Your Money: Unemployment answers

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) - Your questions on unemployment issues keep coming into the 24 Hour News 8 newsroom, and each Tuesday Sharon Moffett-Massey from the state's unemployment insurance agency will answer them.

Each question we receive will be answered by an unemployment agency representative within three days.

"I have 26 weeks when that is over I will try to file for an extension if I have not found a job but will the state have enough money for that extension for me to keep drawing unemployment, is it going to run out?" - Melissa

Moffett-Massey: There will definitely be enough money. If she meets the criteria, she'll get the extension.

"I would like to know if we need to file a new claim in order to receive the additional $25 each week, or do we qualify with existing claims." - Cathy

Moffett-Massey: She's referring to the new $25 a week increase, and she will automatically get it.

"I was wondering if you can still receive unemployment benefits if you are laidoff permanetly and your employer has given you a serverance package." -- Robert

Moffett-Massey: It is possible. Go ahead and file so we can investigate

"I was a real estate agent until December of 2008. After taxes and expenses I was making very little money to the point of losing money... I filed for unemployment ... and got a response after six weeks saying my claim was denied. Is it worth appealing this? I did leave voluntarily but only because the compensation was virtually nothing. If I could have made any money I would still be doing this but it is not possible in this economy." -- Pat

Moffett-Massey: It was her choice to file a claim and appeal. But if you leave a place voluntarily, you have to show cause why you should get benefits.