Missouri Unemployment Guide

Transcription

1 1 The Complete Missouri Unemployment Guide The Complete Missouri Unemployment Guide

2 2 The Complete Missouri Unemployment Guide Guide Introduction The Department of Labor and Industrial Relations (DOLIR) in Missouri manages the state s unemployment insurance (UI) program. Created to serve as temporary income replacement for Missourians who have lost their jobs through no fault of their own, UI eligibility depends on many factors. Participants must be available, able and willing to work and must actively seek employment each week that they claim benefits. The Division of Employment Security (DES) will request a written record of the employers contacted each week and will provide a minimum number of employers to contact. Claimants must also have earned enough wages during a specific 12-month period to qualify. The amount of money earned during that time determines weekly payments, although beneficiaries can only receive UI payments for a maximum of 20 weeks in Missouri, and the weekly benefit amount cannot exceed $320. The DOLIR provides online calculators to help applicants determine if they qualify for benefits and to estimate how much they might hope to receive. Applicants who do not qualify for full unemployment benefits may, in some cases, qualify for partial benefits. Missourians who leave their jobs to relocate with their military spouses may also be eligible for UI benefits.

3 3 The Complete Missouri Unemployment Guide

4 4 The Complete Missouri Unemployment Guide To apply for benefits, visit UINTERACT online, the DES s interactive Unemployment Insurance system, and create an account by clicking the Unemployed Worker Sign Up tab. Once an account is created, the DES will determine an applicant s eligibility for benefits and will then make contact regarding the amount of benefit payments for which an applicant qualifies. In addition, the DES will provide information about the job search requirements and how to report any part-time wages earned. In most cases, beneficiaries will receive their first benefit payments within 18 to 22 days of applying for unemployment compensation. If beneficiaries receive UI benefits denial letters and feel they have been wrongly denied coverage, they can appeal the decision. Appeals can be filed through the applicant s UINTERACT account or by filing a Claimant Request for Appeal Form within 30 days of the date of determination. For those accepted into the state s unemployment program, beneficiaries will have access to job search assistance, job training and other career-related programs at Missouri Career Centers located throughout the state. Find the location of the nearest Missouri Career Center by calling JOBS (5627).

5 5 The Complete Missouri Unemployment Guide Table of Contents

6 6 The Complete Missouri Unemployment Guide Guide Introduction 2 Eligibility for Unemployment in Missouri 8 How to Apply for Unemployment in Missouri 11 Unemployment Benefits Coverage and Duration in Missouri 15 Denial of Benefits in Missouri 18 Unemployment Extension in Missouri 22 History of Unemployment Insurance 25 How to Explain Unemployment to Your Children 27 How to Calculate Your Missouri Unemployment Benefit Amount 29 How to Use the Missouri Unemployment Office to Begin Your Career Search 32 Tips for Documenting Your Job Search Activities While on Unemployment in Missouri 35

7 7 The Complete Missouri Unemployment Guide How to Chart Your Mandatory Weekly Activities While Receiving Unemployment in Missouri 38 9 Tips for Writing the Perfect Resume 40 Preparing for a Job Interview and Discussing Your Layoff Ways to Make Money During Unemployment 44 Cost-Cutting Measures You Can Take While on Unemployment in Missouri 47 Reporting Unemployment Fraud in Missouri 49 Alternatives to Taking on Credit Card Debt and Depleting Your Savings 51 Free Food Programs in Missouri for Unemployment Beneficiaries 53 How to Acquire Health Care While on Unemployment in Missouri 56 Other Financial Assistance Programs Available in Missouri 58

8 8 The Complete Missouri Unemployment Guide Eligibility for Unemployment in Missouri Missourians must meet certain requirements in order to be eligible to participate in the state s Unemployment Insurance (UI) benefits program. In some circumstances, even those who quit their jobs can apply for UI benefits to help them maintain partial income while looking for new jobs. All claimants must maintain their eligibility by filing regular claims with the Division of Employment Security (DES). In addition, employers must also meet set standards to qualify for participation in the UI program. Who is eligible for unemployment in Missouri? The requirements that must be met before a Missourian is considered eligible to receive unemployment benefit payments are outlined on the DES Eligibility for Unemployment Benefits page. Some of these qualifications are monetarily based, while others have nothing to do with an applicant s income. All monetary requirements depend on the applicant s earnings during a 12-month base period that begins over a year prior to the filing date of the initial claim. For example, if an applicant files a new unemployment claim between

9 9 The Complete Missouri Unemployment Guide January 1 and March 31, his or her base period is October 1 through September 30. Income-based UI requirements include making at least $2,250 from an insured employer during the base period. At least $1,500 should have been earned during one of the calendar quarters, and another $750 needs to have been earned during the remainder of the base period. The total wages during the base period must equal 1.5 times the highest quarter wages. If neither of the above is true, applicants must make at least $19,500 during two of the four base period quarters to qualify for unemployment benefits in Missouri. own decision, in most cases, claimants are not eligible for unemployment benefits. Leaving a job for personal reasons, such as not liking a job or being bored at work, disqualifies applicants from UI benefits. The state makes an exception for those who can provide evidence that they quit due to good cause directly attributable to the employer. Sometimes referred to as just cause, this term is meant to indicate problems that arose because an employer mistreated an employee, provided an unsafe work environment or allowed verbal abuse or other types of harassment to occur. Non-monetary requirements begin with proofs of legal citizenship, legal presence or legal permission to work in the U.S., along with proof of state residency. Additional non-income requirements depend upon the reason for unemployment and an applicant s commitment to continually seek new job opportunities throughout the time UI benefits are dispensed. To start, requirements state that workers must have lost their jobs through no fault of their own, which includes being laid off because a company could no longer afford to keep a worker employed. Or, employees must have quit their jobs for just cause directly attributable to the employer. Unemployment is also dispended to those who are unable to work due to a natural disaster. Further requirements for UI in Missouri state that claimants must be available and willing to work. This means that they have no personal circumstances that keep them from working at new jobs when suitable opportunities are offered. Under these circumstances, claimants must be able to work. This means not having an illness or an injury that would prevent a potential employee from returning to work. What if a worker quit a job or was fired? Missouri offers unemployment benefits to employees whose separation from their jobs was due to a lack of work or some other reason beyond their personal control. Because quitting a job is usually an employee s

10 10 The Complete Missouri Unemployment Guide Applying for unemployment benefits is also complicated if workers are fired from their jobs. Applicants will be denied UI if they were fired for misconduct. Previous court rulings in Missouri have defined misconduct as wanton or willful violations of a company s policies and procedures. One example of blatant misconduct is refusing to follow reasonable work directives. Honest mistakes, isolated incidents of poor performance or extended absenteeism due to illness or family emergencies do not fit the definition of misconduct. An employer also may not fire someone for filing a wage complaint or another complaint related to the employee s legally protected rights. If a worker was fired and wants to apply for UI benefits, he or she must be able to prove that the employer fired him or her for illegal reasons, such as discrimination based on age, race, national origin, religion, gender or disability. Employer Qualifications Employers do not automatically become liable for paying Missouri unemployment tax when they hire workers. Employers have to meet certain criteria for liability before being required to pay into the unemployment tax insurance system. Those who wish to participate in the state s UI program must provide the DES with reports on each covered employee s wages earned every quarter. Employers interested in offering UI benefits to their workers should visit DOLIR online and review the Unemployment FAQ for Employers page to begin learning about the process and how to implement it at their places of business. Maintaining Eligibility Receiving unemployment benefits is not a passive act. Benefit recipients must meet certain criteria to maintain their eligibility to receive weekly UI benefits. To illustrate, all wages earned each week during a UI benefits period must be reported, even if the claimant will not receive that income until later. This includes commissions, tips, bonuses, military reserve pay, boarding or lodging. Next, claimants must engage in good faith searches for work and make a minimum number of job contacts each week. Beneficiaries must not refuse any offers for work; if they are offered suitable jobs, they must accept the positions. Whether a job is considered suitable is based on how similar it is to a previous job, how much will be earned, the working conditions and whether it utilizes the employee s skills, education or training. The longer a worker is unemployed, the more he or she will be encouraged to seriously consider jobs that might be in different fields or accompanied by less pay. Refusing any job offer may result in denial of unemployment benefits. If directed, claimants must appear in person at least once at a Missouri Career Center or another designated office to obtain employment assistance services. Visiting these career centers is a good idea for all unemployed Missourians, because the facilities offer personalized job search assistance, free skills assessments, resume improvement help and other assistive tools to aid in achieving long-term career goals.

11 11 The Complete Missouri Unemployment Guide How to Apply for Unemployment in Missouri After the initial shock of losing a job, Missourians may wonder how to apply for Unemployment Insurance (UI) benefits to help keep the household running while new employment is sought. The Division of Employment Security (DES) manages and administers UI benefits in Missouri. After checking the list of eligibility requirements for UI benefits, applicants can file their initial claims by phone or online.

12 12 The Complete Missouri Unemployment Guide Ways to Apply for Unemployment in Missouri The Missouri DES offers its unemployed residents the options of applying for benefits online or over the phone, and recommends doing so as soon as possible after becoming unemployed. Online applicants need to collect all the documentation described in the Forms and Documentation section outlined below, and then create an account on UINTERACT, Missouri s easy online UI claim-filing system. Access to UINTERACT is available 24 hours a day, except during one hour of maintenance that happens weekly between 11:30 pm on Saturday and 12:31 a.m. on Sunday, Central Time. After creating an account, follow the online prompts for starting a new UI benefits claim, entering personal information as requested. To apply for UI benefits by phone, call the closest Regional Claims Center (RCC) between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. Central Time, Monday through Friday, except on holidays. All calls are answered in the order they are received, and applicants may encounter busy signals or experience long hold times while waiting to speak to representatives. If this happens, do not hang up. Doing so forfeits the applicant s place in line, and calling back requires the potential beneficiary to go to the back of the queue. Applicants can reach local Regional Claims Centers by dialing the following numbers: Jefferson City: Kansas City: St. Louis: Springfield: If an applicant lives outside these local calling areas, call If a call is answered by the Interactive Voice Response System, choose Option 1 to begin the application process. Applicants will be asked to establish four-digit Personal Identification Numbers (PINs) to protect their privacy during the process. Whether applying for benefits online or by phone, applicants will need to provide the following information: Social Security Numbers Legal names, including any names previously used Complete home mailing addresses Phone numbers The names of last employers and their complete mailing addresses The dates of last days of work and the reasons jobs were lost The dates a worker started and ended employment with each employer over the last 18 months, and each company s mailing address The applicant s bank-routing number and bank account number, if he or she opts to receive benefits through direct deposit Note that the initial claim will be effective the Sunday of the week in which a claim is filed. Once the DES processes an application, a Notice of Initial Determination of Status as an Insured Worker is issued. It will include information about weekly benefit amounts.

13 13 The Complete Missouri Unemployment Guide Forms and Documentation In a move to become a paperless office, the state of Missouri has streamlined its UI benefits application system. Applicants may only apply online or by phone, and most applicants will not need to fill out any printed documents or supply the DES with other printed paperwork. The most notable exception is for military individuals. If an applicant performed active military service during the past 18 months, he or she will need to provide the DES with the Member Four copy of a DD214. Hard copies of earnings statements and other documents are usually only requested during an unemployment benefits appeal process. If it is discovered that required application information is missing or inaccurate, the DES will contact the applicant to provide corrections. Answer all questions as honestly as possible. If the DES discovers that an applicant was willfully dishonest on his or her application for UI benefits, the claim will be denied and the applicant may face criminal charges for attempting to defraud a government agency. Military Missourians are exempt from registering with local job centers if they move outside the United States; however they are still responsible to find work and to file weekly claims online. UINTERACT The state s interactive online UI benefits site linked above, UINTERACT, helps make all aspects of unemployment easier on Missourians. It is free to use and offers the quickest way to file a new UI benefits claim, to check the status of a claim, to check a Missouri Access Master Card balance and to change contact information with the DES. Even if an applicant initially applies for UI benefits over the phone, every Missouri recipient can benefit from having a personal UINTERACT account. The system is currently available in English and Spanish, only. Speakers of other languages can request interpreter assistance by calling Tips for Applicants Living Outside of Missouri phone or through the UINTERACT system. If a claimant is working at an overseas location for a Missouri-based company, the process for filing an unemployment benefits claim will be the same as for those who physically work and live in the state of Missouri. Just follow the steps above to call a Regional Claims Center or visit UINTERACT to file online. UI recipients living in other states can register with a career center in that state to fulfill the requirements for visiting Missouri Career Centers. Spouses of active or reserve military personnel who leave their jobs to relocate due to military orders can file for unemployment benefits even if the move is overseas. The easiest way to apply for benefits is to visit mo.gov and to file online. When using the online application, select Quit as the reason for separating from an employer.

14 14 The Complete Missouri Unemployment Guide Career Center Contact Information The state maintains a network of Missouri Career Center branches where applicants can go to learn more about applying for benefits. UI benefit recipients must appear at least once at a Missouri Career Center when directed. If a beneficiary lives in one of the three largest cities in Missouri, he or she can fulfill this requirement at one of the following locations: In Kansas City, go to the Missouri Career Center located at: 1740 The Paseo, Kansas City, MO, 64108, or call: In St. Louis, visit the Missouri Career Center located at: 1520 Market St., Room 3050, St. Louis, MO, 63103, or call: In Springfield, head over to the Missouri Career Center located at: 2900 E. Sunshine, Springfield, MO , or call: For those who live outside of Kansas City, St. Louis or Springfield, find the closest Missouri Career Center by using this interactive Career Center map. Simply enter the city name or the ZIP code and the distance willing to be traveled, and the closest centers will appear. Or, call JOBS (5627) and the phone will ring at the nearest Missouri Career Center.

15 15 The Complete Missouri Unemployment Guide Unemployment Benefits Coverage and Duration in Missouri Unemployed Missourians who are eligible to participate in the state s Unemployment Insurance (UI) benefits program must actively claim their benefits each week and maintain their coverage by meeting certain requirements. Although the state has made the application and filing process easily accessible online, if an applicant fails to file claims properly each time, it can cause a gap in receiving benefit payments.

16 16 The Complete Missouri Unemployment Guide How to Claim Unemployment Benefits Recipients of UI benefits can file claims online or by phone. The Division of Employment Security (DES) created UINTERACT as its main way of managing UI benefit claims. If an applicant first applied for UI benefits through UINTERACT, he or she can simply enter the user ID and password associated with the account, and then follow the prompts to file weekly claims. After answering all the UI claims filing questions and clicking Submit, claimants will be sent to a confirmation page to indicate that the claim was accepted by the system. UINTERACT is available 24 hours a day, except between 11:30 p.m. Saturday and 12:31 a.m. on Sunday, Central Time, for maintenance purposes. have a valid Social Security Number. In addition, if he or she worked and earned wages during the week of the claim, the total gross amount of pay must be reported. The DES will verify these earnings with the employer. Even if these earnings will be paid later, they need to be claimed during the week in which they were earned. Reportable earnings include: wages, tips, commissions, bonuses, show-up time and military reserve drill pay. Lodging, boarding or other payments not paid by cash or check must also be reported as earnings. Additionally, self-employed applicants will need to know how many hours they worked, even if they had no earnings. A claims specialist at the nearest RCC will be able to help those who need assistance in filing for benefits. If unemployment coverage was applied for over the phone, applicants may still opt to use the phone to file weekly benefit claims. However, because so many tasks are easily completed through UINTERACT, it is helpful to create an account and learn how to use it. The telephone filing system is open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Central Time. Claimants can gain access by calling the nearest Regional Claims Center (RCC): Jefferson City: Kansas City: St. Louis: Springfield: Outside Local Calling Area: Calls are answered by an Interactive Voice Response (IVR) System that will present a menu of services. Follow the prompts and say, File a Claim to begin filing a claim. If the four-digit Personal Identification Number (PIN) affiliated with an account is forgotten, choose the option of speaking to a claims specialist. Claimants can also esuiclaims@ labor.mo.gov for assistance in resetting their PINs. Whether a beneficiary chooses to file a claim by phone or through UINTERACT, he or she will need to make sure to

17 17 The Complete Missouri Unemployment Guide When will benefits be dispensed? In most cases, UI beneficiaries can expect to receive payments within 18 to 22 days of filing the initial claim. The first week of benefits is called a "waiting week." During this week, claimants will not be paid, even though it is technically their first week of eligibility. They still must still file claims to get paid for the waiting week later; usually this is the last unemployment payment received. If any issues arise in processing the claim, payment may be delayed for several days or weeks while the DES investigates the matter. Claimants will be notified of any issues, and will receive questionnaires or notices for telephone interviews to provide the DES with additional information. Beneficiaries can refuse to answer the questionnaires or participate in the interviews; however, doing so means that the DES will make its own determination based on the information available. If the issue is resolved, payments are usually made the next working day after the weekly request for payment is processed. job is defined as one that is similar to a claimant s previous job, with similar earnings and working conditions, and it should utilize the worker s skills, education or training. The longer a beneficiary is unemployed for, the more he or she will be encouraged to seriously consider jobs that might be in different fields or for less pay. Note that if a claims specialist directs a beneficiary to do so, he or she must appear in person at least once at a Missouri Career Center or another designated office to obtain employment assistance services. Claimants must also be available, willing and able to work during each week they apply for benefits. How long do UI benefits last? In most cases, beneficiaries can receive unemployment benefits in Missouri for a maximum of 20 weeks. In times of high employment or natural disaster, federal or other state programs may make additional weeks of benefits available. If such programs are available, beneficiaries will be notified when they receive their notices from the DES that benefits are about to end. Benefits can arrive on a different day each week, and recipients will not receive notice when they process. The easiest way to check the status of a weekly benefit claim is to log on to UINTERACT and go to My Account/Claim Status. Applicants should allow a full 10 business days from the date claims are filed before contacting DES with questions about the claims. Although most cases are handled quickly, sometimes it takes longer for certain claims to appear in the system. How to Maintain UI Benefits Coverage If Missouri unemployment benefits are received, beneficiaries are responsible for making sure they are received every week that they are unemployed. In addition to reporting earnings each week as described above, beneficiaries need to actively seek work every week and keep records of the attempts to find jobs. The DES provides claimants with figures indicating the number of job contacts they are responsible for making each week. Beneficiaries must accept any suitable job offers. Refusing such opportunities may result in denial of unemployment benefits. A suitable

18 18 The Complete Missouri Unemployment Guide Denial of Benefits in Missouri Although most requests to receive Unemployment Insurance (UI) benefits in Missouri are approved, some applicants will receive denials from the state. Denials are issued for a variety of reasons, and Missourians have the right to appeal decisions they feel are unfair. There are certain steps that applicants must follow during the appeals process. If facing a denial of a request for UI benefits, continue reading to learn how to appeal the decision received from the Division of Employment Security (DES). Reasons for Denial In most cases, DES denials are due to the department finding out that certain requirements for UI benefits were unmet. Although the state of Missouri stipulates that UI benefit recipients must have lost their jobs due to no fault of their own, some people who quit their jobs voluntarily still qualify if their employers were guilty of creating unsafe or unsuitable work environments. Occasionally, an employer will argue against such an accusation, or the DES will decide that the reasons for quitting were insufficient to dispense UI benefits. Some applicants are denied benefits because it becomes evident that they were fired from their jobs for misconduct. Like voluntarily quitting, being fired does not automatically disqualify an applicant from receiving benefits. But, if the employer provides evidence that a termination meets Missouri s definition of misconduct, a UI benefits claim can be denied.

19 19 The Complete Missouri Unemployment Guide Other applications are rejected because applicants didn t have sufficient earnings or work during their base periods. Sometimes, this is simply a clerical error on the part of the applicant or the employer. Other times, it is an intentional misrepresentation of the applicant s earnings or the months in which he or she worked. Missouri applicants seeking UI benefits must meet the state s requirements of earning at least $2,250 from an insured employer during the base period, with $1,500 earned during one of the calendar quarters and at least $750 earned during the remaining base period. The total wages during the base period must equal at least 1.5 times the highest-quarter wages. Failure to meet these minimum requirements is a common reason for Missouri benefits denials. Sometimes an applicant will begin to receive UI benefits, but lose them because he or she fails to meet the ongoing requirements to maintain UI benefits. Claimants must actively look for work, keep records of their job searches, be available and able to work and not turn down any reasonable job offers. They are also responsible for reporting all earned wages each week and, when directed, to appear in person at Missouri Job Centers or other designated offices to receive job training and other assistance services. a chance to argue their cases and present supporting evidence during the hearing. Because the DES is strict about deadlines, if an applicant fails to file an appeal within 30 days of receiving the denial in the mail, he or she should contact the DES immediately at and request an extension to the appeal. Unfortunately, unless the applicant can provide proof of a good reason for missing the deadline, extensions are usually denied. It is important to promptly open and read every piece of mail received from the DES so a right to appeal remains valid. DES might consider giving an extension if the applicant can provide proof of having a serious illness, a mental or a physical incapacitation, or if he or she received a DES notice written in something other than his or her primary language. Claimants who feel they were wrongly issued denials or cancellations of benefits have the right to appeal the DES s decision. A claimant can also initiate an appeal if he or she feels the incorrect amount of benefits is being dispensed by the state. UI Denial Appeals Process Any of the interested parties in an unemployment benefits claim can file for an appeal following the DES s decision to reject a claim. This includes the claimant, the employer or a licensed attorney working for either party. Applicants must file written appeals within 30 days of receiving a Notice of Deputy s Determination by mail stating that the claim was denied. The appeals process includes attending a hearing with an Appeals Tribunal. Both parties will have

20 20 The Complete Missouri Unemployment Guide Steps for Appealing a UI Benefits Denial Appeals can only be filed by mail or by logging on to a personal UINTERACT account. The DES will not accept appeal requests by phone or via . Applicants should follow these steps to appeal their UI benefit denials: 1 ) Print and complete a Claimant Request for Appeal of Unemployment Insurance Determination (MODES-4607) or log on to the UINTERACT account and follow the prompts for filing an appeal. 2 ) Be sure to briefly explain why benefits should be received. If it is felt that an employer misrepresented reasons for quitting or under-reported a worker s earnings, address the issue. 3 ) Mail the completed form to the Division of Employment Security address listed below. 4 ) Continue filing weekly benefit requests while awaiting a hearing. This makes it easier to receive back pay if the Tribunal rules in a claimant s favor following the appeal. 5 ) Once a written Notice of Hearing is received, collect evidence to prove the case. The notice will include information on how to provide copies of necessary documents to the Tribunal before the hearing. Necessary documents may include: proofs of identity, residency and citizenship, employment contracts, recorded correspondence with an employer surrounding termination and paycheck and bank histories for a specified period of time. 6 ) Most hearings are conducted over the phone, but claimants have the right to request in-person hearings, as needed. 7 ) It is important to be present for the scheduled hearing, whether on the phone or in person. 8 ) Present all evidence and answer the Tribunal s questions honestly and carefully. Make sure to clearly state all of the reasons why UI benefits are deserved. 9 ) Wait to receive a written decision from the Tribunal. If the state rules in the claimant s favor, he or she will begin to receive UI benefits. 10 ) If the appeal is lost, claimants can file second appeals with the Missouri Labor and Industrial Relations Commission. The claimant will have 30 days to file this second appeal.

21 21 The Complete Missouri Unemployment Guide Contact Information for Appeals To speak to someone about filing an appeal, use the following contact information: Online: Visit the Department of Labor and Industrial Relation s Appeals Hearing Information page. Fax: Claimants Contact: , or esuiclaims@labor.mo.gov Employer Contact: , or esemptax@labor.mo.gov Appeals appealstribunal@labor.mo.gov Confidential Information Requests: confidentialrequest@labor.mo.gov By Mail: Address correspondence and appeals to: Division of Employment Security, P.O. Box 59, Jefferson City, MO,

22 22 The Complete Missouri Unemployment Guide Unemployment Extension in Missouri Missouri allows unemployed residents to receive Unemployment Insurance (UI) benefits for a maximum of 20 weeks. What should a beneficiary do if he or she is drawing near to the end of the 20 weeks, and still does not have a suitable job? Upon first instinct, the beneficiary may try to apply for an extension of unemployment benefits. Unfortunately, as in other states, UI benefit extensions cannot simply be obtained in Missouri. Extensions are only available during periods of exceptionally high unemployment, and applicants must meet stricter maintenance activities to remain eligible for benefits while on UI benefits extension programs EUC was designed on a basis of four stages, or tiers. Each tier pays slightly less than the one before, and applicants needed to meet additional requirements to be accepted into each new tier. Applicants who were accepted into the program at Tier One would get up to 20 weeks more, or 80 percent of their UI claims. During Tier Two, they would receive 14 weeks more, or up to 54 percent of the original UI claims. If approved for Tier Three, applicants would receive up to 13 weeks, or 50 percent of their UI claims. The final extension, Tier Four, lasted only six weeks and provided 24 percent of the original UI claims. Unemployment Extension Plans in Missouri From June 30, 2008 to January 1, 2014, Missourians who exhausted their regular state UI benefits were eligible to apply for the Emergency Unemployment Compensation (EUC) program. This federally funded program was intended to help states with exceptionally high rates of unemployment offer UI beneficiaries longer periods of compensation. These federal funds allowed the state to extend benefits beyond the limits of the budget allotment. Although the program halted in 2014, if Missouri ever faces another period of high unemployment, EUC could return as a viable extension option for those facing unemployment.

23 23 The Complete Missouri Unemployment Guide According to the United States Department of Labor, Extended Benefits (EB) was the name given to statespecific programs that served the same purpose as EUC, to extend benefits beyond the usual 20 weeks during high unemployment periods. The Basic EB program gave workers who exhausted regular UI benefits up to an additional 13 weeks of payments. Some states also enacted a voluntary program to add an additional 7 weeks, which essentially doubled the amount of time a person could receive UI benefits in Missouri. Who is eligible for an unemployment extension? During EUC, unemployment insurance beneficiaries who used up their state benefits were often automatically enrolled into the EUC program. Eligibility was based on the same factors for regular UI benefits and included that the applicants: Must have lost their jobs through no fault of their own. Must have been able, available and willing to work. Must have met monetary requirements based on the wages they earned during a designated, 12-month base period. Must have maintained their eligibility by actively looking for work, not turning down job offers, accurately reporting any income during the week earned, making a certain number of job contacts each week and applying for a benefit payment each week. looking to return to the workforce. In addition, the Career Centers created job search plans and required applicants to attend job-training workshops. UI beneficiaries who failed to comply with these stricter requirements or who failed to show up for mandatory Career Center appointments would be removed from the EUC program and would lose their extended UI benefits. Applicants who qualified for the state s EB program had to meet the same requirements as when they originally applied for unemployment benefits. EB is only available when the government determines that a state is experiencing unusually high levels of unemployment. How to Apply for an Unemployment Extension If EUC or EB benefits return to Missouri, it is helpful to know the criteria to meet to apply for UI benefits extensions. Essentially, beneficiaries must meet the same requirements and provide the same documents needed when first obtaining UI benefits. Applicants need to provide Social Security Numbers, legal names (including those previously used), complete addresses and phone numbers, the names of final employers and company mailing addresses, the reason for job termination and the date of the last day of work. If a beneficiary opened a personal UINTERACT account when applying for initial benefits, he or she should still be able to use it to inquire about any available extension programs. In addition to these requirements, participants in the EUC program had to accept mandatory services from their local Missouri Career Centers to remain eligible. The program mandated Missouri and other states to step up case management activities to meet the demands of the high levels of unemployment. These centers were meant to conduct eligibility reviews to ensure beneficiaries still qualified for benefits and to perform reemployment assessments to determine job compatibility for workers

24 24 The Complete Missouri Unemployment Guide How to Check on Current UI Benefit Extension Programs Although neither the EUC nor the EB extension plans are currently available in Missouri, they could be reenacted in the future. It never hurts to ask if extensions are available. The clerks at Missouri Career Centers can answer questions about extensions and what to do if there are none currently available. Even if an extension of unemployment benefits is unavailable, career representatives may be able to connect claimants to other services that can provide financial assistance until new jobs are contracted. In Kansas City, go to the Missouri Career Center located at: 1740 The Paseo, Kansas City, MO, 64108, or call: In St. Louis, visit the Missouri Career Center located at: 1520 Market St., Room 3050, St. Louis, MO, 63103, or call: In Springfield, go to the Missouri Career Center located at: 2900 E. Sunshine, Springfield, MO, 65804, or call: Find the closest Missouri Job Center by using this interactive Job Center map, or call JOBS (5627) to reach a nearby Missouri Job Center. For help in finding other sources of support, visit the Missouri Department of Social Services online and enter your ZIP code or your city name to find the office nearest you.

25 25 The Complete Missouri Unemployment Guide History of Unemployment Insurance In the year 1929, there were a documented 1.8 million unemployed workers residing in the United States. A plan to alleviate the effects of unemployment during regular economic times, while bridging the transition from one job to another, unemployment benefits were born from a non-traumatic time. And, due to the turnover rate associated with certain industries and unions, many Americans were left without stable income as they awaited their next paying jobs.

26 26 The Complete Missouri Unemployment Guide As the Great Depression approached in the early 1930s, it was President Franklin Delano Roosevelt s mission to sign into action the Social Security Act, which delivered the structure of unemployment insurance. The Social Security Act pioneered the UI program, encouraging the states to develop and enforce their own policies and laws. The following provisions were required of each state in order to be approved by the Social Security Board: Benefits must be paid through public employment offices or other such agencies. Any benefits occurring within two years after the first day collected should not be paid. Contributions to the state fund require immediate transfer to the UI trust fund of the U.S. Any money withdrawn from the UI fund can only be used for UI benefits. There must be no denial of benefits to a recipient who refuses to accept a job of lower quality than his or her previous position. No vested rights should be created by the states to prevent or repeal state UI law. Providing funds to alleviate hardship, unemployment insurance is based on federal law but is helmed by state departments and functions under state law. Financed by employer payroll taxes (in all states but Alaska, New Jersey and Pennsylvania), unemployment insurance provides temporary cash benefits to those who are out of work due to involuntary circumstances. Furthermore, UI assists citizens in meeting their basic financial needs by providing monetary help while they look for new employment. In the mid-1990s, all states began shifting gears in their claims processes. Progressing from in-person claim filing to by-phone enrollment, today, more than 85 percent of unemployment cases are filed remotely, with the majority facilitated online. Soon after, several states began to pass unemployment insurance laws, including Wisconsin, California, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York, Utah and Washington. In the years that followed, all U.S. states and the District of Columbia carried out UI laws. Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands followed suit in the 60s and 70s. In the early years, the timeframe and qualifications of UI differed greatly from what they are today. For instance, the period during which applicable candidates can receive unemployment benefits has increased from 16 weeks to 26 weeks. And, in recessional times, the system has accommodated special programs to extend benefits beyond the initial UI period. For instance, in 2008, under the George W. Bush administration, extensions of UI reported coverage of up to 73 weeks. Currently, the limit is set at 47 weeks for those in need of extended UI benefits from their states. The framework of UI was founded to create a system that aided those out of work due to involuntary conditions.

27 27 The Complete Missouri Unemployment Guide How to Explain Unemployment to Your Children If you were recently let go from work, one of the hardest tasks you face is breaking the news to your family. Of course, speaking with a spouse or your teenage children is not as difficult, but how do you explain being out of a job to the young ones? Consider the below tips about breaking the news gently and moving forward in a confident manner.

28 28 The Complete Missouri Unemployment Guide Speak in a positive tone When discussing the loss of your job with your kids, make sure your tone is optimistic. As you know, your actions and words greatly impact your growing child, so make sure to keep the negativity at a minimum. Do not bash your boss or use destructive vocabulary. If you feel the need to bad mouth your ex-employer or coworkers, replace that mindset with hopeful information. Let your child know you will be around a bit more, and are able to spend more time with them. Keep it simple If you use words that your children have not yet learned, then they will not understand the news you are trying to convey. Instead, speak to them in a way that is easy to understand. Avoid using intimidating big words, in favor of smaller ones that relate seamlessly. Let them ask questions Do not deliver the news of your layoff and then end the conversation. Instead, let your kids ask you some questions about what happened and why. So long as you convey easy answers in a calm manner, it will keep the conversation manageable. Discuss any setbacks Even though it may be hard to hear, it is important to easily communicate if there will be financial effects on your children. Will they need to enroll in public school instead of private school? Do you need to cancel an upcoming trip? Will you be modifying your shopping habits (both groceries and entertainment/toys)? If so, reassure your children that these things are only temporary, and that you are trying your hardest to get back on track for them. Be encouraging about future plans Equally as important as leaving negativity out of the conversation is sharing positive news about your future plans. Let your kids know you are already looking for a better job, and that you are excited for a new start. If you are feeling down in the dumps about your situation, try to keep it away from your young ones, or else it may upset them or cause worry that is otherwise best to avoid. Invite them to help Children love to get involved, and often do so to seek your praise. Let your kid assist with daily tasks and chores, like cooking dinner, easy house cleaning and taking care of your pet. However, make sure the tasks you allow your child to take on are both age-appropriate and independent. This way, you will be able to work on your job search-related duties, such as browsing job boards, working on your resume and tending to your correspondence.

29 29 The Complete Missouri Unemployment Guide How to Calculate Your Missouri Unemployment Benefit Amount After determining that you are eligible to receive Unemployment Insurance (UI) benefits through the state of Missouri, you will need to know how much you can expect to receive each week. Although the Division of Employment Security (DES) provides convenient online calculators to help you figure out your benefit amount, this figure is not necessarily guaranteed to be the amount you receive. Benefits are based on your earnings during a certain 12-month base period outlined by the DES. To calculate this amount, you will need to have copies of your pay stubs for each month in the designated base period. What is a base period? Missouri s DES carefully evaluates all UI benefit applications to make sure that they include correct work history information, because this history is what determines the amount of money the recipient will get. Only people who have been working recently can collect UI benefits. People who have been out of the work force for a number of years, such as stay-at-home parents, are ineligible to apply for UI benefits until they have worked again for an insured employer for 15 months or longer.

30 30 The Complete Missouri Unemployment Guide The base period for UI benefits in Missouri is a oneyear period representing the earliest four of the last five complete quarters of the calendar year. This bullet list illustrates Missouri s base periods by month. If you file a claim during the first time period listed, your base period will be the second set of dates: January 1 through March 31 claims use a base period of October 1 through September 30 April 1 through June 30 claims use a base period of January 1 through December 31 July 1 through September 30 claims use a base period of April 1 through March 31 October 1 through December 31 claims use a base period of July 1 through June 30 Base Period Earnings Like most states, Missouri requires UI benefit recipients to have earned a minimum amount of wages before being eligible to receive benefits. UI benefit applicants must have made at least $2,250 from an insured employer during the base period. Missouri also requires a worker to have met a set minimum wage during his or her highest quarter of earnings. One of the calendar quarters must show earnings of at least $1,500 and the applicant needs to have earned another $750 during the remainder of the base period. In Missouri, your total wages during the base period have to be at least 1.5 times the highest quarter s wages. If this is not true, you need to have made at least $19,500 during two of the four base period quarters. Although these figures may seem confusing, they are one way that the DES ensures that employees meet the requirements to work at least two quarters during their base periods. Online Unemployment Benefit Calculators Missouri offers its unemployed residents two easy online calculators to help figure out how much money your UI benefits will pay. The main Unemployment Benefit Calculator will estimate the benefits for which you may be eligible, but it does not guarantee that its figure is the amount you will bring home each week. It also does not provide any guaranteed approval of eligibility. Its purpose is to help you budget for your future by providing an estimate of payments. The amount that you receive may be greater or less than the figure produced by the calculator. As you can see on the calculator, you will need to know what your gross income was during each quarter. Gross income is the amount you earned before any taxes or other deductions were removed from your pay. Simply enter all the figures requested and click submit to find out your estimated, weekly unemployment benefit amount. A Partial Benefits Calculator is available for Missourians who are working part-time but are still eligible for partial UI benefits. Use this calculator if you have begun working part-time while receiving UI benefits, and if your income

31 31 The Complete Missouri Unemployment Guide is not comparable to what you were making before you were unemployed. Enter your current UI benefit amount into the first field, then enter your estimated weekly gross wages. After clicking submit, you will receive your projected weekly partial UI benefit amount. Missouri s maximum unemployment benefit amount is $320 per week, and the minimum payment is $35 per week. The average UI benefits payment in Missouri is $255 per week. UI benefit payments are not meant to be a full income replacements, but rather sources of assistance to help applicants bridge the gaps between full-time jobs.

32 32 The Complete Missouri Unemployment Guide How to Use the Missouri Unemployment Office to Begin Your Career Search Sometimes unemployment can be a gift in disguise if it helps lead you to a new career that is better than your previous job. The Missouri Unemployment Office and its affiliated Missouri Job Centers are the perfect place to begin your career search and to connect with a new job that fulfills not only your financial needs, but makes you happy, too. The most effective career search begins with a plan and the specialists at Missouri Job Centers can provide you with several tools to draft a plan to meet your career goals. Note that there may not be another time in life that you have access to such a high level of free, expert career advice

33 33 The Complete Missouri Unemployment Guide Career Planning While you are on unemployment, you can meet with a career counselor who will provide you with tools and information to help you figure out your best next step. In most cases, this begins with self-assessment. Through counseling and the use of questionnaires and other self-assessment tools, you may uncover skills and passions that you have not yet had time to develop into a lucrative career. Or, you may learn about careers that you never realized existed, which now perfectly match your skillset. Career Center staff can help connect you to job leads and training programs to develop the talents you already possess. Identifying Obstacles Sometimes we are our own worst enemies in that we fail to honestly assess our own weaknesses that prevent us from performing to our full potential. Career counselors are specially trained in helping job-seekers identify gaps in training, education, experience and credentials. These deficiencies may have played a part becoming unemployed, so it is important to be honest with both yourself and the staff when drafting a new, future plan. Applicants may take computer-training classes, such as Introduction to the Internet and Basic Computer Skills, along with specialized workshops in commonly used office programs such as Microsoft Excel and Microsoft Word. Other workshops address issues such as how to network in your chosen career field and how to utilize stress management techniques to keep yourself calm during the job-searching process. National Career Readiness Certificates Businesses want to hire qualified applicants, and Missouri helps create them by offering testing to receive National Career Readiness Certificates, or NCRCs. This test was developed by the same organization that designed the ACT college testing standard. It assesses your skill level in three areas: Reading for Information, Applied Mathematics and Locating Information, and then awards an NCRC at one of four levels. Each level represents a score that is compatible with certain occupations, which are ranked as Bronze, Silver, Gold or Platinum. Ask your career counselor to help you obtain an NCRC if you do not have one on your resume just yet. Fixing Gaps Once your Missouri Career Center specialist has helped you figure out where you want to go, and what might have prevented you from doing so in the past, he or she is ready to help you take care of the issues that stand in your way. Maybe it is simply time to refresh your resume so that it optimizes your strengths and is written in a way that appeals to employers. Or, perhaps it is time for a drastic change, such as going back to school to finish your degree. Career Center staff can show you how to connect with colleges, trade schools and financial aid programs if education is your next big career step. Workshops Missouri offers its residents a huge variety of ongoing workshops at locations around the state to help individuals receive training that results in new career opportunities.

34 34 The Complete Missouri Unemployment Guide Resume and Interview Skills It can be easy to ruin a job interview if you lack the knowledge and skills to adequately prepare for it beforehand. In addition to one-on-one resume advice, Missourians on unemployment can take a course to customize their resumes for internet applications. Because so many companies use the internet as an initial form of connection, it is important to know how to get a resume and an application through computer filters and in front of human eyes. Once you have landed an interview, you will find the process less intimidating if you have learned the different types of job interviews and strategies to present yourself in a professional manner. On-the-Job Training Certain businesses have partnered with Missouri Job Centers to provide on-the-job training programs that permit applicants to receive paychecks while learning new jobs in real work environments. When you train at a company, you learn how to perform the work to the employer s specifications, which increases your chances of landing a permanent position once the training period ends.

35 35 The Complete Missouri Unemployment Guide Tips for Documenting Your Job Search Activities While on Unemployment in Missouri One of the requirements to receive Unemployment Insurance (UI) benefits in Missouri is that you must keep personal records of your job search activities. Some UI recipients make the mistake of keeping partial or illegible records, and that can make it difficult to accurately inform the Division of Employment Security (DES) of your job search activities. If you cannot substantiate your work search claims, you could find yourself losing your weekly UI benefit payments. Keeping good records is a vital part of participating in the unemployment benefits system.

36 36 The Complete Missouri Unemployment Guide Methods of Documentation The way that you document your job search activities largely depends on whether you have a personal preference for handwritten, hard copies of documents, or if you like keeping things organized electronically. If you prefer paper to processors, you can simply use a spiral notebook and designate columns for each category described in the What to Record section below. Many websites offer printable job search activity logs, including The Missouri Employment and Training Program. The printable job search log contains convenient boxes to help you check off every aspect of the job search process. If you print out a log, be sure to make several blank copies to last throughout the period of unemployment. It is helpful to store these in a three-ring binder designated for your unemployment documentation. Use color-coded dividers to separate them from the other documentation of your mandatory UI benefit activities, such as your record of earnings and visits to the Missouri Career Center. If you would rather keep track of your job search activities electronically, it can be helpful to have Microsoft Excel spreadsheet handy. Setting up a basic spreadsheet is relatively easy and is a convenient, paperless way of documenting your job-search activities. You may still need to carry a small notepad along with you on job interviews so that you can jot down all the details DES requires before you have a chance to forget anything. Or, use the notepad app on your phone or your tablet to make a quick record of names, phone numbers and other information. Then you can transfer this information onto your spreadsheet, which can then be printed or ed to show proof of your active job search. new job. For each new job contact that you make, record the following information: The date of the work-search activity The action you performed, such as applying online for a job, visiting a temporary employment agency, attending a job fair, mailing copies of your resume or following up with previous contacts The name of the person you spoke to and if the action involved interacting with someone directly The person s phone number and/or address The name of the company or organization with which you connected The method you used for your contact, such as mail, , phone or in-person The full address and phone number of the business or organization The result of your activity, including if you were called back for an interview, your resume was shared with others, there were no job openings or you received no response If you applied for a job, list the specific job title and a brief description about the kind of work it entails What to Record At some point after you received your UI benefits claim approval, you were told how many job contacts you need to make each week to maintain your weekly UI payments. The number can vary, but most UI recipients need to make at least two good job contacts every week. You need to make sure that you make at least that many contacts, although more is always better when it comes to finding a

37 37 The Complete Missouri Unemployment Guide It is also a good idea to document any attempts to find casual side jobs where you may be paid in cash, such as babysitting, housecleaning, home repair or yard-care services. Missouri law requires you to report income from all sources, even if it is not from official businesses or organizations. Reporting this type of work does not prevent you from receiving UI benefits, although working part-time can reduce the total amount you receive from unemployment for the week in which you worked. How Long to Keep Job Search Records It may be tempting to get rid of all unemployment records as soon as you find a new job, but the DES recommends keeping them for at least one year after the date on which your last unemployment benefit claim was paid.

38 38 The Complete Missouri Unemployment Guide How to Chart Your Mandatory Weekly Activities While Receiving Unemployment in Missouri If you are receiving Unemployment Insurance (UI) benefits in Missouri, you must perform several, mandatory weekly activities to continue receiving benefits. These activities include reporting all wages earned, engaging in a good faith search for work and appearing when requested at a Missouri Career Center. Because future payments depend on keeping accurate records of your activities, it is important to keep written logs of what you do to maintain your UI benefits and to be ready to show them to a DES claims specialist when asked. It is also useful to have accurate written records on hand when you enter your weekly benefits claim on the phone or through your UINTERACT account online. Most unemployment specialists recommend keeping all earning and job search records for a minimum of one year after you receive your last UI benefit payment. Full or part-time work, including seasonal or temporary work. Paid training or orientation for a new job. Commissions and tips. Side jobs where you work under contract or for cash, such as mowing lawns, child care, cleaning houses, styling hair, photography or catering. Pay from the U.S. military reserve service. Keeping Track of Earnings One of your most important responsibilities while on unemployment is to keep accurate records of your earnings. The definition of work is a broad one, and basically extends to any type of service you render for pay. This includes:

39 39 The Complete Missouri Unemployment Guide For unemployment purposes, you must report your earnings during the week you work, even if you will not be paid until a later date. Many UI claimants make the mistake of waiting to report work after they receive their first paychecks, but this can result in the loss of UI benefits, and even legal action, if the state determines you were guilty of committing unemployment fraud. When making a log of your earnings, be sure to include the number of hours you worked and the name and address of the employer. All wages should be recorded as gross wages, which means the amount you earned before taxes or before any other deductions were removed from your pay. Charting Your Job Search Your work search records need to contain specific information about your job search efforts. Your unemployment career specialist should have told you how many job contacts you were expected to make each week, and your records need to show that you met that minimum. You must include the date of contact, the name, the phone number and the address of the person you contacted, the name of the business or the organization and how you contacted them (by phone, via or in person). Make a note of any follow-up steps taken, such as coming in for an interview, sending in a resume or receiving a notice of nojob availability. It is important to include every outreach in your job search, even if all you find out is that the company is not currently hiring new employees. Also include casual attempts to find side jobs, like the ones described above. Even if they do not result in earning any money, at least it shows that you are trying to find additional sources of income while you are unemployed. Recording Other Activities Although your local Missouri Job Center will have a record of any time you visit to receive special reemployment services, it is wise to make a notation of visits on your personal unemployment records. If anyone asks you to provide proof of your visit, you will be ready to show the date and time that you went, the purpose of your visit and the fact that you met the mandatory requirement of showing up in person. It is wise to also note any next steps that resulted from your visit to the Career Center, such as signing up for a training seminar, taking skills assessments or connecting to potential employers. Since being available to work is another mandatory requirement for UI beneficiaries, you should note any extended periods that you are out of town, become sick or otherwise cannot fulfill your obligation to be able and ready to work. Your work search log can be as simple as jotting down entries into a small notebook, or as elaborate as creating a color-organized spreadsheet on your computer. Several career organization websites offer free work search logs that you can print and keep in a folder. The Missouri Employment and Training Program offers a free, printable job search log that will suffice for unemployment recordkeeping.

40 40 The Complete Missouri Unemployment Guide 9 Tips for Writing the Perfect Resume Now that you are back on the job hunt, it is important to compile a strong portfolio to deliver at each job interview you schedule. The most important tool to prepare is your resume. An account of your job history and where you aim to work in the future, your resume should provide details about your professional experience in a clear and concise manner. Unsure of how to get started? Browse the below tips, so you can get on the path to perfecting your resume before your first job interview.

41 41 The Complete Missouri Unemployment Guide Do not overdesign A resume with clean lines and spacing is important. Overdesigning can distract a potential employer from the important details you are trying to convey. If you would like to get creative with a header and a footer, just make sure you keep them symmetrical to the page, and use inviting colors, if any at all. You can browse available templates to use online, as well. Keep it organized Before you input the information into your resume design or template, take extra time to organize each item. Use subheaders to introduce each section, and make sure the alignment from one section to the next is even and clean. If you are listing items, use bullets as an indication. Use bolding, italics and underlining to highlight certain fields in order to draw attention. Do not overuse these accents, or it will defeat the purpose, and they will get lost on the page. Include updated contact information Make sure to block out a space on your resume to include your contact information (centered or to one side on the top, or in a footer on the bottom of the document). Typically, your name, address, phone number and address are the main details needed. However, if you are applying for a job in another state, or plan to work remotely, your address is not always mandatory to include. Only include relevant experience If you are able to create a resume that centers around your experience in one given field, it will be received better than one that delivers irrelevant information. For example, if you are applying for a job as a web designer, there is no need to include your work experience as a retail salesman or as a neighborhood dog walker. However, if you can include additional information on experience you have within the realm of design (logos, graphics, print products, etc.), this is highly recommended to demonstrate your range. Note your accomplishments If you have received recognition, awards and accolades in your field, make sure to include this information. By showcasing these acknowledgements, you will stand apart from other candidates that have similar experience in comparison to you. Highlight related skills Similar to noting your related experience is including information on your related skills. Skills can range from programs you have learned to machines you know how to operate, depending on your industry. In the same example as above, if you are applying to be a web designer, you need not include your skills with QuickBooks, as you are not expected to know how to bookkeep. Offer your portfolio If you are applying for a job in a field in which you can supply a portfolio, include a link in your resume, or offer it upon request. This will provide easy access to your past work, and will save your potential employer time in requesting it directly. Make references available If you feel that you would like to include any references on your resume, two is a round number. You can also include that your references are available upon request if you do not feel comfortable including others contact information. Have your resume proofread Whether it is a professional or a family member/friend with a keen eye, make sure someone proofreads your resume prior to finalizing and sending the document. Attention to detail is of utmost importance when demonstrating your professionalism.

42 42 The Complete Missouri Unemployment Guide Preparing for a Job Interview and Discussing Your Layoff As you enter the next phase of your job search, you will likely schedule one or more interviews with potential new places of employment. As you organize your portfolio and pick out a professional ensemble to wear, one question hangs heavy on your mind, How do I talk about my layoff at my interview?

43 43 The Complete Missouri Unemployment Guide Preparation for New Employment No matter the circumstance, be it a week or three months, once you are laid off from one job, there will be a period of time that transpires prior to securing new work. The best thing you can do for your career is to be productive during this timeframe. Prior to securing any interviews, consider the following activities: Enroll in job training Whether related to your past field or a future industry in which you would like to find work, taking a job training course is an advantageous way to keep your mind engaged and your spirits up. Now, you may be wondering why it is necessary to enroll in the activities listed in the above section in preparation for your job interview. The reason is so that you will be able to get into a more positive mindset during your interview. By reporting the activities you took part in during your time of unemployment, you will have productive details to discuss, and you will not be conjuring up negative feelings due to your layoff. The discussion does not need to last for more than a couple of minutes. By taking control of the interview and delving into all of the significant things you have been involved with since your layoff, you can steer the conversation effortlessly and confidently in a different, upward direction. Get a certification If you find that you have more time on your hands than you prefer, find a program that will result in a new certification. Note there are many programs online to consider. Volunteer somewhere meaningful Whether in an educational environment with children, a center with the misfortunate or a facility with seniors, occupy your time by lending a hand where you are needed. Talking to Your Potential Employer As you walk into the office of your new potential workplace, try not to focus on your past job s outcome. Instead, focus on the opportunity in front of you. When the time comes to discuss your layoff, keep your response simple and concise. Do not go into the dirty details; do not bad-mouth your boss; and do not harp on a past you cannot change. Keep these tips in mind: Be positive. Smile and make eye contact. Stay emotionally centered and calm. Do not offer more information than necessary.

44 44 The Complete Missouri Unemployment Guide 10 Ways to Make Money During Unemployment When you are having a hard time looking for work, it is easy to get discouraged. But, at the end of the day, you need to earn the funds necessary to meet the costs of living. If you are already receiving unemployment checks but still cannot seem to get by, there are several quick ways to earn easy cash. Review the below ideas so you can start pocketing extra money while you are in between jobs.

45 45 The Complete Missouri Unemployment Guide Market research Start by looking up the local market research firms in your area. Commonly, you will only qualify to participate in one market research experiment during a specified time period. However, there is no rule against enrolling in several market research programs simultaneously. Monetarily, you can earn anywhere from $50 to $300 on average per market research case, if you are the right fit. Handy work If you are good with your hands and home repairs, advertise your services through your social networks and to your neighbors. If you can guarantee you will fix something at a more affordable price than a licensed professional, you can rack up the work in no time. Be sure to have your friends endorse you in return. Be a professional driver If you live in a city that employs one or more driving services, and you own a car in suitable condition, sign up to be a driver. If Uber and Lyft both exist in your town, you may even be able to drive for both companies, so you can keep busy around the clock. Have a garage sale Assess your belongings and determine whether or not each possession is really necessary for you to own. Oftentimes, you may compile a whole mess of interesting goods. Once you have inventoried everything, plan a garage sale. Post ads online and put up signs in your neighborhood. Don t have enough items to host your own sale? You have two options: contact a few friends to co-host or download different apps to sell off your goods. Be a dog walker If you are a dog lover, offer your dog-walking services. Ask if you can post flyers in nearby buildings and offices so you can spread the word. You can stay quite busy walking dogs in a well-populated area. Offer to babysit Are you great with kids? Consider babysitting. New parents are almost always looking for extra help. Contact friends and acquaintances to let them know you are interested in babysitting. Word of mouth will travel fast.

46 46 The Complete Missouri Unemployment Guide Work as event staff Browse online job boards that are specific to events in your city. Websites like Craigslist feature a section specific to paid event help. Some positions that regularly hire include: models, performance artists, brand ambassadors, bartenders, ticketing workers and security guards. Clean homes If you are neat and tidy and enjoy cleaning, why not get paid to do it? Network among friends or join a service that outsources cleaning people to different homes in your area. Become a house sitter If you enjoy residing in different living spaces, then offer your help as a house sitter. If you cannot afford your rent and would like to house sit for someone long-term, you may even be able to live rent-free in exchange. Rent out a room in your home If you live in a house that has more bedrooms than necessary, and you enjoy entertaining and having guests, you can rent out a room to make some extra cash. Joining a network like AirBnB can help you advertise your room, manage bookings and transfer funds easily.

47 47 The Complete Missouri Unemployment Guide Cost-Cutting Measures You Can Take While on Unemployment in Missouri Making ends meet while unemployed can be a financial challenge for any family or individual. Even if you have been diligent about saving and investing through the years, it can only take a few jobless months to seriously deplete your resources. Benefits paid through unemployment insurance are usually just a fraction of a regular salary, so most people need to find ways to cut costs while seeking new jobs. Here are 10 ways to reduce your spending and to stretch your unemployment benefits. 1. Cut back on entertainment In times of trouble, entertainment should be the first thing to go. Get rid of cable TV and internet service; instead, take advantage of free internet access at the library. Rent movies for free at the library, or for a few dollars through Redbox. Ask a friendly neighbor if he or she minds letting you use the Wi-Fi until you get another job or offer to pay a portion of the bill. In addition consider taking your kids to the park instead of to expensive museums and attractions. 2. Cut back on utilities Set your thermostat to 55 degrees in the winter, and pile on extra sweaters and blankets. Make use of a fireplace, if you have one. In the summertime, forego using the air conditioner if you can. If you must use the A/C during times of sweltering heat, set the thermostat to 80 degrees and use fans to circulate the cool air. Wash dishes (instead of using the dishwasher) and some clothing by hand (instead of the washer/dryer) to save on water. If you normally wash

48 48 The Complete Missouri Unemployment Guide your clothes at a laundromat, ask a friend if you can do laundry at his or her house until things improve for you financially. 3. Sell extra vehicles This may not be feasible for people who live in remote locations or towns with inadequate public transportation, but cars are some of the biggest drains on household budgets. Figure out how to make your household work as a one-car family, and put the money you make from selling your extra vehicle into your savings. 4. Cut your own hair The internet abounds with instructional videos on Do It Yourself topics, including different hairstyles, and for the cost of one haircut, you can purchase a simple set of clippers to perform buzz cuts at home. This is also a good time to let your hair grow and to experiment with longer hairstyles. 5. Downsize your home If you have a mortgage or live in an area where housing is limited, this may not be feasible. But, if you are renting your home or apartment and can break your lease with little penalty, consider moving to a smaller residence for a while. Not only will you save money on rent, a smaller home comes with lower utility bills. stating financial need, while others are open to anyone who wants to save money on their grocery bills. These pantries usually ask for small monetary donations of $10 or less to help cover administrative costs, but send recipients home with groceries worth $50 or more. Although you cannot always choose which foods you go home with, most supply soap, diapers, toilet paper and other non-food items to help stretch your unemployment benefits check. 9. Buy used Thankfully, the stigma that surrounds shopping at thrift stores is mostly a thing of the past. Savvy consumers know that it does not make sense to pay $50 for a new shirt if you can get one at your local thrift store for $2. Thrift stores are a great place to find rapidly-outgrown children s clothing in like-new condition. 10. Have a yard sale Nearly everyone has extra stuff that could bring in a decent chunk of change if sold. Advertise for free on Craigslist or Facebook, and clean out your garage and closets. Being able to enjoy a decluttered home is an added perk. 6. Barter This age-old way of making ends meet is a great way to help yourself and a friend at the same time. If you need lawn care, and a friend needs a babysitter, you can trade services and meet one another s needs without spending a dime. 7. Embrace beans and rice Billions of people in different cultures around the world subsist largely on beans-and-rice-based diets, and for good reason. They are nutritious, filling, inexpensive, versatile foods. With the addition of different seasonings, you can enjoy Jamaican peas and rice, Indian curried chickpeas and vegetarian chili all in one week. 8. Visit a food pantry Free food pantries ask participants to provide income verification or letters

49 49 The Complete Missouri Unemployment Guide Reporting Unemployment Fraud in Missouri Becoming unemployed is a stressful event for most people, and typically an unexpected one. Missouri law allows for most workers who have become unemployed through no fault of their own, or who quit their jobs due to good cause (such as discrimination in the workplace, dangerous working conditions or harassment) to file for, and to receive unemployment benefits. The urge to misrepresent yourself to the Department of Labor may be high as you see bills piling up, as the stress of finding new work surmounts. However, unemployment fraud is not just something that is frowned upon morally, it is also illegal and can result in both civil and criminal punishments. These could include paying the monies received back, a criminal charge that will come up on background checks and can affect the ability to find another position, a failure to collect unemployment benefits in the future, and possible incarceration. Unemployment fraud affects everyone working in the state, because it can raise employer taxes, and reduce the amount of funds available for others, should the time come when they are needed. any source. This includes full and part-time work, tips, and holiday and vacation pay received. Being honest about money earned does not mean beneficiaries will have to forfeit their unemployment benefits for that week, but the total amount may be reduced. The Missouri Division of Employment Security has implemented a cross-referencing program to help track down unemployment fraud, including people who claim benefits while they are in prison. The state will also randomly audit people, and verify that the companies beneficiaries say they have contacted actually received their information. There is no way to tell who will be audited beforehand. Missouri is one of the states that recently cracked down hard to recognize and penalize those who are committing unemployment fraud. If you feel someone is committing unemployment fraud in Missouri, there are certain steps you can take to alert the proper authorities. What is unemployment fraud? Unemployment fraud is broad and far-reaching. It could be claiming to have been looking for work during the week when you were not, failure to report money earned during the week, or falsifying information surrounding the application for certain jobs when you have not. Although some may think that earning money in cash or underthe-table does not count while claiming unemployment benefits, this is incorrect. It is the responsibility of the worker to report all earnings made during the week, from

50 50 The Complete Missouri Unemployment Guide Contact the Unemployment Office While it is not illegal to work while collecting unemployment benefits, it is illegal to not report those days worked and the pay received for those days. The Department of Labor may not pay out benefits that week, or may only pay a portion of them based on the money earned elsewhere. If you feel someone is violating these terms, you can contact the unemployment office to report them. You will be asked to provide as much information as possible, such as the violator s name, address and phone number, where he or she is working, and how much money he or she is receiving. You may be able to do this anonymously, but that varies on an office-by-office basis, which is based on the county in which the unemployment benefits were claimed. If you do not have the details about how much the violator is making or where he or she is working, at least provide a name and contact information. Note that even if you ask to remain anonymous, it might not be possible. Contact the State of Missouri If you have contacted a county office to report a suspected case of unemployment fraud and not received the assistance you require, or if you do not feel that the county office is taking the matter seriously enough, you can go a step higher than the county level by contacting the Missouri Department of Labor. Try not to feel guilty about reporting unemployment fraud. As it is said, ignorance of the law is no excuse for breaking it. When initially starting to claim unemployment benefits, everyone is given a handbook outlining the rules of what should be reported and the consequences of not meeting all the obligations of receiving unemployment benefits. New recipients also speak with professionals in the office who explain how the program works. Therefore, it is each claimant s responsibility to become familiar with the rules and the laws surrounding the process of claiming and collecting unemployment and to follow through on commitments to the program. Contact the Missouri Department of Labor via at ReportUIFraud@labor. mo.gov, or by calling

51 51 The Complete Missouri Unemployment Guide Alternatives to Taking on Credit Card Debt and Depleting Your Savings Money is a huge worry for many people. It seems that no matter what we do, there is never enough money to buy everything we need and want, especially if you experience something like sudden unemployment or an unexpected expense. Life rarely follows a set schedule, and it is in these times that people are far likelier to go to their savings or credit cards to make up the differences. But, there are ways to take care of your expenses without accruing credit card debt or diving into your savings. Careful Budgeting While you cannot always be prepared for unexpected life events, if you carefully budget on a regular basis, then there should be no reason to have to rack up credit card debt or to dip into your savings when things get tough. With careful budgeting, you should have enough money available to meet most of the surprises life can throw your way. Most people who accumulate debt do so from credit cards and from surprises in life, like sudden unemployment. Planning and sticking to a budget is a good way to avoid this. It will also help avoid the problem of running out of money before your next payday.

52 52 The Complete Missouri Unemployment Guide Use Cash Although it may seem obvious, whenever possible, use cash. It can be inconvenient to carry around, but with cash on hand, you are less likely to pull out your credit cards or use your savings. Saving up cash for your purchases not only ensures that you have the money, but it can help you curb unnecessary spending if you use only cash and budget for your needs. It is all too easy to accrue credit card debt, since you typically do not have to make a payment on the card for 30 days or more. By using cash, you can plan for what you are purchasing ahead of time, and know how much money you have on any given day with just a peek into your wallet. However, when saving up cash, find a safe place for storage, as it is not wise to carry around a large amount of cash savings on your person. Secured Credit Cards or Prepaid Cards A secured credit card is a great way to allow you to build credit while not going over your own set budget. You put a set amount of cash onto a secured credit card, and cannot spend more than that. Using a pre-paid VISA or a MasterCard keeps you within a set budget, with the added benefit of not having a monthly payment to worry about. These cards allow for more streamlined spending, and let you make purchases online. is all too easy to make up the difference by using credit and savings. While it might not be possible for everyone, if you can tuck some money away from each paycheck for an emergency fund, it makes unexpected costs a lot less traumatizing when they pop up. Look for ways to cut back on your budget, such as getting rid of cable or selling an extra vehicle, then stash that money away in your emergency savings fund. Demotivation This might sound like an odd way to stop depleting your savings and running up credit card debt, but many impulse purchases made on credit cards are when people want to treat themselves during rough phases of life. Retail therapy or a trip to the spa may lift your spirits momentarily, but you will only feel depressed again when the bills arrive. Actually thinking about the purchase you are about to make and how it could affect you in the long run will demotivate your self-therapy session, and allow you to save that money to help you stay afloat until you find a new job. PayPal/PayPal Debit Card Much like a secured credit card, a PayPal debit card is not hard to get, and you can only spend the amount of money that is in your PayPal account. You can transfer money to and from your bank via PayPal, and you can also receive money from others that way. Many online stores, and some regular stores, will take PayPal as payment, but the debit card can be used anywhere typical credit and debit cards are accepted. Emergency Fund By their very nature, unexpected changes to your finances can come out of nowhere and bring you to your knees. This is typically when credit card spending and depleting your savings happens. If your income has gone down, it

53 53 The Complete Missouri Unemployment Guide Free Food Programs in Missouri for Unemployment Beneficiaries Try as you might, it can be hard to make an unemployment insurance payment stretch as far as a normal paycheck, especially if you have a spouse, children or other dependents counting on you. When money is tight, food and housing become the top priorities. Thankfully, in Missouri, there are several free food programs to help unemployment beneficiaries eat well and use what would have been spent on groceries to meet other daily living expenses. There is even a pet food pantry in St. Louis to help you feed your furry friends while you are on unemployment.

54 54 The Complete Missouri Unemployment Guide Food Stamps/SNAP Missouri s Food Stamp Program/Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) helps lowincome individuals buy food. Although you may not have qualified for SNAP when you were working, your Unemployment Insurance (UI) benefit payments might have lowered your household s income enough to qualify. Applicants must be considered low-income, and cannot own resources valued at more than $2,250 at the time of application in order to qualify for SNAP. There are also restrictions based on criminal history, and all applicants in the household must have their own Social Security Numbers. Detailed instructions are printed on the downloadable Application for Food Stamp Benefits. Call the Family Support Division (FSD) at 855-FSD-INFO ( ) to speak with a team member about FSD services and what benefits may be available to you. Women, Infants and Children (WIC) This supplemental nutrition program provides selected foods and certain health care services to pregnant women, new mothers, infants and children up to their 5th birthdays. WIC Income Guidelines are generally broader than those needed to qualify for food stamps. As of April 1, 2017, a family of four must make $45,510 or less annually to receive WIC benefits. Applicants must apply in person at WIC agencies. For assistance in finding a local WIC agency, call 800-TEL-LINK ( ). Missouri Food Banks The Missouri Department of Social Services (DSS) provides food to needy children and adults through its Food Distribution Programs, which include six nonprofit food banks: Second Harvest Community Food Bank The Food Bank for Central and Northeast Missouri Harvesters The Community Food Network Ozarks Food Harvest Southeast Missouri Food Bank St. Louis Area Food Bank In addition to these large food banks, most Missouri residents can easily access smaller food pantries. Most towns have several free-food pantries, usually located at churches and through other charitable organizations.

55 55 The Complete Missouri Unemployment Guide National School Lunch Program (NSLP) As with other food programs, it is worth checking into the free or reduced-cost lunch program at your child s school to see if you qualify after you become an unemployment beneficiary. Funded by the National School Lunch Program, qualifying children can receive free or low-cost breakfast and lunch on school days. Applicants households must meet the income eligibility guidelines of 130 percent of the Federal Poverty Level to receive free meals, and 185 percent of the Federal Poverty Level to receive reduced-price meals. Applications are usually distributed at the beginning of the school year, but can be picked up at school or your local Department of Education office. Summer Food Service Program When school is not in session, the Summer Food Service Program exists to help eligible populations have access to nutritious meals during the summer months. Located throughout Missouri at parks, schools and libraries, workers distribute healthy lunches that must be eaten on the premises. Although participants are asked to have family incomes equal to or less than 185 percent of the Federal Poverty Level, the program is open to anyone, and no child who comes to a free lunch location will be turned away. The Summer Food Service Program serves children 0 through 18 years of age, and disabled adults over the age of 18 who participate in school-based programs the rest of the year. Click this interactive map to find a Summer Food location near you. Bi-State Pet Food Pantry Located in St. Louis, the Bi-State Pet Food Pantry helps families in financial crisis avoid the heartaches of having to surrender their pets to animal shelters because they cannot afford to keep feeding them. This charity provides one month of free pet food to pet owners in need, so long as they meet certain guidelines. Food is distributed once a month, and applicants must bring a government-issued photo ID, proof of need, such as Medicaid, unemployment or food stamp documents, and proof that at least one pet has been spayed/neutered. Call the Bi-State Pet Food Pantry at or make contact by by writing to info@bistatepetfoodpantry.org.

56 56 The Complete Missouri Unemployment Guide How to Acquire Health Care While on Unemployment in Missouri Losing a job can be a traumatic event, but the fact that most people s health insurance is linked to their jobs only serves to raise stress levels as they worry about how to provide health care coverage for their dependents and themselves. When finances are restricted, it can be harder to obtain health insurance because options may be limited by what is affordable. Being unemployed does not mean that protecting your family and yourself is impossible. Due to Missouri Medicaid, the Affordable Care Act and COBRA, it is possible to have health insurance, despite being unemployed. members of your family or you qualify for MO HealthNet or other state benefits, including food stamps and child care subsidies. If you find that you qualify, complete the online Missouri benefits application form or call the MO HealthNet Division at Missouri Medicaid Missouri Medicaid, also known as MO HealthNet, can help qualifying Missourians obtain health care coverage during unemployment or other times of limited income. Although qualification requirements vary per household, the program is essentially designed to provide care through its Managed Care and Fee-For-Service programs. Managed Care recipients include children, pregnant women and newborns, uninsured women and families. Fee-for-Service recipients include people with disabilities, senior citizens, women with breast or cervical cancer and people who are blind or are visually impaired. Once you know how much you will be receiving while receiving Unemployment Insurance (UI) benefits, use the Missouri Pre-Eligibility Tool online to determine if the

57 57 The Complete Missouri Unemployment Guide The Affordable Care Act Obtaining an affordable health insurance plan through the Marketplace at HealthCare.gov is possible, even while unemployed. Your options depend on your household size and income, and you may find while applying through HealthCare.gov that you qualify for Missouri Medicaid or for CHIP (Children s Health Insurance Program). Applicants who have lost their jobs and their job-based health coverage can apply for Special Enrollment Periods to enroll for coverage within 60 days of becoming unemployed. These Special Enrollment Periods enable new applicants to sign up outside of the usual open enrollment periods. Although it is hard to predict your annual income if you are unemployed, applicants must provide a best estimate based on all sources of income they expect to receive. Unemployment compensation and all household members income counts toward the total, as well as alimony, interest and capital gains income. You will need this figure, as well as other documentation, before starting the application process online. After reviewing your application, you will find out if your family members or you qualify for a Marketplace insurance plan, Medicaid or CHIP. If you find that you do not qualify for any of these programs and cannot afford the premium on a basic Marketplace plan, you can visit a community health center for care. The Affordable Care Act expanded funding to these centers, which provide basic health care services on an incomebased sliding scale payment plan. Enter your ZIP code on the interactive map to locate a community health care center near you. permits unemployed individuals to pay full-price for their health coverage out-of-pocket, instead of having their health insurance plans terminated. Because most companies pay a large percentage of their employees health insurance costs through their group insurance plans, taking on the full premium out-of-pocket can be cost prohibitive. In some cases, though, COBRA coverage can be cheaper than buying a new plan through the Affordable Care Act. Most people receiving UI find it is worth the time to explore their options for ACA Marketplace plans or for Medicaid coverage before signing up for COBRA. Insurance companies covered under COBRA must notify terminated employees in writing that COBRA is available to them. The notice will also include information on how to apply for COBRA and how to continue receiving it for the maximum time it is offered usually 18 months. Dependents that were covered under an employer s health insurance plan can also elect to receive COBRA benefits, which will be identical to the coverage employees had while working. Unemployed workers have up to 60 days to decide whether to apply for an extension of health care benefits through COBRA. Failing to pay COBRA premiums on time, or another health insurance plans, will cause your COBRA continuation coverage to be terminated. COBRA The Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (COBRA) allows workers to continue their job-based insurance plans for a limited time following unemployment. Instituted by the Department of Labor, COBRA law generally applies to all group health care plans offered by private-sector companies with 20 or more employees. It also applies to employees of state or local governments, but not to federal employees or to those who work for churches or certain church-related organizations. COBRA

58 58 The Complete Missouri Unemployment Guide Other Financial Assistance Programs Available in Missouri Fortunately for those facing unemployment and other financial crises, the State of Missouri offers many financial assistance programs to help people get back on their feet. In addition to food assistance through programs like SNAP, WIC and food banks, Missourians can turn to a wide variety of financial assistance programs to get help with other needs. The Department of Social Services (DSS) offers a Missouri Pre-Eligibility Tool that can help you determine what government assistance services you qualify for, including child care subsidies, energy assistance and health care for families and children. Other non-governmentbased charities provide Missourians with assistance through long periods of unemployment or other extreme financial stress.

59 59 The Complete Missouri Unemployment Guide Child Care Subsidy Program The Child Care Subsidy Program helps qualifying Missourians pay for child care services. Applicants may be eligible if they are the parents or guardians of children under the age of 13, or children older than 13 with special needs. Participants must also be working, attending school, in job training, disabled, homeless, searching for a job, being evaluated for training or employment or receiving child welfare services from the state. Interested parents may apply online or complete an application and mail it to: Family Support Division, 615 E. 13th Street, Kansas City, MO, Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program The Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) can help you through two primary programs: Energy Assistance/Regular Heating (EA) and the Energy Crisis Intervention Program (ECIP). The EA program helps you by providing a one-time payment for your heating bills between the months of November and March. ECIP helps those who are at risk of having their energy shut off. The amount of help is based on how much money is needed to pay the bill. Winter ECIP is available from November through May, and the maximum benefit is $800. Summer ECIP is available from June through September, and the maximum benefit is $300. LIHEAP recipients must have $3,000 or less in bank accounts and investments and meet income guidelines based on household sizes and fuel typed. If you are struggling to pay your energy bills, complete the LIHEAP application and mail it to the nearest LIHEAP Contracted Agency. MO HealthNet MO HealthNet, Missouri s Medicaid program, covers qualified medical expenses for eligible individuals who meet income and other guidelines for enrollment. HealthNet Income guidelines vary depending upon the program in which you wish to participate and the size of your household. Some programs provide health care free-of-charge, while others require monthly premium payments. Eight different programs exist to meet the healthcare needs of your family and you during times of financial stress: People with Disabilities and the Blind & Visually Impaired Senior Citizens and Families Kids and Pregnant Women & Newborns Uninsured Women and Women with Breast or Cervical Cancer Follow the links above to learn more about applying for each type of Medicaid. In most cases, you can apply online, by mail or in person. For more information about applying for Missouri HealthNet, dial toll-free: Missouri Charities Several charities are well-known throughout Missouri for the help they provide to individuals facing financial uncertainties. The Midland Division of the Salvation Army assists residents of Missouri and Southern Illinois in a variety of ways, including housing programs, rent and utility assistance, food pantries and thrift stores. The charity is probably most famous for its Red Kettle bell-ringers collecting donations to fund its Christmas Assistance programs, including Angel Tree and Adopt-a-Family. These programs help families in need to provide clothing and toys for their children at the holidays. The United Way manages nearly 30 locations across the state of Missouri and you can find your nearest office by entering your ZIP Code. United Way branches offer a variety of resources, including free tax preparation services for anyone earning less than $60,000 a year. Their Program is a free, confidential, 24/7 helpline that connects people to the services they need. Services vary by location, but the United Way offers credit counseling, ESL classes, job and computer training and financial coaching. Visit the Immediate Needs page for assistance in taking back financial control of your life, with tips on how to raise your income and how to use community resources to stretch your money further. In 2001, the Metropolitan Employment and Rehabilitation Service and Missouri Goodwill Industries merged to form MERS/ Missouri Goodwill Industries. In addition to offering employment and training programs, MERS/Missouri Goodwill operates over 40 retail thrift stores, along with to help people on a budget purchase the clothes and household items they need without spending a fortune.

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