1. (1) A claimant for EB must have a realistic plan for finding employment, which includes making a systematic and sustained work search. To make a systematic and sustained work search, the claimant must:

   1. (a) register for work with the Department; and
   2. (b) make at least four job contacts each week, unless advised otherwise by a Department representative. The claimant should have a realistic plan for finding employment. All contacts cannot be made on the same day except in circumstances where a work search on several days of the week is impractical. Job contacts must be made for jobs that have not been contacted within the last 90 days.

2. (2) Except as otherwise provided in this section, a claimant for EB must make a systematic and sustained work search.

   1. (a) There is no good cause exception for a claimant's failure to make a systematic and sustained work search after the claimant has received instructions with regard to the required work search.

   2. (b) Notwithstanding Subsection R994-402-207(2)(a), the Department may suspend or relax the requirement to make a systematic and sustained work search if:

      1. (i) the claimant receives an exemption from the work search requirement under Section R994-403-201;
      2. (ii) the claimant is hospitalized for treatment of an emergency or life-threatening condition;
      3. (iii) the claimant is on jury duty and the Department would have allowed regular unemployment insurance benefits under similar circumstances;

      4. (iv) the claimant has obtained part-time work, and is working a substantial amount of time in the part-time job, in which case:

         1. (A) the claimant must search for work on days the claimant is not working; and
         2. (B) the Department may reduce the number of job contacts the claimant must make; or
      5. (v) the Department determines that severe weather conditions or other calamity has forced a suspension of work search activities by most members of the community.

3. (3) The Department will deny EB under Section 35A-4-402, and not under Subsection 35A-4-403(1)(c), if the claimant:

   1. (a) is ill or otherwise unable to seek work;
   2. (b) files a claim for EB after being instructed with regard to work search requirement;
   3. (c) fails to make the required work search; and
   4. (d) is not exempted from the work search requirement under Subsection R994-402-207(2)(b)(ii).
4. (4) If the claimant made the required work search but was unable to work or unavailable for work for more than half the normal workweek, the claimant may be ineligible for EB under Section R994-403-111c or R994-403-112c.

KEY: unemployment compensation, employee recruitment, extended benefits

Date of Last Change: April 21, 2022

Notice of Continuation: June 9, 2022

Authorizing, and Implemented or Interpreted Law: 35A-4-402(2); 35A-4-402(6)(a)