Filing for Unemployment: Everything You Need to Know

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.