A private company is trying to convince unemployed Idaho workers to pay it $9.95 to file their claims for unemployment benefits when the workers can do it themselves for free.
The Idaho Department of Labor offers Internet filing for unemployment benefits and assistance with benefit claims over the telephone or in person at any of its 25 local offices throughout Idaho as well as information on other resources available to the unemployed and help in finding new jobs.
The department’s Web site – http://labor.idaho.gov – is Idaho’s only official source of information about unemployment insurance benefits – both regular benefits and extended benefits, and unemployed workers could go to http://labor.idaho.gov/iw to apply online for benefits without charge.
Other sites may look official, but they are not.
“People need to steer clear of Web sites that appear to offer legitimate applications for unemployment insurance benefits when, in fact, they do not,” Benefits Bureau Chief Josh McKenna said. “Using an unofficial site will not only cost money that doesn’t need to be spent but could also delay benefits.”
In at least one Idaho case, the claimant paying Unemployment Benefit Services $9.95 had the claim improperly filed.
The Department of Labor offers a full range of employment services from job fairs to résumé preparation and job interviewing techniques at each of the 25 local offices.
Idaho law provides a weekly benefit to workers who have lost their jobs through no fault of their own and have sufficient earnings in the previous 15 months. The benefit up to $362 a week runs for up to 26 weeks as long as the claimant is actively looking for work.
In addition, federal law provides jobless workers who have already exhausted their regular benefits with extended benefits up to another 47 weeks. To qualify, they must be able, available and actively seeking full-time work – the same requirements for collecting regular unemployment benefits.