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 Many individuals eventually find themselves in the unfortunate situation of unemployment. Some know it’s coming months in advance, while others may receive this shocking news when they walk in the door at work one morning. For those of you who are recently unemployed, you may be eligible to receive some relief to help ease the troubles while you are searching for your next job. Not only do unemployment benefits help individuals, but they also help the community and economy as a whole. In fact, the unemployment insurance program was instituted in response to the Great Depression in order to encourage spending and help the poor economy. Today, unemployment benefits still exist to support economic stability, in addition to helping individuals and families. Here is some information about unemployment benefits, eligibility, how to apply for unemployment benefits, what you will receive and how to find a new job:
What are unemployment benefits?
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According to the U.S. Department of Labor Employment & Training Administration, unemployment benefits, also called unemployment insurance payments, are “intended to provide temporary financial assistance to unemployed workers who meet the requirements of State law.” The funding for this financial assistance is provided by employers who pay state and federal taxes. Unemployment insurance is given to individuals who are unemployed under no fault of their own. This may include individuals who:
- were laid off due to lack of work
- are still working but the employer reduced their hours
- were fired without work-related misconduct
- quit their job for a good, well-documented, work-related cause (for example, unsafe working conditions forced you to leave a job you otherwise wanted to keep)
- quit their job for a medical reason
- quit their job to move with their husband, wife or military spouse
In addition, recipients of unemployment benefits must be ready, willing and able to to work, and they must be actively searching for a new job.
Am I eligible for unemployment benefits?
Your eligibility for unemployment insurance depends on your state laws. There are two major eligibility requirements:
- 1. You must have been earning wages for a certain period of time prior to filing for unemployment insurance. This period of time is called the “base period” and its length is determined by the state.
- 2. According to state law, you must be considered unemployed through no fault of your own.
Eligibility for unemployment benefits varies by state. For example, to receive Texas unemployment benefits, you are required to register for work at a state employment service office. Registering for work is a separate step from applying for benefits and if you do not do this, you will not remain eligible for unemployment insurance benefits in the state of Texas. This is not necessary in many other states.
Each state also has different monetary eligibility requirements as well. For example, New York unemployment benefits require that an individual was paid at least $1600 in one of the calendar quarters within his or her base period. However, California unemployment insurance requires that an individual either (1) earn at least $1300 in the highest quarter of the base period, or (2) earn at least $900 in the highest quarter with a total base period earnings of at least 1.25 times the high quarter earnings. Florida unemployment benefits require that an individual earn at least $3,400 total wages in the base period. Each state has its own requirements for eligibility, so you should find your state’s Web site by visiting Career One Stop to get more information.
How do I apply for unemployment benefits?
To apply for unemployment benefits, you should contact the State Unemployment Insurance agency for your state. In most states, you can file a claim for unemployment insurance over the Internet or by telephone. However, in some states such as West Virginia, you must file for unemployment by visiting an agency in person. You should file a claim within the first week that you become unemployed. When you apply for unemployment benefits, you may need to be prepared with some of the following information: social security number, state driver’s license, your home mailing address and telephone number, contact info for previous employers, records showing wages earned or any pension or Social Security payments received, etc. Visit Career One Stop for more state-specific information on state unemployment insurance. Here are some links to individual state Web sites:
What will I receive?
As a recipient of unemployment insurance, you will receive a check in the mail on a weekly basis, or you may also have the option to receive your unemployment checks through direct deposit. Usually, the amount you receive is determined by a percentage of the earnings you received during your base period. Unlike other benefit programs such as welfare, unemployment insurance is based solely on previous earnings. In order to continue receiving unemployment benefits, you will have to continuously file weekly or biweekly claims, as well as answer questions to prove that you are still eligible to receive unemployment insurance benefits. In addition, you will need to show the unemployment insurance agency that you are continuously looking for full-time employment. In general, unemployment benefits can be paid for a maximum of 26 weeks, however this may vary by state.
How do I find work?
You must be actively searching for a new job in order to receive unemployment benefits. When looking for a job, you will want to take advantage of as many resources as possible. One of the best ways to find a job is to use an Internet job database, such as this one at EmploymentSpot.com, where you can conduct a job search based on location, industry or specific keywords. In addition, using a job site like CareerBuilder.com allows you to post your resume online and receive daily or weekly job alerts through email.
Also, do not forget about the value of networking. Finally, you may want to use your previous experience to your advantage and find a new job in a similar industry. However, if you weren’t too thrilled about your last job, you might want to look into your other options as well. Take a look at the different types of jobs available in the following industries:
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I recently got fired from my last job. I was only there for 5 months. I would love to be able to lea 
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6 Responses for "Unemployment Benefits"
I need some help, i was laid off in July 2008 and started law school in august. i was not fired because i went to school, but i want to file for unemployment now, since i worked during the base period they use to calculate your benefits (10/07-9/08) can i still file? is there a cut off period after you lose your job to file unemployment? I live in NJ
Julie: You might be out of luck with collecting unemployment because you waited too long to apply. Unemployment is based on your wage history over the last x number of months. I don’t know about NJ as far as what their criteria is, but in PA (where I live) it’s the last 5 quarters of employment (15 months) of employment, and what the highest amount of these quarters was. That’s what determines what you get for unemployment. Unless you’ve worked recently, you may not be able to collect. I’ts important to file IMMEDIATELY after a lay off, can’t say that enough times.
Julie – unemployment eligibility requirements differ from state to state, and like Andrew said, often use a window of eligibility. You should apply anyway, because some states requirements are somewhat fluid at this point, with the introduction of new federal unemployment aid to the states.
Wanting to know if i can have my unemployment benefits put into a direct deposit account, if so how do i go about settintg it up . Thanks
That all depends Petey. What state do you live in?
I live in Ohio. I took an early retirement in 2006 from a company that was going to close in a year. I have been working for a new company for 2 years. I just got a hopefully, temporary lay-off. My question is, can I receive unemployment benefits and my pension?
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