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Claimant Handbook: A Guide to Unemployment Benefits 5 Claiming or Getting Benefits After filing an initial unemployment claim, claimants must submit weekly certifications for each week unemployed to receive benefits. Weekly certifications are applicable to the previous week, so the earliest day to file for benefits is the Sunday after a week of unemployment. Weekly certifications must be submitted within 14 days of the week ending date. When filing a weekly certification, be prepared with the following: • Social Security Number and/or e-mail address • Personal Identification Number (PIN) and/or password • Information on any earnings, including paid time off and severance pay, as well as the number of hours worked if working part-time. The Claimant's Social Security Number is required to file an unemployment claim. OESC shares information with various Federal and State agencies for the administration of their programs. Claimants are responsible for keeping their contact information up to date with OESC. Filing by phone When filing weekly certifications by phone, listen to the entire question before entering a response. Trying to enter a response before the system prompts an answer may start the question over or result in an incorrect selection. Work Search Requirements To receive unemployment benefits, claimants are required to perform a minimum of two work search efforts for each week unemployed. Work searches should be documented using employoklahoma.gov or with the work search log found online in the "Additional Resources" section at oklahoma.gov/oesc/individuals. An example work search log can be found on the last page of this handbook. Weekly Certifications Work searches should be for work the claimant is willing and qualified to do, pay that they are willing to accept and in the area that they are willing to work All work search efforts are subject to verification if selected for an audit. Failure to make the required number of work searches each week will result in a denial of benefits and possible overpayment. Work search efforts to the same employer for the same role or position may only be repeated every four weeks. Claimants may search for different roles or positions with the same employer, as desired. If employer initiates a second interview and the claimant completes the interview, the second interview may be considered a work search effort for the claimant. Individuals on a temporary layoff with a return-to-work date may be exempt for work searches. Individuals that are a member of a union with a hiring hall will be required to contact their hiring hall for work each week For more information about work searches, view Oklahoma Admin. Code 240:10-3-20 Working While Receiving Benefits Any employment MUST be reported when filing for unemployment benefits. This includes full-time, part- time, temporary, short-term or cash-in-hand (i.e., babysitting or mowing lawns) work. Claimants must report any and all earnings. Earnings may include wages earned before deductions, commission, bonuses, severance, retirement, profit sharing, holiday pay, and vacation pay. Earnings will be automatically deducted from unemployment benefits for the week it is entered. Claimants who disagree with a deduction on their weekly claim must request a determination before an appeal can be submitted. When returning to full-time employment, simply stop filing weekly certifications. All individuals who received unemployment benefits will receive a 1099-G. These forms will be mailed out by January 31st of the following year and will need to be included with income tax filings.