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Filing an application

To file an application for unemployment insurance benefits, find your state's unemployment insurance agency by looking in the "Government" section of your phone book under the word "unemployment" - or call information and ask who handles unemployment insurance. Then contact the agency to see how to fill out an application. The application has questions such as "Where were you working?" and "How did you lose your job?"

What happens after I file the application?

After you file the application for unemployment insurance benefits, the state's unemployment agency usually contacts your employer to see if he disagrees with your stated reason for leaving the job. If your employer does not dispute that you are entitled to unemployment insurance, then the state's labor laws usually will start your unemployment insurance benefits almost immediately. But if your employer disputes the information you put in your application, then the agency will likely set a date for a hearing at the unemployment office to resolve the dispute. It is a good idea to contact a labor law attorney who specializes in employment law (an employment lawyer or labor lawyer) to see if you need help with the hearing.

If I am eligible for benefits, how much money will I receive?

Usually, the amount of unemployment insurance benefits you receive will depend on how high your wages were before the date you lost your job - the higher your wages, the higher the unemployment insurance payments.

If you take a part-time job while receiving unemployment insurance payments, your payments might be reduced by the amount of money you earn in that new job.

How long can I collect benefits?

Usually, you can collect unemployment insurance benefits for up to 26 weeks after you lose your job. (If the U.S. economy is in bad shape, the government might increase the length of time to up to a year.)

Your payments likely will stop when you take a new job that pays as much as your unemployment insurance payments did. If you have further questions about unemployment insurance, contact a labor lawyer in your area.