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You’ll have to wait for your unemployment claim to be processed before receiving any benefits.
There have been substantial layoffs in 2025, impacting the US federal government and various private sector industries including technology, retail, media and manufacturing. This has left many individuals unemployed for the first time in years, lacking the security of a regular income. Although job losses are challenging to navigate, unemployment benefits can provide crucial financial support while searching for new employment opportunities.
For the week ending April 26, 2025, there were 241,000 newly filed unemployment claims, while 1,916,000 individuals applied for continued, or recurring, unemployment benefits.
Soaring prices on essential goods like fuel, groceries, and higher annual percentage rates (APRs) on credit cards due to increased interest rates can exacerbate the financial strain of job loss. However, if you were let go from your position through no fault of your own, you may be eligible to receive unemployment benefits. Learn how unemployment insurance works, how to determine your eligibility, how to submit an application, and how much financial assistance you may expect.
Additionally, discover whether recent Social Security program layoffs will impact your benefits check.
Understanding unemployment insurance
If you find yourself out of work, unemployment insurance can help cover essential expenses until you secure a new job. Benefits are typically dispensed as weekly payments, delivered via paper checks, direct deposits, or state-issued debit cards. Funds for unemployment insurance payments are derived from state and federal employer taxes.
Who qualifies for jobless benefits?
Eligibility criteria for unemployment benefits vary by state. It is essential to consult your state’s unemployment office to assess your qualification. Here are the contact details for state unemployment insurance offices if needed.
According to the National Academy of Social Insurance, every state requires claimants to have earned a minimum amount of wages or worked for a specified duration during a base period.
In general, if you lost your job involuntarily and have a recent employment history of 12 to 18 months or more, you should qualify for some form of unemployment compensation.
Consequently, if you were discharged for misconduct, you will unlikely qualify. If dismissed for other reasons, your eligibility will depend on various factors, including your state of residence, so it’s advisable to submit a claim.
Initial jobless claims are significantly lower than the spikes seen in 2009 and 2020.
Unemployment benefit payments
National averages for unemployment payments may not provide accurate insight since your payment will depend heavily on your state of residence. For instance, Washington offers a maximum weekly unemployment insurance payment of $1,079, one of the highest in the nation.
Conversely, Mississippi provides a maximum weekly benefit of $235, while Arizona’s maximum is $320. States have distinct methods for calculating unemployment compensation, typically detailed on their unemployment websites. Use the map of state links below to find your specific details.
Unemployment insurance payments are subject to federal taxation, and any benefits received must be reported on your annual tax return. For the tax year 2020, the IRS excluded $10,200 in unemployment benefits due to the COVID-19 pandemic, although this exclusion was limited to that year.
The IRS allows you to request 10% of your unemployment benefits to be withheld from your payments to prevent unexpected tax liabilities.
Applying for unemployment benefits
When should I submit my application?
As soon as possible. Once you are informed about an impending layoff, visit your state’s unemployment website to understand the application process.
Several states enforce “waiting weeks,” a one-week period without pay, before unemployment benefit payments commence.
How do I apply for unemployment benefits?
Each state has unique procedures for determining eligibility and submitting applications for unemployment benefits. State requirements may change based on new legislation, so begin with your state’s labor department website, which may also be referred to as a workforce or employment department.
CareerOneStop, a career education website sponsored by the US Department of Labor, offers an unemployment benefits finder for all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the US Virgin Islands.
Or use your state’s application link from the map below.
Timeline for receiving benefits
How soon will I start receiving unemployment benefits?
The Department of Labor estimates it should take about 2 to 3 weeks after filing an initial claim to begin receiving your unemployment benefits, assuming your state has determined your eligibility.
How long can I receive unemployment benefits?
Most states provide 26 weeks, or half a year, of unemployment benefits, according to the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities. Massachusetts (30 weeks) and Montana (28 weeks) offer slightly longer durations.
Eight other states provide fewer than 26 weeks of unemployment benefits:
- Idaho: 21 weeks
- Missouri: 20 weeks
- South Carolina: 20 weeks
- Arkansas: 16 weeks
- Kansas: 16 weeks
- Alabama: 14 weeks
- Florida: 12 weeks
- North Carolina: 12 weeks
The federal Extended Benefits program, established by the Federal-State Extended Unemployment Compensation Act of 1970, offers up to 13 additional weeks of unemployment benefits to states experiencing high unemployment rates. However, no states are currently at those levels.