Special Provisions: Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Self Employment Assistance Program (SEAP)? State and Federal legislation has established the Self Employment Assistance Program (SEAP) which provides certain eligible individuals the opportunity to start their own businesses while collecting unemployment insurance benefits. In order to be considered eligible for this program, you must first be identified by the State's profiling system as likely to exhaust benefits. If you are interested in participating in this program or wish to obtain additional information, contact your local Division of Employment Services office nearest you. Click here for the office locations. You must comply with program requirements and receive written acceptance into the SEAP program before you can start or operate your own business while collecting benefits. |top| What is Trade Adjustment Assistance? The Trade Act Programs, Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA) and Alternative Trade Adjustment Assistance (ATAA), assist individuals who have become unemployed as a result of increased imports or shifts in production out of the United States. The goal of the Trade Act programs is to help trade-affected workers return to suitable employment as quickly as possible. Click here for more information on TAA. |top| Are you attending or interested in attending a school or training program? There is a provision in the Unemployment Insurance Law that makes it possible for unemployment recipients to receive benefits while attending a training course/program. The training, however, must be approved by the Department of Labor. When training has been approved under this provision, unemployment recipients are excused from the requirement to look for work, and may be eligible for additional weeks of benefits when funding is available. If, when you filed your claim, you indicated you are attending or have been accepted to a training program, you will be contacted by the Department of Labor in order to review your course or program for approval. Delays in notifying the Department of Labor about training acceptance or attendance may result in a reduction of additional benefits available to you. Failure to disclose attendance in training while receiving benefits may result in penalties and forfeiture of future benefits. If you are interested in attending training, you should contact your local One-Stop Center as soon as possible in order to be eligible to receive the maximum benefit allowed under this program. Trained counselors at the One Stop Center can assist you with your training needs and provide information about approvable training programs in your area. You should ask for information about the 599 Training Program. Click here for the office locations. If your training cannot be approved, it is possible that you may be eligible to collect Unemployment benefits while in training provided you are able to seek and accept employment. Click here for more information on the 599 Program. |top| To qualify as a dislocated worker, you must meet one of the following conditions.
You may also qualify if you have been away from the labor force for a substantial number of years because of full time duties as a homemaker, but you must return to the labor force because you have lost your source of income. As a dislocated worker, you may be eligible for retraining and other services. If you have any further questions, contact your Division of Employment Services office. Click here for the office locations. |top| Click here for complete list of DOL FAQs |
