Unemployment benefits

Each state operates its own unemployment insurance program. Many require you to file for unemployment benefits online, and some provide toll-free numbers or other ways to obtain assistance in filing. Find more information including updates related to COVID-19 in these FAQs about unemployment insurance.

December 2020 update: New law passed in December 2020 adds both money and extra weeks to unemployment benefits.

• Extra $300. Everybody who currently qualifies for unemployment benefits will automatically receive an additional $300 per week under the Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation benefit, which will be paid for 11 weeks, starting at the end of December through March 14.
• Extra 11 weeks. The new law also adds an extra 11 weeks to the total number of weeks people can collect unemployment benefits. This is on top of the 13 week extension that had been added by the CARES Act in March 2020, and applies to anyone receiving either state unemployment benefits or pandemic unemployment assistance. If your benefits have already run out, check with your state’s unemployment insurance program to find out if your benefits will be automatically reinstated, or if you need to do anything.
• Extra $100 for some self-employed individuals. States may also begin offering an additional federal benefit of $100 per week to people who have earned at least $5,000 a year in self-employment income, but don’t receive the self-employment version of unemployment benefits (called Pandemic Unemployment Assistance) because they also had a wage-earning job that made them eligible for state unemployment benefits. States have to reach an agreement with the federal government to offer this benefit, so check with your state’s unemployment insurance program to find out if you qualify. If you do, the extra money would be added to the extra $300 weekly benefit, and would also end on March 14.

Select your state below to file and to learn more, including details about coronavirus updates. Please note that states are in the process of updating their websites to reflect these new laws. For now you should file for benefits as directed on your state's website and look for information about how to receive future updates. Also note that many states are experiencing high volumes of traffic and ask filers to be patient and persistent.