You’ll have to wait for your unemployment claim to be processed before receiving any benefits.
This year has seen massive waves of layoffs in the US federal government, along with continued layoffs in the tech industry, retail, media and manufacturing. This has left many workers unemployed for the first time in years, without the security of a regular paycheck. While layoffs are never fun to deal with, unemployment benefits can ensure you stay on your feet while looking for a new position.
For the week ending April 26, 2025, there were 241,000 weekly new unemployment claims, while 1,916,000 people have filed continued claims, or repeated claims, for unemployment benefits.
Higher prices on gas, groceries and other essential products make losing a job extra painful. So do higher APRs on credit cards due to increased interest rates. The good news is that if you lost your job and weren’t negligent, you can probably start collecting money from unemployment benefits. Learn how unemployment insurance works, how to see if you’re eligible, how to apply and how much money you might expect to receive.
For more, learn whether the recent Social Security layoffs will affect your benefits check.
What is unemployment insurance?
If you lose your job, money from unemployment insurance can help you pay for essential budget items until you can find a new place to work. Compensation usually comes in the form of weekly payments, either as paper checks, direct deposits or state-issued debit cards. The money for unemployment insurance payments comes from state and federal taxes on employers.
Who qualifies for unemployment benefits?
Eligibility requirements for unemployment benefits vary by state. You’ll need to check your state’s unemployment office to determine your eligibility. Here are all the phone numbers and websites for state unemployment insurance offices.
Every state requires claimants for unemployment insurance to have a minimum amount of wages earned or months worked during a base period of time, according to the National Academy of Social Insurance.
Initial unemployment claims are far below increases seen in 2009 and 2020.
In general, if you lost your job through no fault of your own and have a recent work history of 12 to 18 months or greater, you should qualify for at least some form of unemployment compensation.
If you were fired for misconduct, you’re out of luck. If you were fired for other reasons, your eligibility will depend on many factors, including the state you live in, so you’re better off filing a claim.
How much do employment benefits pay?
National statistics for average unemployment payments don’t tell us much, since your payment will depend heavily on the state where you live. For example, Washington has a $1,079 maximum weekly unemployment insurance payment, one of the largest in the country.
On the other end of the spectrum, Mississippi has a maximum weekly benefit of $235, while Arizona’s maximum is $320. States have their own methods for calculating unemployment compensation and usually explain them in detail on their unemployment websites. Use the map of state links below to find your own.
Unemployment insurance payments are federally taxed, and you must report any money you receive from unemployment when you file your yearly tax return. The IRS excluded $10,200 in unemployment benefits for the tax year 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but the exclusion was limited to only that year.
According to the IRS, you can ask for 10% of your unemployment benefits to be withheld from your payments to avoid a tax surprise.
When should I apply for unemployment benefits?
Immediately. As soon as you learn that you’re being laid off, look up your state’s unemployment website and learn what you need to do to apply.
Several states require “waiting weeks,” or a one-week period without pay, for your unemployment benefit payments to start.
How do I apply for unemployment benefits?
Each state has its own process for deciding who’s eligible for unemployment benefits and how to apply. State requirements can change based on new legislation, so the best place to start is always the website of your state’s labor department, which might also be called a workforce or employment department.
CareerOneStop, a career education website sponsored by the US Department of Labor, hosts an unemployment benefits finder for all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands.
Or file an application for unemployment using your own state’s link from the map below.
How soon will I start receiving unemployment benefits?
The Department of Labor says it should take about two to three weeks after filing an initial claim to start receiving your unemployment benefits if you’ve been determined eligible by your state.
How long can I receive unemployment benefits?
Most states provide 26 weeks, or half a year, of unemployment benefits, according to the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities. Massachusetts (30 weeks) and Montana (28 weeks) provide slightly more time.
Eight other states provide less than 26 weeks of unemployment benefits:
- Idaho: 21 weeks
- Missouri: 20 weeks
- South Carolina: 20 weeks
- Arkansas: 16 weeks
- Kansas: 16 weeks
- Alabama: 14 weeks
- Florida: 12 weeks
- North Carolina: 12 weeks
The federal Extended Benefits program, established by the Federal-State Extended Unemployment Compensation Act of 1970, provides up to 13 more weeks of unemployment benefits to states suffering from high levels of employment. No states are currently experiencing those levels right now.