Nobody wants to keep unemployment records. In fact, nobody wants to be unemployed. Minnesota unemployment laws change on a yearly basis.
As a result, I like the idea of keeping records for 10 years.
Which Records should we Keep?
All of them. This includes but is not limited to:
- Papers documenting a job loss
- Copies of an initial application
- Personal notes outlining when a person may have contacted the unemployment office
- Any exhibit attached to an appeal
- A formal decision rendered by an unemployment law judge
Why Keep Unemployment Records?
Anybody receiving unemployment benefits is prone to an audit. Even worse, everybody is vulnerable to a fraud allegation. Because unemployment fraud is a big problem in Minnesota, all applicants are at risk of being accused of something they did not engage.
Look, I wish this wasn’t true. As we can see, Minnesota had a 10.377% overpayment rate for the 3rd quarter in 2016. From my estimate, Minnesota’s unemployment office believes 1 out of 10 applicants acquired benefits incorrectly.
Thus, keep unemployment records just in case.
No Harm in Keeping Unemployment Records
Keeping paper documents is easy. You place them in a folder and attach the folder to yearly tax records. Otherwise, scanning documents makes the process of keeping records even more accessible.
Because the burden is small, there isn’t any harm in keeping records.
Lots of Harm for no records
On the other hand, if a person doesn’t have key documents to support their claim, damages may include:
- Undue stress and anxiety
- 104 weeks without benefits
- Monetary penalties
- A hefty overpayment
Therefore, I am in favor of keeping records for at least 10 years. Maybe even longer as the process to collect electronic information becomes easier and easier.
I wish you the very best.
