Unemployment Benefits

Receiving unemployment benefits does not depend only on whether you need money.

Your state reviews your work history and the circumstances of your unemployment.

The state unemployment agency makes the eligibility decision.

Who May Qualify

State rules are different.

Do not decide by yourself that you qualify or do not qualify based only on how your job ended.

1. You Usually Need Recent Work and Earnings

You generally need enough recent covered work or wages.

The state reviews your recent earnings history.

The period used to review those earnings is called the base period.

Most states normally use the first four of the last five completed calendar quarters before the claim begins.

Some states also have an alternative base period.

Your state determines which wages can be used.

Your state also determines whether you have enough earnings to establish a claim.

2. Your Job Ended or Your Hours Were Reduced

A layoff because work is no longer available is a common reason for receiving unemployment benefits.

Examples may include:

• A layoff
• A business closing
• A reduction in workforce
• The end of temporary work
• The end of seasonal work
• A substantial reduction in working hours

You do not always have to be completely unemployed.

Some workers with reduced hours may qualify for partial unemployment benefits.

State rules determine whether a partial benefit is available.

3. If You Quit

Quitting a job does not automatically mean that you cannot receive unemployment benefits.

The state will examine why you left the job.

Some reasons for leaving may qualify under state law.

Other reasons may not.

The rules vary greatly by state.

Describe what happened accurately.

Do not decide by yourself that quitting automatically disqualifies you.

Let the state agency make the decision.

4. If You Were Fired

Being fired does not automatically mean that you cannot receive unemployment benefits.

The state will review the reason for the discharge.

Being unable to meet an employer’s expectations is not necessarily treated the same as misconduct.

Each state defines disqualifying misconduct under its own law.

Give the unemployment agency complete information.

Your former employer may also provide information.

The state agency makes the final unemployment decision.

5. You Generally Must Be Able to Work

Unemployment insurance is generally intended for people who are able to work.

A medical condition that prevents all work may affect unemployment eligibility.

A person unable to work because of a long-term disability may need to consider SSDI, SSI, a state disability program, or another source of income.

A temporary health problem does not automatically decide unemployment eligibility.

State rules apply.

6. You Generally Must Be Available for Work

You generally must be ready and willing to accept suitable work.

The state may consider whether you can realistically accept employment.

Possible issues include:

• Work schedule
• Transportation
• Child-care arrangements
• Health restrictions
• Other restrictions on accepting suitable work
• Legal authorization to work in the United States when applicable

The exact requirements vary by state.

7. You May Need to Look for Work

Most states require unemployment recipients to perform work-search activities.

Your state may require you to document those activities.

Examples may include:

• Job applications
• Employer contacts
• Interviews
• Job fairs
• Workforce-center activities
• Other approved employment-search activities

Some workers may be exempt from ordinary work-search requirements.

For example, special rules may apply to some workers who are temporarily laid off and have a definite return-to-work date.

Your state decides whether an exemption applies.

8. If You Work Part Time

Part-time work does not automatically end unemployment benefits.

You may still qualify for a partial benefit.

You must report your work and earnings as required by your state.

Follow your state’s instructions about when earnings must be reported.

Do not hide temporary, part-time, freelance, or other work.

The state will calculate whether benefits remain payable.

9. Independent Contractors, Freelancers, and Gig Workers

Traditional unemployment insurance generally covers employees whose work is covered by the unemployment insurance system.

Independent contractors and self-employed workers generally are not covered in the same way.

There are exceptions.

Worker classification can also be disputed.

An employer calling someone an “independent contractor” does not always settle the legal question.

A Form 1099 alone does not necessarily answer every worker-classification issue.

If you lost work and are unsure whether your work was covered, you may still contact the state unemployment agency.

Let the agency determine whether the work can be used for unemployment benefits.

10. Noncitizen Workers

U.S. citizenship is not required for every unemployment claim.

Noncitizens may qualify when the unemployment and work-authorization requirements are met.

In general, wages used for an unemployment claim must come from work performed while the worker was legally authorized to work.

The claimant must also be legally authorized to work while claiming benefits.

A state may ask a noncitizen applicant for immigration or employment-authorization documents.

Do not assume that being a noncitizen automatically makes you ineligible.

The state unemployment agency verifies the information and makes the eligibility decision.

11. Former Federal Employees

Former federal civilian employees may qualify through Unemployment Compensation for Federal Employees — UCFE.

The claim is generally handled through a state unemployment agency.

Tell the state agency that you were a federal employee.

You may be asked for:

• SF-8 — Notice to Federal Employee About Unemployment Insurance
• SF-50 — Notification of Personnel Action
• Other federal employment or earnings information

Do not assume that federal employment means you must file through your former federal agency.

Start with the appropriate state unemployment agency.

12. Former Members of the Armed Forces

Former service members may qualify through Unemployment Compensation for Ex-Servicemembers — UCX.

The claim is generally handled through a state unemployment agency.

Tell the agency about your military service.

You may be asked for your DD Form 214 or other separation information.

State unemployment rules and federal UCX rules determine eligibility.

Apply as Soon as Possible

Apply promptly after your job ends or your working hours are substantially reduced.

Do not wait because you are unsure whether you qualify.

Do not wait until every possible document has been collected.

The unemployment agency can tell you what information is still needed.

In most cases, begin with the unemployment insurance agency for the state where you performed the work.

If you worked in a different state from where you now live, tell the agency.

If you worked in more than one state, tell the agency.

You may have filing options involving more than one state.

The agency can explain where the claim should be filed.

Ready to Apply?

Use the official government state finder.

Find Your State Unemployment Program — USA.gov

Information and Documents You May Need

State requirements vary.

Be prepared to provide information such as:

Personal Information

• Full legal name
• Social Security number
• Address
• Telephone number
• Email address
• Identity-verification information

Employment Information

• Names of recent employers
• Employer addresses
• Employment dates
• Job titles
• Wage or earnings information
• Hours worked
• The reason each job ended

Payment Information

The state may ask how you want benefits paid.

You may need:

• Bank routing number
• Bank account number

Some states also offer another payment method.

Noncitizens

If you are not a U.S. citizen, the state may ask for proof of immigration status or authorization to work.

Use the documents accepted by your state’s unemployment agency.

Former Federal Employees

Have your SF-8 and SF-50 available if you have them.

The agency may request additional federal wage information.

Former Service Members

Have your DD Form 214 or other applicable military separation records available.

Provide complete and accurate information.

Missing or incorrect information can delay the claim.

After You Apply

Submitting the first application is not the end of the unemployment process.

You may have continuing responsibilities for every week that you request payment.

Depending on your state, you may need to:

• Submit weekly or biweekly certifications
• Confirm that you are able to work
• Confirm that you are available for work
• Complete required job-search activities
• Report all work performed
• Report earnings
• Report a return to full-time work
• Respond to agency questions
• Attend required appointments
• Provide additional documents

Read every notice from the state unemployment agency.

Keep copies of important records.

Keep records of job-search activities when required.

Do not assume that an approved initial claim guarantees payment for every later week.

Eligibility can be reviewed week by week.

Working While Receiving Benefits

You may be able to work part time and still receive unemployment benefits.

The state will determine whether a partial benefit is payable.

Report all work and earnings as instructed.

Do not assume that small amounts of work do not need to be reported.

Do not assume that payment must already have been received before the earnings are reportable.

Follow your state’s reporting instructions.

Failure to report earnings correctly can result in an overpayment.

Intentional failure to report work or earnings can also lead to a fraud investigation.

How Much Will You Receive?

There is no single nationwide unemployment benefit amount.

Each state uses its own formula.

Your weekly benefit is generally based on wages earned during the state’s applicable base period.

States have different:

• Minimum benefit amounts
• Maximum benefit amounts
• Benefit formulas
• Maximum numbers of payable weeks
• Partial-unemployment rules

Do not use another state’s benefit amount to estimate your own claim.

Your state unemployment agency will calculate your benefit.

How Long Can Benefits Continue?

The number of weeks available varies by state.

Economic conditions and special federal or state programs can sometimes affect the length of benefits.

Continue meeting all state requirements for each week you claim.

Do not assume that approval of a claim guarantees a fixed number of weeks.

Special Circumstances

Tell the state unemployment agency if:

• You worked in more than one state
• You recently moved to another state
• Your hours were reduced instead of eliminated
• You worked for the federal government
• You recently left military service
• You worked as a contractor or gig worker
• You are not a U.S. citizen
• Your unemployment resulted from a major disaster
• You are receiving another type of disability, retirement, or wage-replacement payment

Different rules may apply.

The agency can determine which type of unemployment claim should be considered.

If Your Claim Is Denied

A denial does not necessarily end the process.

Read the entire decision notice.

The notice should explain:

• Why the claim was denied
• Your appeal rights
• The appeal deadline
• How to request an appeal

Appeal deadlines can be short.

Do not ignore the notice while deciding what to do.

Do not simply file another claim when the issue should be appealed.

Follow the appeal instructions provided by the state agency.

Your employer may also have appeal rights.

The state unemployment system makes the final administrative decision under its procedures.

Overpayments

An overpayment occurs when unemployment benefits are paid and the state later determines that some or all of the payment was not due.

Overpayments can occur because of:

• Unreported earnings
• Incorrect information
• Eligibility changes
• Agency errors
• A later decision or appeal
• Other reasons under state law

Do not ignore an overpayment notice.

Read the notice carefully.

The notice should explain repayment requirements and any appeal rights.

Fraud and non-fraud overpayments may be treated differently.

Unemployment Benefits and Taxes

Unemployment compensation is generally taxable for federal income-tax purposes.

You should normally receive Form 1099-G showing unemployment compensation paid during the year.

You may be able to choose federal income-tax withholding from your unemployment payments.

State tax treatment varies.

Keep your Form 1099-G with your tax records.

IRS — Unemployment Compensation and Taxes

Protect Yourself From Unemployment Fraud

Unemployment systems are frequent targets for identity theft and fraud.

Use only official government unemployment websites.

Do not trust a website simply because it appears in a search result.

Do not send personal information through a link received from an unknown email, text message, or social-media message.

Be cautious if someone asks for:

• Your Social Security number
• Unemployment account password
• Bank information
• Identity documents
• Verification codes
• Payment in exchange for unemployment benefits

A legitimate unemployment claim should not require gift cards, cryptocurrency, or payment to an unknown person.

Warning Signs of Identity Theft

Take action if:

• You receive an unemployment notice for a claim you did not file
• Your employer receives an unemployment request in your name while you are still working
• You receive unemployment payments you did not request
• You receive a Form 1099-G for benefits you did not receive
• Your unemployment account information changes without your permission
• Your expected payments are redirected

Report suspected unemployment identity fraud to the state where the fraudulent claim occurred.

U.S. Department of Labor — Report Unemployment Identity Fraud

Protect Your Information

Never send the following to Open Door Peace through ordinary website messages or email:

• Social Security numbers
• Unemployment login credentials
• Bank account information
• Immigration documents
• Driver’s licenses
• Passports
• Identity-verification documents
• Tax records
• Other sensitive personal records

Use only the official secure system provided by the agency handling your claim.

Important

Open Door Peace provides general information and navigation to unemployment resources.

We help visitors understand the unemployment process.

We help visitors identify the appropriate government agency.

Open Door Peace does not:

• Determine unemployment eligibility
• File unemployment claims as a state agency
• Calculate unemployment benefit amounts
• Make unemployment determinations
• Represent individuals in unemployment proceedings
• Give individualized legal advice
• Guarantee benefits

Eligibility rules vary by state.

Benefit amounts vary by state.

Appeal deadlines vary by state.

Reporting requirements vary by state.

Rules and procedures can change.

Always confirm current requirements with the official state unemployment agency.