I Need to File My Unemployment Claim for the First Time
- You have the choice of filing an online application for unemployment benefits or a paper application. An online application is completed by visiting your state's Unemployment Department website. A paper application is obtained through a visit to one of your state's unemployment offices. You must be ready to provide your Social Security number, date of birth, home address, current telephone number, your last date of employment, names and addresses of all employers you've worked for in the past 12 to 15 months, the reason you're no longer working for your most recent employer and the names and Social Security numbers of any dependent children.
- Each employer you name on your unemployment claim is contacted by your state's unemployment division once you file your application. Contact is initiated by mail so the unemployment official in charge of your claim can determine your wages and hours over the past 12 to 15 months. The unemployment official must also confirm your separation from unemployment. Contact is initiated by phone or in person if employers do not respond to the written request within a short amount of time.
- You must earn a minimum amount of money during the previous 12 to 15 months to qualify for unemployment. This amount varies by state but is usually easy to meet if you worked on a full-time basis for at least minimum wage. It may take up to four weeks to process your initial benefit eligibility. During this time you are still required to file bi-weekly renewals of your claim either online or in person so the unemployment office can keep your claim current. Once your claim is approved your first check is backdated to include the processing weeks.
- Be prepared for your employer to contest your unemployment claim. This can occur even if you meet the eligibility criteria and were terminated through no fault of your own. Having a former employee receive unemployment benefits increases the amount of unemployment insurance the employer is required to pay. Your employer may attempt to get out of this by contesting your claim. You have the opportunity to state your case at an unemployment hearing conducted at a branch unemployment office in your state. You may present evidence at this hearing and calls witnesses who must answers questions while under oath. Your unemployment benefits cannot begin until after this hearing.
