The deadline to apply for EUC benefits is January 3rd 2012.

Once you start receiving you unemployment benefits, the race is on to find suitable work before your UI benefits run out. However, once you become unemployed it can be easier said than done to find work. So, what do you do if your Oklahoma UI benefits expire? The federal government provides an Emergency Unemployment Compensation program which grants long term unemployed workers extra aid until they find work or use the available benefits.

Although the program is available in all states, not all states receive the same amount of unemployment benefits. This is because the benefits the EUC offers are linked to the unemployment rate of the sate, so states with higher unemployment rates receive more help. The system is divided into four stages which provide a maximum 53 weeks of EUC.

How Much Will I Receive in The EUC Program?

Your weekly benefit amount will  be the same as when you were under the Oklahoma UI program. The minimum weekly benefit amount in Oklahoma is $16 while the maximum is $358. However, if you continue to qualify for benefits you can receive more than the 20 weeks available in the Oklahoma UI program.

How Many Weeks Can I Receive EUC Payments For?

This depends where you live and your personal circumstances. If you are applying from Oklahoma you are eligible for up to 47 weeks. However, other states both more and less than that amount. This is because the EUC is divided into four tiers. Access to each tier and the benefits they provide is dependent on the employment rate of your state. States like Oklahoma qualify for tiers 1,2 and 3 which grants 47 weeks. Only states with an unemployment rate of 6.0 percent and higher in the last 13 weeks or with a 3-month seasonally adjusted unemployment rate of 8.5 percent receive the maximum 53 weeks.

How Do I File For EUC Benefits?

In order to know if you qualify for EUC benefits you must provide the Oklahoma ESC with your Social Security Number at this webpage before your UI benefits expire. Once you provide the necessary information the website will tell you if you qualify for Tier 1 benefits with the EUC. You will need to do the same for Tier 2 and Tier 3. Notice that the last date you can apply for EUC benefits is the week of January the 3rd, 2012. You will also need to comply with similar requirements to the UI benefits program. This means you will have to be able and willing to work and actively search for work.