Category: Unemployment

Unemployment mail from the office in Minnesota is horrible.  First, it never shows up.  Second, it often gets lost.  Third, their letters can sometimes bring bad news.

Now, imagine getting a letter in 6-8 years telling you that the once lost letter has reappeared.  For this group of people, this can feel worse than falling of a bike.

Because I field a number of phone calls inquiring about their rights, I wanted to offer a public service announcement about unemployment mail:  open it.

Unemployment Mail:  What does it look like?

Whether your letters are small, large, thin or thick, most communications from Minnesota’s unemployment office comes in two forms:

• White envelopes with big red letters
• Large yellow envelopes.

Regardless of the letter’s color, open it.

Unemployment Mail:  Why am I getting duplicates?

A common complaint I receive comes from folks suggesting they received the same letter on more than one occasion or their questionnaire was duplicated.

In my experience, a duplicate letter often means a person has more than one unemployment issue assigned to their claim.  Even though the claim might stem from the same job, each claim should be approached as a different problem.

For those wondering whether they have more than one claim, I encourage folks to log into their account and look for long numbers under the “determination and issues” tab.  What might look like a serial number or a number that doesn’t look important is actually a significant clue in reducing confusion.

Thus, do not let duplication prevent you from opening it.

Unemployment Mail:  If I don’t open it, then I never received it

If this was the case, then none of us would be on the hook for our bills.  Just because a person doesn’t open their mail sent by Minnesota’s unemployment office, doesn’t mean it was never sent.

Thus, open it.

Unemployment Mail:  I really didn’t get their letter

Yes, I see this problem too, which means  it definitely happens.  For those who truly never received a letter, I believe seeking due process or demanding proper notice from the unemployment office is necessary.

Improper notice is a breach of our constitutional rights.

Thus, a person cannot open what you never received.

Unemployment Mail:  What do I do with it?

Like many others, reducing clutter often starts with a stack of mail.  Regardless, we live in a world that almost demands proving our every step.  Personally, I love the idea of keeping copies of every letter sent by the unemployment office.

Really, this is easier than it sounds.  I encourage folks to keep their notices and communications in the same spot they might keep tax forms.  For those that do not keep their taxes or unemployment mail, today is the day you are going to start, right?

To save unemployment means winning an appeal.  You cannot save benefits without having them first.

Thus, here are 3 quick things most applicants forget or simply are not aware of when seeking benefits.

Save Unemployment by Requesting a copy of your File

It always surprises me when Applicants contact me by phone and they have never thought about requesting or acquiring a copy of their employment file.

In Minnesota, every worker and unemployed person considering an appeal for unemployment can use rule 181.961 to their advantage.

The goal of seeking or requesting a copy of an employment file to save unemployment is to find documents that support your claim for benefits.  This might include:

• E-mail
• Reviews
• Personal improvement plans, or
• An employment handbook.

Employers know what is inside the file.  Most Applicants do not.  Thus, a worker can save unemployment by requesting a copy of their employment file.

Save Unemployment by asking for the Truthful Reason of your discharge

Even if you already believe you know the answer, the second thing a worker or unemployed person can do to save their unemployment case is seeking the truthful reason why their job ended.

The rule that supports this process is identified under Minnesota statute 181.933.

I believe this is important because sometimes workers can use their employer’s inconsistent statements to their advantage.  For example, lets say your boss said you were being fired because they were eliminating your position and you find out the real reason they fired you was because you missed a deadline or they thought you stirred the pot to much.  Unfortunately, hearing your employer’s feedback for the first time during an unemployment hearing can have a detrimental impact.

Again, even if you already know the answer, I believe every applicant seeking unemployment benefits can use rule 181.933 to their advantage too.

Save Unemployment by using Words from Minnesota Statute 268.095

Because the unemployment law judge will very likely use this rule to deny or grant benefits,  I believe workers trying to seek or appeal benefits should always try to incorporate words or phrases from Minnesota statute 268.095.

Unfortunately, this is easier said than done.  For this reason, I believe practicing out loud or in front of a mirror can be extremely beneficial to an applicant trying to win their unemployment case.

Final Thoughts

The most important evidence in any unemployment case are the words that come out of your mouth.  Please take time to understand and outline your process.

New to unemployment?  First, welcome.  Second, let’s have faith your unemployment stint is short-lived.  On the other hand, lets also assume the job search process takes six months or more.

Did you know Minnesota’s unemployment office might be able to audit accounts under MN statute 268.186 for an infinite period of time?  Scary, right?

For this reason, I tell anybody who is unemployed to engage MN unemployment benefits like they approach their taxes: keep hard copies of everything.

New to Unemployment:  Records start Immediately

Anybody applying for unemployment benefits will be asked to fill out a questionnaire.  I wish more of my Clients printed and kept copies of their application.

Any person new to unemployment is encouraged to keep their application and or any written inquiries proposed by DEED down the road.

New to Unemployment:  Quitting and Discharges

Most people requesting unemployment benefits do not have jobs.  Even so, keeping records from the last job is significantly important.  Why?  Because in six months, most applicants confronted with an appeal often forget important details.

The records I like seeking include:

• Copies of employment files,
• Truthful reason an employer ended a job, and
• Writing down notes from an event for future reference.

New to Unemployment:  Job Searches

Another element to quality records in the long run include documentation of a person’s job search.  Personally, this can include just about anything:

• Filling out applications,
• Updating resumes,
• Traveling around town looking for jobs,
• Reading twitter for new job postings,
• Talking with recruiters,
• Updating online profiles,
• Knocking on doors, and
• Anything else you interpret as looking for a job.

Generally, logging activities and time can be a life saver.  Most applicants I meet with do not have this.  Luckily, you can start documenting three minutes after you finish reading this post.

Again, I am not identifying this as a burden, but a way to hedge risk.  The goal is to reduce problems in case of an audit.

New to Unemployment:  Part-Time Jobs

For the handful of workers, people or employees who accept  a part-time job get into trouble too.  For this reason, I like the idea of keeping a personal calendar of one’s shifts.

For example, if a worker finds a part-time job at a restaurant, keeping a calendar for days and hours worked can again be a blessing in disguise.

For those working the third shift, identify your both your starting time and ending time just incase things get crazy down the road.