I Lost My Job. Can I Get Unemployment Benefits?

Although unemployment benefits are administered at the state level, it is actually a Federal program that provides temporary, partial wage replacement for persons who left their jobs involuntarily.

To continue receiving unemployment benefits, claimants must actively look for work and be ready to accept suitable jobs in their field, if such jobs are available in the same fields described by the individual and determined by state law.

Not all employees can collect benefits, however. Unemployment benefits aren't given for workers in some occupations unless certain requirements are met, so check with the employer.

Workers in non-profit, state-local governments, certain agricultural and domestic services are covered if the employer paid at least $1,500 in wages in a calendar quarter, or had at least one worker for one day in each 20-week period in the current or prior year. Agricultural employers who paid at least $20,000 in cash wages in any given quarter, or hired 10 or more workers for at least one day of 20 different weeks in the current or previous year are covered. Domestic service employers who paid $1,000 or more in cash during any quarter in the current or previous year are also covered.

To qualify for unemployment, nonprofit organizations much have at least four persons working one day per week for 20 weeks in the current or prior year. Nonprofit organizations, states and local governments are not required to pay Federal unemployment tax, but can reimburse the system for benefits used by laid-off employees.

By law, benefits cannot be received during summer and vacation times by professional and administrative employees who expect to be re-employed in educational institutions; professional athletes between seasons; and aliens without permits to work in the United States. States also cannot cancel wage credits or deny benefits except for misconduct, fraud, or receipt of disqualifying income. For more information, see the U.S. Department of Labor at http://www.dol.gov/dol/audience/aud-unemployed.htm.