Unemployment Insurance Benefit Changes
Dependent Allowance and Student Eligibility Changes Effective July 3, 2011
(Albuquerque, NM) – The New Mexico Department of Workforce Solutions (NMDWS) announced unemployment insurance benefit changes to the dependent allowance benefit and full-time student eligibility, effective July 3, 2011. The changes are a result of legislation adopted during the 2011 legislative session.
For all new claims filed on or after July 3, claimants approved for unemployment insurance benefits may be eligible to receive an additional $25 weekly for each dependent child up to the maximum of two dependents. Prior to July 3, claimants could be eligible for the allowance up to four dependents.
Starting July 3, claimants enrolling in school must be able, available, and actively seeking work and will be required to conduct work searches. Students will be required to complete and submit a school questionnaire and submit an official school schedule to NMDWS. The student questionnaire will be available through the unemployment insurance claims and benefits system and on the website, www.dws.state.nm.us. Official school schedules and the student questionnaire can be faxed to (505) 222-9246 where the NMDWS adjudication unit will verify the “able and available” eligibility requirement.
The eligibility requirements, process, and procedure for those enrolled in official Department approved training, such as through the Workforce Investment Act or Trade Adjustment Assistance, will remain unchanged.
The unemployment insurance claims and benefits system website, www.dws.state.nm.us, is available from 3 a.m. – 8 p.m. daily, and the unemployment insurance toll-free phone option, 1-877-NM4-MYUI (1-877-664-6984), is available 24-hours a day for normal self-service functions. If new or existing claimants have any questions about benefit changes, information will be available on the NMDWS website, www.dws.state.nm.us.