Below is a list of compiled questions and answers from the four, virtual information sessions hosted by Boeing and led by the South Carolina Department of Employment and Workforce (SCDEW) explaining the Employer Filed Claim process for those Boeing South Carolina teammates who qualify to receive Unemployment Insurance (UI).
To watch any of the archived info sessions on-demand, click here to access each session’s login information.
Important note: The answers below have been modified to reflect the date Boeing South Carolina is resuming operations, which is May 3. The date was announced after the conclusion of the final info session.
- SCDEW Employer Filed Claim Process
- SCDEW Account
- Eligibility
- Timekeeping
- Unemployment Insurance Disbursement
- Total Rewards Benefits
- Voluntary Layoff (VLO)
- Unemployment Insurance Fraud
- Additional Resources
SCDEW Employer Filed Claim Process
Q: What is the Employer Filed Claim process and why is it recommended that teammates should not file on their own?
A: An Employer Filed Claim is a way for workers who have been laid off or had their hours reduced, but are still “job attached” to the employer, to potentially receive UI benefits. Being “job attached” to an employer means that an employee and a business both intend that the individual will return to work or increase their hours in the future. The worker has not been permanently separated from employment. Employer Filed Claims are quicker and more convenient as they eliminate the need for employers to certify an individual’s claim. By filing on their behalf, the employer is essentially certifying eligibility during the claims’ process.
Q: When Boeing submits the Employer Filed Claim is there anything teammates need to do?
A: Once Boeing submits an Employer Filed Claim, teammates should receive payment through their preferred payment method. Their preferred payment method will default to debit card/check unless they have registered an account and entered their direct deposit information. Since SCDEW has removed the certification step, there are no additional steps a teammate needs to take for their claim to be processed. Teammates should, however, make sure their home address and phone number are accurately reflected in Workday to ensure any unemployment benefits that are mailed, are delivered without any unnecessary delays.
Q: When should teammates update their home address?
A: Teammates should ensure their home contact information is up to date before Boeing submits the claim. If unemployment benefits are mailed, the check or debit card will be mailed to the address Boeing has on file.
Q: How can teammates update their home address and other contact information?
A: Teammates can update their home address and other contact information in Workday and should do so before Boeing submits the Employer Filed Claims on behalf of all eligible teammates on May 12.
Q: SCDEW has revised the Employer Filed Claim process to make it easier on teammates. Before that process changed, teammates were advised that they would have to certify any benefits they want to accept. Why is that no longer a requirement?
A: SCDEW removed the teammate certification step to make it easier and faster to process the Employer Filed Claims and distribute benefits, so teammates no longer need to certify any unemployment benefits for which they qualify. The only exception is, if a teammate chooses to file for Unemployment Insurance benefits on their own, they will have to certify weekly benefits.
Q. Do teammates still have to create and register an account?
A: No, teammates are not required to create and register an account.
Q: Does having an account impact the process in any way or delay their benefits at all?
A: If a teammate has created and registered an account, that account should not delay their benefits unless the teammate took further action to file a claim on their own.
Q: If teammates have already created and registered an account do they need to do anything else?
A: No, a teammate should not take further action if they created and registered an account.
Q: If teammates created and registered an account but did not add in their banking information to set up direct deposit, can they go back into their account to make those changes?
A: No, a teammate cannot make any changes to their account until after Boeing has submitted a claim. After Boeing submits claims on behalf of all eligible teammates on May 12, teammates will be able to re-enter their accounts and make any necessary modifications. However, due to the resumption of operations starting third-shift on May 3, there may no longer be a need to make adjustments to a teammate’s account.
Q: Does that apply to any changes they want to make to an account such as tax deductions?
A: Yes, if a teammate wants to make changes to their tax deductions or update their banking information for direct deposit or any other changes, they need to wait until after Boeing files its first set of claims on May 12. However, due to the resumption of operations starting third-shift on May 3, there may no longer be a need to make changes to a teammate’s account.
Q: If a teammate has not created an account yet, is there still time to do that and set up direct deposit?
A: Yes, a teammate still has time to create and register an account.
Q: Are step-by-step instructions available to help teammates create and register an account?
A: Yes, step-by-step instructions for creating and registering an account with SCDEW can be found on their website: www.dew.sc.gov.
Q: If a teammate has created and registered an account and received a Claimant ID # but they never clicked ‘Apply for benefits’. Did they go too far?
A: No, the teammate did not go too far. They should stop at that step and do not click ‘Apply for benefits’.
Q: Will teammates be notified by SCDEW when Boeing files their claim or when their benefits are on the way or have been deposited?
A: Eligible teammates will receive a monetary determination detailing the amount of unemployment benefits once Boeing has filed on their behalf.
Q: What action should teammates take if they’ve already prematurely filed a claim before they were eligible?
A: If a teammate prematurely filed a claim before they were eligible and has received unemployment benefits while also receiving Suspended Operations pay, they must immediately notify SCDEW (1-866-831-1724). If teammates did not certify or receive any benefits for any individual claims filed, there is no action teammates need to take. Boeing will file claims on their behalf.
Q: If a teammate has completed their registration and started to file their individual claim but didn’t complete the claim process, what should they do?
A: If a teammate’s claim is still in an incomplete status, it should be purged from the SCDEW system in four days. The Employer Filed Claim will still take place.
Q: What happens if a teammate chooses to file a claim individually?
A: If a teammate chooses to file a claim individually, they may experience delays in receiving benefits that they would not have experienced through the Employer Filed Claims process. Teammates are encouraged not to file a claim individually because it will likely take longer than the Employer Filed Claim process. If a teammate has already individually filed a claim for a time period in which they qualify, they should continue to certify their weekly benefits each Sunday reporting any hours worked or earnings including holiday and/or vacation pay. Teammates would only need to certify if they choose to file an individual claim on their own. If they choose to follow the Employer Filed claims process, they should stop certifying and allow Boeing’s weekly claims to process. There is no need to cancel a claim.
Q: How long could the delays be if a teammate files individually?
A: It could take between 7-14 business days for a teammate’s individual claim to be processed.
Q: What qualifies a teammate for state unemployment benefits? Who is eligible?
A: All BSC Boeing-badged teammates who are not working or working significantly reduced hours who make less than $326 in wages per week are eligible for Unemployment Insurance benefits. Wages include all earnings from PTO, Vacation, Sick Leave, disability payments, parental leave and any other income a teammate is receiving from Boeing.
Q: Are contractors eligible for Unemployment Insurance if the contract is suspended or if they are not recording hours to the contract?
A: No. Contractors will follow the terms of their contract and their employer’s pay practices. Contractors should be referred to their employers for additional information on time recording, pay practices, and potential unemployment benefits.
Q: What is the eligibility window and when Boeing will submit claims?
A: For the week of April 26-May 2, the names and information of all eligible BSC teammates will be submitted to SCDEW on May 12.
Q: Why is May 12 the first time Boeing will submit a claim?
A: Boeing processes the week of April 26 – May 2 on May 12 because ETS data is not verified and processed until May 11.
Q: Why is Boeing not fling claims for teammates for April 23 and 24?
A: Due to the likelihood that teammates will be paid over the threshold of $326 during that work week, the company will not be filing on their behalf for April 23 and 24.
Q: What is the date Boeing stops filling unemployment claims on behalf of teammates?
A: Boeing will stop filing unemployment claims when Boeing South Carolina resumes operations on May 3. Boeing will still submit claims on May 12 for all eligible teammates to cover the week of April 26-May 2.
Q: If a teammate is over the age of 65 and receiving Social Security benefits, will they qualify for unemployment insurance?
A: Social Security benefits are not deductible sources of income. They are not considered earnings and will not disqualify a teammate from qualifying for unemployment benefits.
Q: If a teammate has been with the company for only 6 months, will their Unemployment Insurance benefits be on the lower end?
A: It depends on the teammate’s earnings with their previous employer. SCDEW looks at previous quarter wages when calculating the benefit amount. A teammate’s weekly benefit amount is determined by the wages they have earned in the last 18 months.
Q: Will military retirement or a pension reduce a teammate’s unemployment benefits?
A: It depends on the individual teammate and their retirement benefits, but if a teammate receives a pension from a previous employer, it could impact their Unemployment Insurance benefits. Teammates are encouraged to contact SCDEW to understand the impact to any unemployment benefits.
Q: If a teammate has a part-time job outside of Boeing, will that impact their Unemployment Insurance benefits?
A: If teammates are working a part-time job, they will need to report those earnings to SCDEW so they don’t end up with an overpayment.
Q: How do teammates report any earnings received outside Boeing (e.g. a part-time job, military benefits, etc.)
A: Teammates who are receiving additional income separate from wages received from Boeing need to report their earnings to SCDEW in order to avoid an overpayment. Teammates can call SCDEW (1-866-831-1724) or visit www.dew.sc.gov.
Q: How do teammates indicate they want Boeing to file for unemployment benefits on their behalf?
A: Teammates need to elect their preference through ETS. If they use paid time away benefits (PTO, Vacation or Sick Leave hours) and their weekly income exceeds $326, they would be disqualified from receiving unemployment benefits. If teammates charge to Absence without Pay and receives weekly income less than $326, that would indicate they do want unemployment benefits and Boeing would file on their behalf. Teammates can use a combination of paid time away benefits and Absence without Pay, but they must be aware the total wages received must be less than $326 to qualify to receive unemployment benefits.
Q: Are teammates still required to sign their time in ETS on Thursdays at the end of the pay week?
A: Yes. Teammates will need to go in and record their time in ETS based on their decision to either use PTO or Absence without Pay and will also need to sign their time at the end of the pay week.
Q: Do teammates need to exhaust their benefits before qualifying for unemployment?
A: No. Teammates may opt not to use available paid time away benefits (PTO, Vacation, and Sick Leave) and instead choose to charge time to Absence without Pay. Teammates may be eligible for Unemployment Insurance benefits if they are recording time to Absence without Pay during a suspension of operations. Please note that any earnings teammates continue to receive may reduce or eliminate the amount of unemployment benefits they are eligible to receive.
Q: When will a teammate’s last paycheck from Boeing occur?
A: If teammates opt to use their paid time away benefits (PTO, Vacation and Sick Leave) to cover their hours during the suspension of operations, they will continue to receive a paycheck on the normal schedule. If they begin using Absence without Pay starting on April 23, their paycheck will reflect the total hours worked or covered by paid time away benefits from April 10-April 23. The May 14 paycheck with reflect hours worked or covered by paid time away benefits from April 24-May 7.
Q: With the Boeing pay week of Friday through Thursday, any guidance on how teammates should have charged their time for Thursday, April 23 and Friday, April 24?
A: Teammates are encouraged to use their available paid time away benefits for April 23 and April 24 because they will likely earn too much during that week to qualify to receive unemployment benefits for those dates. Using paid time away benefits for April 23 ensures a full paycheck for the pay period of April 10-April 23. Exempt teammates must use their paid time away benefits for April 23. If exempt teammates have exhausted their paid time away benefits, only then must they charge to Suspended Operations for April 23. While Friday, April 24 is the start of a new pay period, teammates should use paid time away benefits because they will likely earn too much for the work week of April 19-25 to qualify for unemployment benefits. If teammates use paid time away benefits for April 24, it will not impact their Unemployment Insurance eligibility for the week starting April 26. Exempt employees who are telecommuting should coordinate with their manager on time charging guidance if they work part of a pay week.
Q: If a teammate did not use paid time away benefits for the April 23 and April 24, for example, can teammates go back into ETS to make an adjustment?
A: Yes, teammates can make ETS adjustments for April 23 and 24 in ETS.
Q: What is the impact of a teammate submitting Prior Week Adjustments in ETS if the company has already filed unemployment claims for that week?
A: If a teammate intends to submit a prior week adjustment to input paid time, they would be responsible to modify their compensation information with the SCDEW to reflect this change. If a teammate retroactively uses paid time away benefits while receiving unemployment benefits for that same time period, SCDEW will treat it as an overpayment and seek reimbursement.
Q: How should exempt teammates who are not telecommuting and want to be eligible for Unemployment Insurance charge their time now that operations are resuming on third shift, May 3?
A: Exempt teammates who are not telecommuting and want to be eligible for Unemployment Insurance benefits should enter Absence without Pay for their full work week starting Sunday, April 26-Saturday, May 2. However, once exempt teammates return to work with the site resuming operations starting third shift on May 3, they will need to be paid for the full Boeing pay week of Friday, May 1 through Thursday, May 7. Teammates in this situation have two options:
- They can calculate their one day wages to ensure that receiving one day of pay will not put them over the $326 threshold for SC Unemployment Insurance. Teammates should ensure their pre-tax wages are below $326. The wages they receive that day will reduce the amount received from the state. As long as they receive SC unemployment benefits, they will remain eligible for the $600 federal payment.
- To ensure no pay at all for Sunday April 26-Saturday May 2, teammates will need to change their schedule for the pay week of May 1-May 7 to four, 10-hour days (4×10) starting on Monday May 4. That will require teammates to zero out the hours entered on Friday, May 1. Teammates will then work four, 10-hour work days Monday May 3 through Thursday May 7 and then will return to their typical five, eight-hour day (5×8) schedule on Friday May 8.
Unemployment Insurance Disbursement
Q: When can teammates expect to receive their unemployment benefits and how will they receive the benefits?
A: If a teammate follows the Employer Filed Claims process, payment should be released within 2-3 days (48 to 72 hours) of Boeing submitting the claim. If a teammate chooses to file a claim individually, benefits may be delayed by 7 to 14 days. Teammates will receive benefits through a Bank of America debit card (or check) unless they already registered an account and updated their preferred method of payment to direct deposit.
Q: Will teammates be able to check the balance that will be on the Bank of America card?
A: Yes. There is a phone number on the back of the Bank of America card that teammates can call to check the balance.
Q: Will teammates’ checks represent two weeks or one week of pay?
A: Unemployment benefits are filed on a week-by-week basis which is how the benefits are distributed — each week.
Q: What is the maximum amount of unemployment benefits a teammate can receive and what factors into that determination?
A: A teammate’s weekly benefit amount is determined by the wages they have earned in the last 18 months. They will receive a monetary determination detailing this information once Boeing has filed for all eligible teammates. The maximum state benefit amount is $326 and the federal benefit is $600 for a weekly total of $926.
Q: Does the number of dependents a teammate has factor into the payout equation?
A: No, the number of dependents does not factor into the amount of unemployment benefits a teammate may receive.
Q: What about the CARES Act? How does that factor into state unemployment benefits?
A: For each week that teammates are found eligible for regular state unemployment benefits, the additional $600 Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation (FPUC) payment will be added to their deposit. If they have limited work history and are found to be monetarily ineligible, there are other CARES Act programs that teammates could potentially qualify for such as Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA).
Q: Is the $600 in federal benefits available now or will it be retroactively paid?
A: Additional payments through the Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation Program are currently available until week ending July 25, 2020.
Q: If teammates are ineligible for state unemployment benefits, does that automatically disqualify them from receiving federal benefits?
A: Typically, teammates need to qualify for state unemployment benefits in order to qualify for federal benefits. However, there are scenarios where federal funds under the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance Program may be available when state funds are not. Teammates can call SCDEW (1-866-831-1724) or visit www.dew.sc.gov for more information.
Q: When Boeing files the claim on behalf of all eligible teammates, will state and federal taxes automatically be taken out? If not, can teammates create an account or use their account to set up tax deductions?
A: No, taxes are not automatically taken out from any unemployment benefits, but teammates are able to create and register an account to specify any taxes they would like deducted from their unemployment benefits.
Q: What is the maximum total weekly amount of state and federal unemployment benefits?
A: The weekly benefit amount is determined by the wages a teammate has earned in the last 18 months. They will receive a monetary determination detailing this information once Boeing has filed on their behalf. The maximum state weekly benefit amount is $326 plus $600 from the federal government.
Q: Is there a specific threshold of earnings that impacts a teammate’s ability to get Unemployment Insurance?
A: Teammates can earn up to 25% of their weekly benefit amount before deductions begin. If teammates earn more than the weekly benefit amount of $326 during a week, that week will be deemed to have excessive earnings, and they will not qualify for state unemployment benefits or the additional $600 from the federal government.
Q: A teammate currently has a set amount of money automatically deducted from their biweekly paycheck into a direct deposit account for child support. Assuming it is not government garnished wages, will that deduction continue with any unemployment benefits received or will the teammate need to transfer any child support separately after receiving any unemployment benefits?
A: Unless child support payments are garnished by the state, teammates would need to set up the transfer of funds for child support payments separately from any unemployment benefits they receive.
Q: Can teammates supplement their Unemployment Insurance with PTO or other paid time away benefits?
A: If teammates use their available paid time away benefits that result in total wages exceeding the $326 threshold for the week, then they would not be eligible for Unemployment Insurance benefits for that pay week.
Q: Can a teammate receive unemployment benefits for a certain amount of time and then switch to using his or her unused PTO, Vacation or Sick time?
A: Yes. Teammates decide how to record their time in ETS and that determines if they are eligible for unemployment benefits. Teammates can use paid time away benefits, Absence without Pay or a combination. Keep in mind, if the total wages received exceeds $326, teammates would not be eligible to receive unemployment benefits.
Q: Will Vacation and PTO accrue if unemployment is chosen?
A: Yes, paid time away benefits including PTO and Vacation still accrue during the suspension of operations.
Q: Will health and other insurance be active during the suspension of operations?
A: Yes. All medical benefits and insurances continue as normal during the suspension of operations regardless of how teammates record their time.
Q: How will a teammate’s portion of their health and insurance premiums be paid if they charge time to Absence without Pay?
A: For teammates who elect Absence without Pay and are not receiving a paycheck, any unpaid portion of employee contributions will go into arrears and will be deducted from the next and/or subsequent paychecks. The normal employee contributions will be taken when a teammate is receiving pay or when pay resumes, plus deductions of contribution amounts in arrears starting with the first available paycheck based on the following per paycheck arrears limits: Medical – $100; Dental – $50; Supplemental coverages – $25 for each program.
Q: Are teammates eligible for unemployment benefits if they are receiving parental leave benefits through the company?
A: No. Parental leave benefits are considered income which would exceed the $326 threshold.
Q: How are Voluntary Investment Plan (VIP) contributions impacted by using Absence without Pay?
A: In the event a teammate uses Absence without Pay, employee and Boeing contributions to the Voluntary Investment Plan (and Supplemental Savings Plan, if applicable) will stop for the period without pay.
Q: If teammates use Absence without Pay during the suspension of operations, are they still eligible for Learning Together Program (LTP) funds for an ongoing degree program?
A: Yes, the use of Absence without Pay does not impact eligibility for the Learning Together Program. However, if a teammate begins a Leave of Absence, they should call Worklife to understand the impacts of beginning a new Leave of Absence on their eligibility for LTP.
Q: Are teammates who accept the Voluntary Layoff (VLO) eligible for Unemployment Insurance?
A: If a teammate accepts and is approved for VLO and after a teammate’s last day with Boeing, individual states will determine whether or not an individual is eligible for benefits. Boeing will not contest benefits of those teammates who opt to take the VLO. Those teammates should apply for benefits individually and report that they were laid off from the company.
Q: Will Boeing file unemployment claims for any teammate who accepts a Voluntary Layoff (VLO)?
A: No. For teammates who accept and are approved for a Voluntary Layoff (VLO) and wish to seek unemployment benefits after their last day with Boeing, teammates should individually file a claim and report that they were laid off. Boeing will not contest benefits for those teammates who opt to take VLO and are approved. SCDEW will ultimately determine whether or not an individual is eligible for benefits.
Q: Were the suspended operations payments considered support payments or are they weekly pay? What if a teammate receives unemployment benefits while also receiving wages from Boeing during the 10 days of paid suspension of operations?
A: Teammates who received full pay during the first 10 days of suspended operations are not entitled to unemployment benefits. If a teammate filed for Unemployment Insurance and then received unemployment benefits during a time when the teammate was still being paid by Boeing, that is considered an overpayment and a violation of Unemployment Insurance laws. These cases will be flagged and reported to SCDEW for investigation.
Q If a teammate prematurely filed before they were eligible and ended up receiving unemployment benefits when they were still being paid by Boeing, will the state seek repayment of those funds? What is the investigation process for insurance fraud cases?
A: The teammate should contact SCDEW in this situation so the account can be corrected and overpayment reconciled.
Q: For any teammate who applied for unemployment benefits before they were eligible and were approved, but they did not certify those benefits because they were receiving suspended operations pay from Boeing at the time, what should they do if the SCDEW account is asking the teammate to reactivate the claim?
A: The teammate should contact SCDEW in this situation so the account can be corrected and overpayment reconciled. If a teammate filed for unemployment benefits and were approved but did not certify or receive those benefits, they are not in violation of Unemployment Insurance laws. They should not reactivate the account and allow Boeing to file on their behalf.
Q: If teammates have more questions about the claims filing process, where can they find additional information?
A: As a reminder, Boeing will file claims on behalf of all eligible teammates, but if teammates have questions about how this process works they should visit dew.sc.gov or call 1-866-831-1724.