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How To Apply For Unemployment

Molly Grace

5 - Minute Read

UPDATED: Oct 31, 2024

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Sometimes, for whatever reason, life doesn’t go according to plan. If you’ve recently become unemployed, you might be scrambling to figure out how you’re going to keep yourself financially afloat while you search for a new job.

That’s where unemployment insurance comes in.

What Is Unemployment?

When people refer to “collecting unemployment” or “unemployment benefits,” they’re generally talking about the unemployment insurance program, which is administered jointly on both a federal and state level.

Unemployment insurance is a form of temporary assistance meant to help workers who have become unemployed through no fault of their own while they search for a new job.

If you believe you’re eligible for unemployment benefits, you’ll most likely file a claim with the state in which you worked. If approved, you’ll begin receiving checks.

You’ll need to continue to file, either on a weekly or biweekly basis, to remain eligible. You’ll also typically be required to be actively searching for a new job to continue receiving benefits. The exact requirements for this depend on the state you’re in.

Where Do Unemployment Benefits Come From?

The unemployment insurance program is almost entirely funded through taxes paid by employers – according to the U.S. Department of Labor, only three states require minimal employee contributions. Employers are taxed a certain amount for each worker they employ.

Unemployment benefits are administered by the state in which the benefits are being claimed. Each state has its own individual program, with different guidelines for things like eligibility or benefit limits. The federal government oversees these state programs to ensure they’re meeting basic requirements and working as intended.

Who Qualifies For Unemployment?

One of the main eligibility requirements for unemployment, regardless of which state you’re in, is that you lost your job through no fault of your own. That means if you quit your job or if you’re fired for misconduct, you typically won’t be eligible to receive these benefits.

You’ll need to meet your state’s requirements for the amount of time you’ve worked and how much you’ve earned.

Unemployment eligibility is also contingent on your willingness to find a new job. Each state has different requirements for what that looks like, so you may be required to apply to a certain number of jobs each week or accept any job that offers an income within a certain percentage of what you previously earned, depending on where you’re located.

How To File For Unemployment

You should begin the filing process as soon as possible after becoming unemployed. It may take between two to three weeks after filing to begin receiving benefits.

You’ll contact your state’s unemployment insurance program to get started. You’ll typically be able to file online, by phone or in person.

When you file, you’ll need to provide some information about yourself, including your Social Security number, as well as paystubs or other documentation showing where you worked and how much you’ve earned over a specified period of time.

Check out our table for state-specific information on benefits and where you can go to file.

Unemployment Benefits By State

Below you can see the maximum weekly payment amount for each state program, plus a link to the page where you can file a claim for your state.

State

Maximum Benefits/Week

How Do I File?

Alabama

$275

Alabama Department of Labor

Alaska

$370

myAlaska

Arizona

$240

Arizona Department of Economic Security

Arkansas

$451

Easy Arkansas Claims

California

$450

Employment Development Department

Colorado

$618

Colorado Department of Labor and Employment

Connecticut

$649

Connecticut Department of Labor

Delaware

$400

State of Delaware

District Of Columbia

$444

Unemployment Insurance Service Center for Claimants

Florida

$275

Florida Department of Economic Opportunity

Georgia

$365

Georgia Department of Labor

Hawaii

$648

Hawaii Department of Labor and Industrial Relations

Idaho

$448

Idaho Department of Labor

Illinois

$484

Illinois Department of Employment Security

Indiana

$390

Indiana Department of Workforce Development

Iowa

$481

Iowa Workforce Development

Kansas

$488

GetKansasBenefits.gov

Kentucky

$552

Kentucky Career Center

Louisiana

$247

Louisiana Workforce Commission

Maine

$445

ReEmployME

Maryland

$430

Maryland Department of Labor

Massachusetts

$823

Mass.gov

Michigan

$362

Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity

Minnesota

$740

Minnesota Unemployment Insurance

Mississippi

$235

Mississippi Department of Employment Security

Missouri

$320

Missouri Department of Labor and Industrial Relations

Montana

$552

Montana Works

Nebraska

$440

NEworks

Nevada

$469

Nevada Unemployment Insurance

New Hampshire

$427

New Hampshire’s Workforce Connect

New Jersey

$713

New Jersey Division of Unemployment Insurance

New Mexico

$461

New Mexico Workforce Connection

New York

$504

New York State Department of Labor

North Carolina

$350

North Carolina Department of Commerce

North Dakota

$618

Job Service North Dakota

Ohio

$480

Ohio Department of Job and Family Services

Oklahoma

$539

Oklahoma Employment Security Commission

Oregon

$648

Oregon.gov

Pennsylvania

$572

Pennsylvania Office of Unemployment Compensation

Rhode Island

$586

Rhode Island Department of Labor and Training

South Carolina

$326

South Carolina Department of Employment and Workforce

South Dakota

$414

South Dakota Department of Labor and Regulation

Tennessee

$275

Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development

Texas

$521

Texas Workforce Commission

Utah

$580

Utah.gov

Vermont

$513

Vermont Department of Labor

Virginia

$378

Virginia Employment Commission

Washington

$790

Washington State Employment Security Department

West Virginia

$424

WorkForce West Virginia

Wisconsin

$370

Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development

Wyoming

$508

Wyoming Department of Workforce Services

 

How Much Will I Receive?

As you can see, the maximum amount an individual can receive will depend on what state you’re in. The exact amount you personally receive will be calculated based on how much you previously earned.

Note, too, that unemployment benefits are considered taxable income. You may choose to have the amount automatically withheld from each payment.

Don’t Be Afraid To Seek Assistance

If you’ve recently become unemployed, whether due to larger economic trends such as a recession or your own personal circumstances, you may be eligible for help while you get back on your feet. There are a variety of programs available to those who need short- or even long-term help; however, you’ll usually have to seek out this assistance yourself.

Unemployment insurance helps replace some of the wages of workers who have lost their jobs. Additionally, the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (COBRA) can help unemployed individuals maintain health coverage while they search for a new job.

If you are unable to work due to a disability and need longer-term assistance, you may want to see if you have a disability insurance policy through your employer. You may also be eligible for federal disability programs, such as Social Security Disability Insurance or Supplemental Security Insurance.

To learn more about how to manage your personal finances, check out our personal finance learning center.

Headshot of Mary Grace Schmid, staff writer for Rocket Mortgage.

Molly Grace

Molly Grace is a staff writer focusing on mortgages, personal finance and homeownership. She has a B.A. in journalism from Indiana University. You can follow her on Twitter @themollygrace.