| The current economic crisis is having many states | | | | of your work status |
| seeing the unemployment offices spilling over with | | | | - If you were in the military bring your DD Form |
| people in need of aid. In an unfortunate case you | | | | 214 as well |
| lose your job, and find yourself amongst those | | | | - If you were a Federal employee you will need |
| unemployed, you definitely should apply for | | | | to provide your SF8 and SF50 forms |
| unemployment benefits. The same also goes for | | | | The application process isn't too long, about half |
| any other federal aid you might happen to be | | | | an hour, if you have all the information ready. The |
| eligible for. It's not advised to wait around to file | | | | application process isnt complete until you certify |
| for unemployment as this might actually | | | | and receive a confirmation number. |
| complicate things and postpone the start of your | | | | To be eligible to receive benefits you need to |
| benefits. | | | | meet certain requirements: |
| You will need the following information in order to | | | | - You are unemployed through no fault of your |
| file for the unemployment benefits: | | | | own |
| - Your name, address, phone number and email (if | | | | - You have filed an initial application for |
| available) | | | | Unemployment benefits |
| - Your Social Security Number | | | | - You have performed jobs covered under the |
| - Names, addresses and contact info for the jobs | | | | Unemployment Law |
| worked in the past 18 months | | | | - You have earned enough wages to qualify |
| - Dates that you started and stopped working for | | | | - You have sufficient credit weeks to qualify |
| all your employers for the last eighteen months | | | | - You are able to work and are available for work |
| - Rate of pay for the jobs you worked in the | | | | - You are actively seeking employment and are |
| past 18 months | | | | willing to accept any suitable job offers |
| - Reason you separated from your job | | | | Once your application is approved, in order to |
| - Your regular occupation and job skills | | | | actually receive your benefits you will need to let |
| - A valid driver's license or a valid ID card | | | | the unemployment office know during which |
| - If applicable, a United States military ID card or | | | | weeks you were unemployed. You will do this by |
| a military dependent ID card | | | | filing a claim for each week of unemployment. |
| - If applicable, a United States Coast Guard | | | | This is most often done biweekly over the |
| Merchant Mariner card | | | | telephone number or website provided to you by |
| - If applicable, a Native American tribal document | | | | your unemployment office. You should keep this |
| - Your alien registration number and expiration | | | | up until you either get back to your old job or find |
| date if you are not a U.S. Citizen, or other proof | | | | a new one. |