Montana Code Annotated 2023

TITLE 39. LABOR

CHAPTER 51. UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE

Part 25. Extended Benefits

Definitions

39-51-2501. Definitions. As used in this part, unless the context clearly requires otherwise, the following definitions apply:

(1) "Eligibility period", relating to extended benefits, means the period consisting of the weeks in the individual's benefit year that begin in an extended benefit period and, if the individual's benefit year ends within the extended benefit period, any weeks thereafter that begin in the period.

(2) "Exhaustee" means an individual who, with respect to any week of unemployment in the eligibility period:

(a) has received, prior to that week, all of the regular benefits that were available under this chapter or any other state law, including dependents' allowances and benefits payable to federal civilian employees and ex-service personnel under 5 U.S.C. chapter 85, in the current benefit year that includes that week. However, for the purposes of this subsection, an individual is considered to have received all of the regular benefits that were available although, as a result of a pending appeal with respect to wages that were not considered in the original monetary determination of the benefit year, the individual may subsequently be determined to be entitled to added regular benefits.

(b) if the benefit year has expired prior to that week, has no wages or insufficient wages on the basis of which the individual could establish a new benefit year that would include that week;

(c) has no right to unemployment benefits or allowances, as the case may be, under the Railroad Unemployment Insurance Act and other federal laws that are specified in regulations issued by the U.S. secretary of labor; and

(d) has not received and is not seeking unemployment benefits under the unemployment compensation law of Canada, but if the individual is seeking those benefits and the appropriate agency finally determines that the individual is not entitled to benefits under law, the individual is considered an exhaustee.

(3) "Extended benefit period" means a period that:

(a) begins with the third week after a week for which there is a state "on" indicator, provided that no extended benefit period may begin by reason of a state "on" indicator before the 14th week following the end of a prior extended benefit period that was in effect with respect to this state; and

(b) ends with the third week after the first week for which there is a state "off" indicator or the 13th consecutive week of the period.

(4) "Extended benefits" means benefits, including benefits payable to federal civilian employees and to ex-service personnel pursuant to 5 U.S.C. chapter 85, payable to an individual under the provisions of this part for weeks of unemployment in the individual's eligibility period.

(5) (a) "Rate of insured unemployment", for purposes of 39-51-2504 and 39-51-2505, means the percentage derived by dividing the average weekly number of individuals filing claims for regular benefits in this state for weeks of unemployment with respect to the most recent 13-consecutive-week period, as determined by the department on the basis of its reports to the U.S. secretary of labor, by the average monthly employment covered under this chapter for the first 4 of the most recent 6 completed calendar quarters ending before the end of the 13-week period.

(b) Computations required by the provisions of subsection (5)(a) must be made by the department in accordance with regulations prescribed by the U.S. secretary of labor.

(6) "Regular benefits" means benefits payable to an individual under this chapter or under any other state law, including benefits payable to federal civilian employees and to ex-service personnel pursuant to 5 U.S.C. chapter 85, other than extended benefits.

(7) "State law" means the unemployment insurance law of any state approved by the U.S. secretary of labor under section 3304 of the Internal Revenue Code, 26 U.S.C. 3304, as amended.

History: En. Sec. 3 (d), Ch. 137, L. 1937; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 137, L. 1939; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 164, L. 1941; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 245, L. 1947; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 178, L. 1949; amd. Sec. 2, Ch. 191, L. 1953; amd. Sec. 3, Ch. 140, L. 1957; amd. Sec. 2, Ch. 156, L. 1961; amd. Sec. 2, Ch. 4, Ex. L. 1969; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 104, L. 1971; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 3, L. 1975; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 368, L. 1975; amd. Sec. 2, Ch. 528, L. 1977; R.C.M. 1947, 87-104(a)(1), (a)(6) thru (a)(11), (f)(2); amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 349, L. 1981; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 9, Sp. L. 1981; amd. Sec. 4, Ch. 84, L. 1983; amd. Sec. 21, Ch. 234, L. 1987; amd. Sec. 77, Ch. 114, L. 2003.