Workforce Development Tennessee Department of Labor And Workforce Development Rapid Response

Local Area Rapid Response AFL / CIO (when appropriate) Coordinator Career Center Human Services Adult Education AFL / CIO (when appropriate) Team Partners

TOOLKIT EMPLOYMENT Your Guide To Getting Back In The Workforce Publication of the Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development

The Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development Employment Toolkit aims to provide assistance and guidance on the employment process to Tennesseans. Unemployment Supportive Service Jobs4TN Career Centers Hot Jobs Education Pays Cover Letter Preparing a Resume Making the Most of a Job Fair The Interview Starting Your Own Business CONTENTS

All 95 counties in Tennessee are served by Department of Labor & Workforce Development Career Centers. Go to www.tn.gov/labor-wfd/cc/cccounty.shtml to find a Career Center near you Computer Workstations All Tennessee Career Centers offer computers with Internet access Access to Employers Career Center staff can refer you to employers who have open positions for which you qualify Skills Training Several types of training are available through the Career Center Veterans’ Programs Career Centers have veterans’ representatives who team with branches of the military

SUPPORTIVE

SERVICES SUPPORTIVE Healthcare TennCare Pre-existing Condition Insurance Plan County Health Departments Health Assist Tennessee Tennessee Primary Care Association Department of Human Services Families First The Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act allows dislocated workers that are eligible for COBRA continuation coverage when leaving a job, may choose to instead purchase coverage through the Health Insurance Marketplace. SUPPORTIVE

SERVICES SUPPORTIVE Health Insurance Marketplace You may be eligible to apply for insurance after open enrollment if you experience a qualifying life event: Not being able to enroll due to complex situation Change in marital status Change in the number of dependents Change in employment status or income Release from incarceration Apply online at www.healthcare.gov Or by phone – 1-800-318-2596 SUPPORTIVE

SERVICES SUPPORTIVE MORTGAGE ASSISTANCE Through MHA’s Home Affordable Unemployment Program (UP), payments are reduced to 31% of income or suspended altogether for up to 12 months (forbearance). Designed to give additional time to find work. Even if you’ve already missed a few payments, you can be considered. When you land your next job, or your forbearance ends, your mortgage company may evaluate you for other assistance programs depending upon eligibility criteria. Call (888) 995 – HOPE (4673) or visit MakingHomeAffordable.gov SUPPORTIVE

SERVICES SUPPORTIVE Paying for College & Education Assistance Tennessee Student Assistance Corporation TN Stars Save Today for Tomorrow’s College Cost Other Resources Refugee Services Assistance for Homelessness Veterans Assistance Tennessee Low Income Energy Assistance (LIHEAP) Agencies Public Transportation SUPPORTIVE Food and Nutrition WIC Program Food Stamp program Tennessee's School Nutrition program

Apply for Benefits File online or by telephone Eligibility To file online go to https://ui.tn.gov Sunday 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. Central Time and Monday through Friday, 7:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Central Time. To file a claim by phone call (615) 253-0800 (Nashville area) or (877) 813-0950 (toll free). We recommend that you file on line as that is the fastest method. Eligibility To be eligible for unemployment you must be totally or partially unemployed through no fault of your own and be approved for benefits; have earned sufficient wages during the last 18 months prior to filling a claim; and be physically able and available to work. Have the following information ready when you file:  Your Social Security Number, driver’s license number, address, and telephone number, separating employer’s name, address, telephone number, e-mail account and fax number; last day worked, reason for separation, and dates for last 18 months of employment. Apply for Benefits

Unemployment Insurance Vacation pay or holiday pay is not reportable if you are permanently separated. Severance benefits or wages–in-lieu of notice are considered reportable if equivalent to regular wages and assigned to weeks beyond the date of separation. Drawing from a pension or 401K, to which you contribute is not reportable. A pension which was fully funded by the company is considered reportable. You cannot remove yourself from the job market unless enrolled in an approved training program. Unemployment Insurance is taxable income. You can have 10% deducted from your weekly benefit or wait until you file your yearly taxes. You can receive Social Security retirement and Unemployment Insurance benefits at the same time. Unemployment Insurance

Tennessee Automated Payment (TAP) Unemployment Insurance Unemployment Insurance benefits can now be received by a choice of either a debit card (TAP) or direct deposit. Payment will default to the debit card if direct deposit is not chosen. A TAP card, which is a VISA debit card , will be issued within 7-10 business days from the day your claim is filed. There are some fees that can be incurred with this card. Any information regarding fees will be included in your fulfillment packet which will be mailed to you. http://www.tn.gov/labor-wfd/uidebitcard Those choosing direct deposit and filing by phone need to immediately go online at https://ui.tn.gov click on View/Update Payment type and follow the step by step directions No charges are incurred with direct deposit Benefits will be deposited within 48 hours of the first payable week Unemployment Insurance

Unemployment Insurance What should I expect after I complete my application? A letter in the mail stating the amount of your benefits. This is not an approval letter; it only states the amount of benefits you could be eligible for if your claim is approved. Should your claim be approved a decision letter will follow. Unemployment Insurance

Certify Every Week What do you mean by weekly certification? Answer a series of questions each week regarding eligibility for unemployment To certify either online or by phone, the PIN you created will be needed Certify online at https://ui.tn.gov/ Click on “Weekly Certifications” or by calling the (800) 689-9799, (615) 532-1800 or (800) 262-8094 Remember: Wait until the week after you have filed your claim to make your first weekly certification. Upon claim approval, past weekly certifications will be paid. Once your claim has been approved, your weekly certification generates payment. NO certification = NO payment of benefits

Look For Work What else am I required to do to continue to be eligible for benefits? You must complete three work searches each week as a condition for receiving unemployment. Document them on a work search log available at http://tdlwd.tn.gov/TUCWorkSearchLog.pdf Remember: Do not mail work search logs to the department unless requested. Retain copies for your records for three years after your benefit year ends.

What if there are problems filing my claim or doing my weekly certifications? You can leave a message with a UI representative by going to http://www.state.tn.us/labor-wfd Then click “Find answers/ask an expert” You can check the status of your claim by going to https://uisides.tn.gov/UIClaimTracking/ You can contact the Employment Security Division at 1-877-813-0950

Stop Your Benefits Restart Your Benefits When do I stop my benefits? As soon as you begin earning wages Can I earn any money while on unemployment? You can earn up to 25% of your weekly benefit without it affecting your claim. After you earn more that 25% it starts to subtract from your weekly amount and if you start earning more than your weekly amount your claim will end. Restart Your Benefits Repeat enrollment process

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