Today, I received my monetary determination for unemployment benefits in Indiana, and it stated that my weekly benefit is $0. Initially, I thought there was an error with my reported wages, but it turns out the base period they are using is from April 1, 2025, to March 31, 2026. During part of this period, I was working as a 1099 contractor, and I transitioned to a W-2 employee starting January 1, 2026. I continued in that role until August, but the base period only reflects my earnings from the first quarter as a W-2 employee. In that quarter, I earned $23,400, but Indiana's requirements state that total base-period wages must be at least 1.5 times the highest quarter's earnings. As a result, I fail to meet this criterion. If my earnings from an additional quarter of W-2 work were included, I wouldn't be facing this issue. Fortunately, I already have another job lined up and enough savings, so I'm not reliant on these benefits for survival. However, I find myself calling the Department of Workforce Development out of sheer frustration and stubbornness because it feels absurd to end up with a $0 determination. I'm curious if anyone else in Indiana has faced this situation. Is there any way to have later W-2 quarters considered, or am I just stuck with the timing of the statutory base period?
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