Unemployment Benefits Eligibility

To qualify for Idaho unemployment benefits, you have to earn enough wages over a set period and be out of work through no fault of your own. If these qualifications are met, the Idaho Department of Labor will determine the specific benefit amount that will be made available to you as well as the requirements for remaining eligible. If denied, then you may appeal the determination. While details are provided below, the best way to determine if you are eligible is to apply and find out if you are qualified.

Work Eligibility Criteria

In addition to meeting the wage eligibility criteria described in detail below, you must also meet the following personal eligibility requirements:

• Able to healthy enough and physically able to work
• Available to work with reasonable expectation around hours, pay, and locations
• Seeking work in which you are qualified for and keeping a personal record
• Be unemployed due to being laid off or discharged for reasons other than misconduct. In some instances, quitting would be allowed for a good cause as a result of the employment.

Wages Eligibility Criteria

In addition to the personal eligibility requirements, you must have also earned enough wages in your employment history in order to qualify. The wages criteria are as follows:

• It is required that you be employed and have received income for at least two quarters during your base year
• Your earned wages have to be at least $1,872 in one of the two quarters that you worked
• The total base period wages must be at least 1.25 times your highest quarter wages

Idaho defines the base period to be the first four quarters of the last five completed quarters from the date in which you applied for unemployment benefits. In other words, if you file for benefits on July 1, 2016, then the base year would be April 2015 through March 2016.    

Unemployment Availability Limits

Once you qualify for Idaho unemployment benefits, you have 52 weeks to utilize your maximum benefit allowed. From the day that benefits are awarded, you cannot qualify again for another benefit year until one year from the initial date.

Unemployment Extensions  

Idaho does allow for limited extension based on criteria set forth by the state or federal government during periods of high employment. If this situation were to change and extended benefits were to be available, you would receive a notification in the mail with an extension application.