Unemployment Terminology

Appeals Tribunal
A referee appointed to conduct hearings on unemployment insurance (UI) determinations. See Lower Authority Appeal.
Base Period
The first four of the last five completed calendar quarters before you filed your claim. The wages paid during this period are used to compute your maximum benefit amount (MBA) and weekly benefit amount (WBA).
Benefit Year
53 weeks from the Sunday before the day you filed your initial claim. The one-year period that UI benefits are available on a claim with a balance.
Benefits
The monetary amount paid to an unemployed or partially unemployed worker.
Calendar Quarter
The year is divided into four three-month periods: January 1st-March 31st, April 1st-June 30th, July 1st-September 30th and October 1st-December 31st. Each is a calendar quarter.
Calendar Week
The week period beginning on each Sunday and ending on Saturday.
Child Support Garnishments
The Division of Child Support Enforcement has the ability to intercept up to 50 percent of a claimant's weekly benefits if they are delinquent on their child support payments. The Division of Employment Security does not have the ability to alter, remove, or add child support intercepts. Any questions regarding the interception of unemployment benefits for Child Support should be directed to Child Support Enforcement at 866-313-9960.
Claim Type
Possible claim types are:
Regular UI
      See Regular Compensation.
TRA
      See Trade Readjustment Allowance.
ATAA/RTAA
      See Trade Readjustment Allowance.
Claimant
A totally or partially unemployed individual who has filed a claim for UI benefits.
Combined Wage Claim
A claim filed in one state against wage credits earned in two or more states.
Commission
The Missouri Labor and Industrial Relations Commission, composed of three commissioners appointed by the governor. See Higher Authority Appeal.
Covered Employment
Employment with an employer who is liable to pay unemployment taxes and cover unemployment benefits under state and/or federal law. No part of these taxes are to be deducted from an employee's wages.
Decision
The determination of a deputy, or the result of an appeal issued by the referee, which may affect one or more parties. 
Denied
A weekly benefit was not payable for any of the following reasons:

Discharged
The claimant was discharged from a job due to misconduct on the job.

Employed
The claimant was self-employed or not unemployed.

Excessive Earnings
The claimant reported excessive earnings.

Labor Dispute
A disagreement occurred between the employer and a union, of which the claimant is a member.

Nonresident/Alien
The claimant is not a U.S. citizen and does not have legal permission to work in the United States.

Not Available
The claimant has restricted his/her availability to potential employers, or did not make the required number of work search contacts.

Not Able
The claimant has a physical or emotional limitation preventing him/her from working full-time.

Other Eligibility
The claimant received UI benefits from some other state or UI program.

Pension
The claimant received a pension, funded totally or partially by a former employer.

Quit Work
The claimant was disqualified for quitting work without good cause attributable to the employer or the work.

Reasonable Assurance
The claimant had reasonable assurance of returning to work with an educational institution.

Refused Work
The claimant was disqualified for refusing suitable work.

Report Required
The claimant failed to report to a Division of Workforce Development (DWD) Missouri Job Center, did not claim the week on time, or has not responded when asked about eligibility issues. 

Retired
The claimant was disqualified due to retiring.

Vacation/Holiday
The claimant received excessive vacation or holiday pay.

Worker’s Compensation
The claimant received deductible worker’s compensation.

Deputy
A representative of the Division of Employment Security (DES) designated to make investigations and administrative determinations on claims or matters of employer liability.
Determination
An official decision by the DES regarding the UI claim of an individual or the tax status of an employer.
Disaster Unemployment Assistance (DUA)
DUA is a program which provides temporary income to eligible individuals who became unemployed as a result of a major disaster. It is funded by the federal government, not by state unemployment taxes paid by employers.
Disqualification
State law specifies claimants are disqualified from UI benefits until the earnings requirement is satisfied. This may happen when a claimant voluntarily leaves employment without good cause attributable to the work or the employer, or is discharged for misconduct connected with work or refusal of work.
Eligibility Conditions
The legal conditions in order for a claimant to receive UI benefits.
Eligibility Determination
A written notice as to whether a claimant meets all of the eligibility conditions prescribed by law.
Eligibility Review
An interview to review continued eligibility for UI benefits.
Employee
An individual who performs services for an employing unit in an employer/employee relationship as defined by state law.
Employer
An employing unit, subject under state or federal unemployment compensation laws.
Exhaustion
All UI benefit entitlement has been paid out.
Federal Employer Identification Number (FEIN)
The identification number assigned to employers by the Internal Revenue Service to control reporting and accounting functions. Not to be confused with the employer account number assigned by State agencies.
Fraud
The willful misrepresentation or nondisclosure of a material fact.
Fraudulent Claim
A claim where the claimant has given false information, or has withheld pertinent information deliberately, for the purpose of receiving benefits.
Higher Authority Appeal
The labor and Industrial Relations Commission is the higher of two administrative authorities provided by the state unemployment compensation laws to make decisions with respect to appeals—the second tier of appeals judgment.
Holiday Pay
Holiday pay is considered as wages for the week in which the holiday falls. If the employer also pays the individual for the day following or preceding the holiday, that day is also treated as a holiday.
Insured Unemployment Rate

The percentage of individuals in the covered labor force who do not have a job, are eligible for Unemployment Insurance benefits, and are available for work and actively seeking work. This includes all employment covered by the Missouri Employment Security Law. It excludes employment in federal government establishments.

Insured Work
Services performed in the employ of an employer liable under any state unemployment compensation law.
Issue
The circumstances causing the dispute regarding whether a claimant may receive UI benefits under state law.
Lag Quarter
The quarter between the end of a base period and the quarter when the claim begins.
Liable State
Any state against which a worker files a claim for UI benefits through the facilities of another (agent) state.
Lower Authority Appeal
The Appeals Tribunal, which is the lower of two administrative authorities provided by the state unemployment compensation laws to make decisions with respect to appeals—the first tier of appeals judgment. 
Maximum Benefit Amount (MBA)
The maximum amount of benefits a claimant may receive during a benefit year (or duration of benefits).
Misconduct
Conduct or failure to act in a manner that is connected with work, regardless of whether such conduct or failure to act occurs at the workplace or during work hours, which shall include:

(a) Conduct or a failure to act demonstrating knowing disregard of the employer's interest or a knowing violation of the standards which the employer expects of his or her employee;

(b) Conduct or a failure to act demonstrating carelessness or  negligence in such degree or recurrence as to manifest culpability, wrongful intent, or a knowing disregard of the employer's interest or of the employee's duties and obligations to the employer;

(c) A violation of an employer's no-call, no-show policy; chronic absenteeism or tardiness in violation of a known policy of the employer; or two or more unapproved absences following a written reprimand or warning relating to an unapproved absence unless such absences are protected by law;

(d) A knowing violation of a state standard or regulation by an employee of an employer licensed or certified by the state, which would cause the employer to be sanctioned or have its license or certification suspended or revoked; or

(e) A violation of an employer's rule, unless the employee can demonstrate that:

 a. He or she did not know, and could not reasonably know, of the rule's requirements;

 b. The rule is not lawful; or

 c. The rule is not fairly or consistently enforced.

Monetary Determination
A written notice sent after a claim is established. It informs the claimant whether he/she meets the employment and wage requirements necessary to establish entitlement to compensation under a specific program. Also, if entitled, it lists the weekly and maximum benefit amounts the individual may receive.
More Remunerative Work
Employment that increases an individual’s disposable income, taking into account wages as well as other factors such as employer paid benefits, distance to job, etc.
Nonmonetary Redetermination
A decision which reverses or modifies a nonmonetary determination before beginning the appeals process.
Overpayment
An amount of benefits paid to an individual to which the individual is not legally entitled, whether by fraud or mistake.
Partial Claim
A claim in which the claimant works reduced hours and receives partial UI benefits.
Pending Adjustment
Benefits that are pending because of an adjustment being made to the claim.
Pending In-Person Report
Benefits that are pending because the claimant is scheduled to report in person to a local DWD Job Center, or other designated office.
Pending In-Person Report/Re‑Employment Services
Benefits that are pending because the claimant has been selected for special reemployment services and is scheduled to report in person to a local DWD Job Center.
Pending Issue
Benefits are pending because of an issue on the claim. The claimant will be contacted if additional information is necessary.
Period of Employment
The period beginning with the first day an employee works for an employer and extending through the last day he/she works prior to a termination.
Protest Period
The ten day period following the notice to employer(s) that an unemployment claim as been established.
Reconsideration
A decision that reverses or modifies a nonmonetary determination before beginning the appeals process.
Regular Compensation
Benefit payments to claimants with respect to their unemployment under any state unemployment compensation law, not including special programs such as Disaster Unemployment Assistance, Trade Readjustment Allowances, etc.
Renewed Claim
A renewed claim occurs when a claimant regains employment and stops submitting weekly requests for payment for at least 28 days, then refiles for UI benefits during the same benefit year.
Reopened Claim
A reopened claim occurs when a claimant stops filing weekly requests for payment for at least 28 days without becoming employed, then refiles for UI benefits during the same benefit year.
Restitution for Overpayment
A weekly benefit amount that was used to repay an overpayment of previous benefits.
Severance Pay
Money an employer provides to an employee when that employee is leaving a company. 
Stoppage of Work
Under the labor dispute provision, a substantial curtailment of the normal operation of an employer at a given location. See Labor Dispute.
Suspended Claim
Establishment of the claim is pending to get wage information from employers, transfer wages from another state, or get wage information on work the claimant performed for the federal government or U.S. military.
Temporary Help Firm (Agency)
A firm that hires its own employees and assigns them to clients to support or supplement the clients’ workforce. Such employees are employed by the temporary help firm, not the client.
Total Unemployment Rate
The percentage of individuals in the total labor force who do not have a job but are available for work and actively seeking work. Not all of these individuals are eligible for Unemployment Insurance benefits. The total labor force includes all persons classified as employed and unemployed. See Insured Unemployment Rate.
Total Wages
The dollar value of all wages paid in employment covered by Missouri's Employment Security Law.
Trade Readjustment Allowance (TRA)
Weekly benefits paid to workers under the Trade Act who are on certified Trade Act petitions and have exhausted entitlement to unemployment benefits.
Alternative Trade Adjustment Assistance (ATAA)
Claimants in an eligible group who are at least 50 years of age and who obtain different, full-time employment within 26 weeks of separation from adversely-affected employment, may receive up to half of the difference between their old wage and their new wage, up to a max of $10,000 during a two year eligibility period.
Re-employment Trade Adjustment Assistance (RTAA)
Similar to ATAA, but updated for certifications filed after May 18, 2009. It increases the maximum amount payable to $12,000. RTAA does not have a 26-week re-employment requirement.
Health Coverage Tax Credit (HCTC)
The HCTC program can pay 80 percent of the health insurance premium for claimants who are eligible under the Trade Act.
Unemployment Insurance (UI)
A program under which an individual who is unemployed through no fault of his/her own is paid weekly benefits based upon his/her past wages in employment covered by state or federal unemployment compensation laws.
Unemployment Compensation for Federal Employees (UCFE)
The federal program that provides benefits to federal employees established by 5 United States Code, Chapter 85.
Unemployment Compensation for Ex-Service Members (UCX)
The federal program that provides benefits to former military established by 5 United States Code, Chapter 85.
Uninsured Worker
The claimant does not have enough covered wages in the base period to establish a claim for UI benefits.
Vacation Pay
For the purposes of calculating UI benefits, vacation pay is considered earnings during the week which includes the vacation days rather than the actual date the vacation earnings are paid. Any accumulated vacation pay will be automatically applied to the weeks following the job separation, unless another period is specified by the employer or the employee.
Wage Credits
Wages earned by persons working in employment covered by state unemployment compensation laws.
WARN Pay
The Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification (WARN) Act protects workers by requiring employers meeting certain criteria to provide notification 60 calendar days in advance of plant closings and mass layoffs.
Waiting Week
The waiting week is the first week of your claim for which you are eligible for benefits, but not paid. You must file a weekly request for payment for this week. You may receive compensation for the waiting week as the last payment on your regular UI claim.
Week Ending Date
The Saturday date that ends each calendar week.
Weeks Compensated
The number of weeks of unemployment for which benefits are paid.
Week of Unemployment
Any week during which an individual is totally or partially unemployed.
Weekly Benefit Amount (WBA)
The amount payable to a claimant for a week of total unemployment.
Weekly Request for Payment
The request for payment which a claimant must complete each week reporting his or her employment status. Eligibility requirements must be met for each week UI benefits are requested.
Worker Profiling Program
A program of reemployment services, such as job-search assistance provided by the Division of Workforce Development.
Workers' Compensation (WC)
A program under which workers are paid benefits resulting from work-related injury or disability. WC is not a related program to Unemployment Insurance, but income from the receipt of WC may affect eligibility for UI benefits.