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Claimant Handbook: A Guide to Unemployment Benefits 3 What is Unemployment Insurance? The intent of Unemployment Insurance is to pay benefits to eligible individuals during periods of unemployment when suitable work is not available. Unemployment Insurance is a temporary income intended to help workers who are unemployed through no fault of their own. It is an insurance paid by liable employers. Deductions are NOT made from employee wages to pay Unemployment Insurance. Unemployment Insurance Fraud The Oklahoma Employment Security Commission is responsible for protecting the integrity of the Unemployment Insurance Trust Fund. Individuals who commit fraud are subject to possible criminal prosecution, fines and imprisonment. Fraud, for Unemployment Insurance purposes, is knowingly making a false statement, misrepresenting a material fact or withholding information to obtain unemployment benefits. Any statement made to obtain unemployment benefits will be verified. Individuals found to be overpaid due to fraudulent actions will be required to repay benefits plus penalty and interest, and possibly be denied future benefits. Unemployment Insurance (UI) Eligibility Criteria To qualify for unemployment benefits, claimants must perform or meet the below criteria: Be monetarily eligible Claimants must have earned a minimum of $1,500 during their base period and have total wages of one and one- half times their highest quarter. Be unemployed through no fault of their own Claimants must have lost their job through no fault of their own, such as a layoff or reduction in hours or pay not related to performance. Be able, available and seeking work Claimants must be able and available to work, and actively seek work by performing the required number of work searches each week. Work searches must be documented and tracked. Register for work Claimants must register for a job seeker account on employoklahoma.gov and complete/upload and publish their resume. Failing to publish a resume will stop unemployment benefts from being issued.. Verify identity Identity verification is required prior to filing a claim for unemployment and will be required every 90 days when receiving or filing for unemployment benefits. Unemployment Insurance tax is paid by liable employers and is based on wages and separations. This tax does not come out of employee paychecks.