How to File for Unemployment: A Step-by-Step Guide
Unemployment insurance replaces part of your income while you look for a new job. It’s run by each state, so the rules and amounts vary, but the process is similar everywhere.
- File with the state where you worked, as soon as you lose your job.
- Eligibility usually depends on why you lost the job and your recent earnings.
- Keep filing your weekly or biweekly claims and record your job search.
Who usually qualifies
As the U.S. Department of Labor: unemployment insurance explains, unemployment insurance is a joint federal-state program, and each state sets its own rules. Generally you need to have lost your job through no fault of your own (for example a layoff), to have earned enough during a recent “base period,” and to be able to work, available for work, and actively looking.
Before you file, gather
- Your Social Security number and ID
- Employer names, addresses and dates of work for the last 18 months or so
- The reason you left each job
- Your bank details for direct deposit
- Any severance or final pay information
How to file
- Find your state’s unemployment office through CareerOneStop: find your state’s unemployment benefits office.
- File online if you can. File as soon as possible after your last day; benefits usually don’t cover weeks before you file.
- Answer questions truthfully. Mistakes can lead to delays or having to pay benefits back.
- Watch for mail or messages from the agency, and respond by the deadline.
Keeping your claim active
- Certify (file your weekly or biweekly claim) on time, every time.
- Report any part-time work and earnings.
- Keep a log of the jobs you apply for. Many states require a minimum number of job contacts each week.
If you’re denied
You can usually appeal. Read the denial notice for the deadline, which can be short, and include any documents that support your claim.
Next steps
Use the time to update your résumé and prepare for interviews: see our interview prep guide. Health insurance: our COBRA guide.
Header image: Photo: “Jumbo Jan van der Weele job application form, Oude Pekela (2019) 02” by Donald Trung Quoc Don (Chữ Hán: 徵國單) – Wikimedia Commons – ©, BY-SA 4.0 (cropped).