| Can I apply? Am I eligible? What are my state's | | | | have been employed during the entire period. |
| policies? There is often confusion about filing for | | | | 3. Did you earn enough income during your Base |
| unemployment benefits. Many people ask | | | | Period? In addition to demonstrating that you |
| themselves the countless questions, and struggle | | | | worked for a certain amount of time during your |
| to find the answers. Regardless of which state | | | | Base Period, your state will require that you show |
| you live in, there are four key questions you | | | | that you earned a minimum amount of income |
| must answer as you go about filing for | | | | during the base period. Like the previous |
| unemployment benefits: | | | | requirement, this test helps determine your level |
| | | | of employment prior to your application. |
| 1. How did you become unemployed? In general | | | | 4. Are you actively looking for work? The final |
| you are only eligible to receive unemployment | | | | key requirement to determine your eligibility when |
| compensation if you were laid off through no fault | | | | filing for unemployment benefits is to show that |
| of your own. Examples include layoffs related to a | | | | you are seeking a new job. If you decide to go |
| slow economy, a division or office being shut | | | | back to school, take an extended vacation, or |
| down, or an individual layoff for nearly any other | | | | work as an independent contractor, you will not |
| reason. If you were fired (meaning that you were | | | | be considered eligible. One other reminder: the |
| let go because you violated a company policy) or | | | | requirement that you are actively looking for |
| quit, you are generally not able to receive | | | | work is an "ongoing requirement," meaning that |
| benefits. There are many exceptions, however. If | | | | you will need to continue to update your status in |
| you state that you were fired or quit, you will be | | | | order to continue receiving benefits. In most |
| asked to describe the circumstances. Your | | | | states, this periodic update will take place every |
| answers to these questions will play an important | | | | two weeks. |
| role in determining whether or not you will be able | | | | Nearly two out of every three Americans who |
| to collect unemployment benefits. | | | | are unemployed are not receiving unemployment |
| 2. Did you work for a long enough period of time | | | | benefits. While some are ineligible to receive |
| during your Base Period? Each state has what | | | | benefits, many don't want to go through the |
| they refer to as a base period, which refers to | | | | hassle of filing for unemployment benefits. More |
| the period of time prior to your filing for | | | | importantly, many people think they are unable to |
| unemployment benefits. In most states, the Base | | | | apply, and avoid filling out the application form. |
| Period is the five previous calendar quarters. You | | | | Even if you don't think you are eligible for |
| are asked to show that you were employed for | | | | unemployment benefits, or are unclear on your |
| a minimum period of time during this time. You | | | | state's policies, go ahead and apply - you may be |
| are not required to have worked for the same | | | | pleasantly surprised. |
| employer the whole time, nor are you required to | | | | |