Tag: Unemployment Application

Guidance on the unemployment application process, including eligibility requirements, step-by-step instructions, and tips for a successful claim

  • MN Unemployment Login Problems Start With This

    MN Unemployment Login Problems Start With This

    MN Unemployment login problems look small, but they can have lasting impacts on a claim for benefits.

    For example, being unable to request benefits through the DEED website can cause a person to loose hundreds of dollars. Other times, there are identify issues.

    If you have an appeal and it is somehow linked to a problem with the a MN Unemployment Login, you found the right place.


    MN Unemployment Login Problems


    Before logging into a benefit account, realize that every screen and question is designed by Minnesota’s Unemployment Insurance Office.

    In other words, applications, questionnaires, and appeals must be scrutinized.

    Proving your identify to the unempoyment office is not as easy as it might appear. The unemployment office uses social security numbers to deceiver between accounts.

    In my experience, the unemployment office can confuse accounts with other people. This in itself can be a reason to seek an appeal.

    After logging into your account for the first time, the unemployment website will push you onto applications, questionnaires, and related links.

    When applying for unemployment benefits, it is crucial to carefully read and understand every question on the application. Each question is designed to gather specific information that can impact your eligibility.

    Misunderstanding or overlooking a question may lead to incorrect responses, which can result in a denial of benefits or delays in receiving them. More importantly, any discrepancies between your application and your statements during an appeal hearing can harm your credibility and weaken a claim.



  • Job Report Impact on Unemployment

    Job Report Impact on Unemployment

    The job report can impact Minnesota unemployment claims and benefits. I see this most often with audits and work availability issues.

    The job report provides data on the number of employment opportunities created. The unemployment office uses this data when claiming a person is not finding work fast enough or that the applicant’s labor market is compromised. Unfortunately, these big words and phrases are terms of art utilized by the unemployment office.

    Back to the statistics that came out on this past Friday, this information is used by policymakers, economists, and investors to assess the health of the economy and make decisions related to employment and other economic policies. Right or wrong, these types of things find themselves intertwined with certain types of unemployment appeals.

    In addition to impacting the unemployment rate, jobs data can also impact an applicant’s confidence in their work search process or encourage other job seeking strategies. Overall, looking at employment numbers is an important indicator of economic health and can have wide-reaching impacts on individuals, businesses, and the broader economy.

  • Tips & Unemployment Go Bad

    Tips & Unemployment Go Bad

    Tips and unemployment benefits have a long history. Of course, by tips I mean money given to a waiter, bartender, server, driver, hair stylist, or just about anybody else for providing a service.

    When we start linking money gifted by a customer to an unemployment benefit, things go bad very quickly. Whether applicants start thinking about their worst case scenario, sometimes there are accusations of misrepresentation. This problem can multiply when you consider the IRS’ interest in the matter.

    If you ask an employer for help, they will often run the other way. Rightfully so, because they hardly know themselves. Thinking about asking the unemployment office for help? You might incur consequences.

    Finding Out That There Was a Problem

    Generally, a person becomes aware of an unemployment claim and a gratuitous tip problem in one of a handful of ways. This includes:

    • Receiving a letter stating there was an overpayment,
    • Learning about an audit,
    • Hearing from past co-workers,
    • Learning that the Department of Labor is auditing wage and hour issues,
    • Receiving a letter from Minnesota’s Department of Revenue,
    • Getting notice of a Federal Overpayment, and
    • Seeing the phrase “misrepresentation” inside one’s online unemployment account.

    All of these methods are scary and require a different legal response. Thus, take their notices seriously.

    Unemployment Laws for Tips

    The word tip appears next to the definition of wages. As a result, consider looking at the 30 plus Minnesota unemployment cases that interpret tip law. Unfortunately, the difference between a tip and wage can be very confusing.

    In the meantime, take a look at Minnesota Statute 268.035 and look at the dozens of unemployment tips I shared in other blog posts.

  • Unemployment Audits Are On the Rise

    UI Audits or unemployment audits are on the rise. An audit through Minnesota’s unemployment office looks different to every person. This is true because every person has a different fact pattern or claim for benefits. For some, an audit starts with an on-line questionnaire. For others, an audit starts as a phone call or email. Unfortunately, many do not connect the dots until the appeal stage.

    The Pandemic has not been easy for anybody. For those seeking benefits, this is already a known fact. To make matters worse, applicants can spend hours or days calling the unemployment office, only to get disconnected. I share this frustration.

    Right or wrong, the unemployment office is following their same pattern they took in the year 2007/2008. Presently, I am seeing trends that are turning from eligibility to a re-review of benefits that date back to early 2020. Again, audits are on the rise.

    What makes 2021 and 2022 cases different from the past, is the the fact the unemployment office is following a new set of rules that are poorly vetted by auditors and others. The new rules I am referring too, are those that apply to benefits under the PUA program or Pandemic Unemployment Assistance.

    Taking this into consideration, because every audit looks different, each person impacted by this process should consider a strategy specific to their own situation.

  • Unemployment Audits Are On the Rise

    UI Audits Are on the Rise – Audio

    UI Audits or unemployment audits are on the rise. An audit through Minnesota’s unemployment office looks different to every person. This is true because every person has a different fact pattern or claim for benefits. For some, an audit starts with an on-line questionnaire. For others, an audit starts as a phone call or email. Unfortunately, many do not connect the dots until the appeal stage.

    The Pandemic has not been easy for anybody. For those seeking benefits, this is already a known fact. To make matters worse, applicants can spend hours or days calling the unemployment office, only to get disconnected. I share this frustration.

    Right or wrong, the unemployment office is following their same pattern they took in the year 2007/2008. Presently, I am seeing trends that are turning from eligibility to a re-review of benefits that date back to early 2020. Again, audits are on the rise.

    What makes 2021 and 2022 cases different from the past, is the the fact the unemployment office is following a new set of rules that are poorly vetted by auditors and others. The new rules I am referring too, are those that apply to benefits under the PUA program or Pandemic Unemployment Assistance.

    Taking this into consideration, because every audit looks different, each person impacted by this process should consider a strategy specific to their own situation.

  • Online Benefit Account: Tip #012

    Online Benefit Account: Tip #012

    An online benefit account can really have important pieces of information. That said, there are still a lot of people who are afraid to look at their account online or do not trust that their data is secure.

    I agree, these are issues to consider. On the other hand, accessing an unemployment account online can reduce anxiety, stress, and surprises.

    Unemployment Tip # 012 – Even if you call yourself computer illiterate, accessing your unemployment account online can reduce anxiety, stress, and surprises.

    Thus, using the online system isn’t a necessity, but it helps identify legal issues such that the Applicant knows what to expect.