Alabama § 25-4-74 - Maximum Individual Benefit Entitlement During Benefit Year.

§ 25-4-74. Maximum Individual Benefit Entitlement During Benefit Year.

(a) Any otherwise eligible individual shall be entitled during any benefit year, beginning on or after July 3, 1983, to a total amount of benefits equal to whichever is the lesser of 14 times his or her weekly benefit amount, if the state’s average unemployment rate is at or below 6.5 percent, with an additional weekly benefit amount added for each 0.5 percent increase in the state’s average unemployment rate above 6.5 percent up to a maximum of 20 times his or her weekly benefit amount if the state’s average unemployment rate equals or exceeds 9.5 percent, and one fourth of the wages paid to him or her for insured work during his or her base period; provided, that such total amounts of benefits, if not a multiple of one dollar ($1), shall be computed to the nearest multiple of one dollar ($1).

(b) For the purpose of this article, wages shall be counted as “wages for insured work” with respect to any benefit year only if such wages were paid in the base period immediately preceding such benefit year; except, that any lump sum payment of wages in lieu of notice, dismissal, or severance allowance or “back pay” award shall be prorated over the period or periods with respect to which such payment is made and treated as though it had been paid in such period or periods.

(c) In determining an individual’s benefit rights, remuneration payable but unpaid to such individual, to the extent that rules adopted by the secretary prescribe, shall be deemed to be “wages paid” to such individual.

(d) As used in this section, the term “state’s average unemployment rate” means the average of the three months for the most recent third calendar quarter of the seasonably adjusted statewide unemployment rate as published by the Alabama Department of Labor.

(e) For benefit years beginning before July 3, 1983, any otherwise eligible individual shall be entitled to a total amount of benefits as was provided in this section before that date.

(f) Any otherwise eligible individual shall be entitled during the current benefit year to an additional five weeks after all regular benefits have exhausted under subsection (a), and who is enrolled and making satisfactory progress in a job training or certification program approved by the Alabama Department of Labor. Each approved training program shall prepare individuals for entry into a high wage, high demand occupation.

(1) The amount of benefits payable under this subsection shall equal the weekly benefit amount established by the most recent benefit year.

(2) The compensation is not required to be paid to an individual who is receiving similar benefits or other training allowances from other unrelated sources.