How Do I Get Unemployment Benefits and Where Do I File?

Information That Will Help You

When the economy is tough, businesses will often lay off employees to trim costs. Unfortunately, these lay offs don't always come with a lot of warning, giving those unfortunate workers little time to prepare.

Being laid off doesn't mean that an out-of-work employee is completely out of luck. If he meets eligibility requirements, an unemployed worker can file a claim for state unemployment insurance benefits and receive a small income while he searches for a new job. But, getting unemployment insurance benefits doesn't automatically happen when you lose your job. To receive these funds, you must file a claim and qualify for the benefits. Since it takes between 2-3 weeks to receive your first check, applying for benefits should be one of the first things you do when are laid off from your job.

Where the money comes from

Contrary to popular belief, unemployment insurance is not "welfare" but a federal-state program that provides benefits to employees who have lost jobs due to no fault of their own. The money comes from a special fund which has been paid into by the employer and is both managed and distributed by the state. There is no shame in collecting unemployment, it is there to help you get through a period of unemployment.

Do I qualify for benefits?

The criteria for receiving benefits is determined by state law. Eligibility is based on:

Salary earned and length of time worked during a period of time, called a "base period." In most states, the base period is the first four calendar quarters out of the last five.

Reason for the loss of job. The key here is loss of job through no fault of your own. If you were fired for misconduct; left due to ill health, marriage, or school; quit for no reason; or were self employed, you might not qualify for benefits. However if you were fired without good reason, or quit because working conditions were intolerable, you may be eligible for help.

How do I file?