Missouri’s Division of Employment Security (DES) has just released an updated Unemployment Insurance Benefits notice, which has a new look, new information, and a revision date of 3/18. What’s changed, you ask? Keep reading to find out all the details.
New Info About Unemployment Insurance (UI) Benefits
When to Apply for Unemployment Insurance Benefits
The updated notice now provides a list of situations when an employee should apply for UI benefits. These include:
- If an employee is laid off
- If an employee is working less than full time
- If an employee is laid off through no fault of the employee
- If an employee leaves a position due to a valid issue with the job or the employer
In addition, the notice states that employees who apply for unemployment insurance benefits must not only be able and available to work””they must also be actively looking for work.
How to Apply for Unemployment Insurance Benefits
Updated information about applying for UI benefits has been added to the notice. Employees can visit a new website (uinteract.labor.mo.gov) to create a user account and to file an initial UI claim. As on the previous notice, those who do not have Internet access can call a Regional Claims Center to apply for benefits during regular business hours: 8:00 a.m.””5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. The phone numbers on the notice are unchanged.
New information on fraudulent unemployment insurance claims is also provided in the how-to-apply area of the notice. Those who believe someone is collecting unemployment benefits fraudulently may report the situation by calling 573-751-0057 or sending an email to the following address: [email protected].
Proper Classification of Workers
Another new feature of the notice is information on the proper classification of workers. Under Missouri law, there are distinct definitions for an employee and an independent contractor that businesses must abide by. Employees who are improperly treated as independent contractors by their employers miss out on benefits such as unemployment, workers’ compensation, and employer tax contributions.
To avoid missing out on benefits, workers who believe they have been improperly classified as independent contractors are encouraged to contact the Missouri Department of Labor by phone at 573-751-1099 or go to this website: https://labor.mo.gov/offthebooks.
Let Us Keep You in Compliance
There’s nothing more to “show” you regarding the “Show-Me State,” but you might want to get a head-start on ordering your updated poster.
If you have not already done so, order our 1-Year Compliance Plan, so that you will automatically receive the updated Missouri poster as soon as it is ready. And because we provide free poster updates for mandatory changes, no matter how many occur during the 12-month period, you will never have to worry about workplace poster compliance.