an unemployment insurance claim, log on to ui.delawareworks.com and click the red/orange button “File An Unemployment Insurance Claim”. Or, visit your local unemployment office.

Claimants can apply:

• on their home computer or any public computer
• on their mobile phone
• at any public library computer
• at current Department of Labor locations

Office locations for Unemployment Insurance are:

• Wilmington – 4425 N. Market Street
• Dover – Blue Hen Corporate Center 655 S. Bay Road Suite 2H
• Newark – Pencader Corporate Center 225 Corporate Blvd. Suite 108
• Georgetown – 8 Georgetown Plaza, Suite 2

Claimants who want to file for benefits need the following information to apply:

• Social security number
• Last 18 months of employment history

For more information, unemployed Delawareans should contact their local Department of Labor offices (302)761-8446 Wilmington, (302)368-6600 Newark, (302)739-05461 Dover and (302)856-5611 Georgetown or visit dol.delaware.gov.

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