Unemployment Insurance Benefits Definitions - Base Period
Your monetary eligibility for unemployment insurance is based on insured wages paid to you during a one-year period called the base period. In most instances the base period will be the first four of the last five completed quarters prior to the date you first applied for unemployment insurance.
The calendar year is divided into four calendar quarters:
- 1st quarter is January 1- March 31
- 2nd quarter is April 1 - June 30
- 3rd quarter is July 1 - September 30
- 4th quarter is October 1 - December 31
Your benefit rights are based on your earnings in the four shaded calendar quarters. Earnings prior to this 12-month period cannot be considered in computing the amount of unemployment insurance to which you may be entitled. Also, your earnings in the 5th quarter(the "lag quarter" in which you file your claim cannot be considered in computing your claim for unemployment insurance).
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