Apply Online Or By Phone

• Apply for your state's unemployment insurance either online or by phone. You must have a minimum number of hours in the past year (your "base year") for a covered employer in your state to file a claim. You must provide the reason you are unemployed. If you were laid off or the business closed, you should qualify. If you were fired or quit, a caseworker must review your and your employer's version of events to determine eligibility. Both sides can respond to each other's version. A written decision will be mailed to you.
  
  

Once You Have Applied

• You will receive a written decision in the mail. It will list your past employers and the hours and wages reported by them during your base year. It also will show your weekly benefit, usually 50 to 70 percent of your past wages, and the total available in your account. Your claim lasts a year, although most people only have enough in their accounts to last between 13 and 26 weeks. You can extend that time period by working part time. You also will receive a booklet explaining your state's unemployment insurance process (including filing weekly claims) and answering common questions.
  
  

Getting Paid

• Once you file a claim, continue filing weekly even if you have not received a decision. If you are approved, you will receive back pay. If you are denied, you can appeal. The first week you file is known as your "waiting week" for which you will not be paid but still must file. The filing period usually begins at 12:01 a.m. Sunday for the previous week but check with your state's unemployment agency to be sure. If you do not have online access at home, you can file by phone or online at the public library or unemployment office.
  
  You can work part time while claiming benefits but must report your gross earnings for the week you earned them when you file. A percentage of your earned income is subtracted from your weekly benefit. If you do not report earnings, you must repay benefits plus interest. If you deliberately fail to report earnings, you can face fraud, which can result in denial of benefits plus additional penalties.
  
  

Maintaining Eligibility

• Once you begin filing unemployment insurance claims, you must be ready, willing and able for work during each week you claim benefits. You also must conduct a minimum number of "job contacts" or "job search activities" approved by your state's unemployment insurance agency. The latter can include workshops on interviewing, job hunting and resume writing. You must maintain a "job search log" unless you are in an approved training program, waiting to be recalled from a layoff (or on strike or being locked out) or belong to a full referral union. You may be contacted for a review of your job search activities. Failure to meet the requirements could require you to pay back some or all of your benefits.