January 29, 2026
Written by Catherine Hiles
Certified Financial Education Instructor®
Certified Financial Education Instructor®
Catherine Hiles, CFEI®, originally hails from the U.K. and currently resides in Ohio, where she writes about finance, parenting, pets, home improvement, and more. In her spare time, Catherine enjoys running, reading, and hanging out with her husband, two young children, and energetic dog.
You can qualify for unemployment benefits if you lost your job through no fault of your own and you're actively searching for work
Workers in most states are eligible for up to 26 weeks of regular state-funded unemployment benefits.
You'll need your Social Security number, driver's license, past employer information, and bank routing number to apply
You must confirm each week that you are looking for work to keep receiving benefits.
Getting laid off from your job is an awful feeling – and it can take over 11 weeks on average to find a new job. To help, unemployment benefits, also known as unemployment insurance, can provide financial support while you search for your next opportunity.
Here's what you need to know about how unemployment works and how to file for it.
You can apply for unemployment benefits if you recently lost your job through no fault of your own and you're actively looking for work. Anyone who legally held a job in the U.S. can apply in the state where they worked, though specific eligibility guidelines vary by state.
Here are a few criteria that you'll have to meet in most states:
You recently worked in the state: To qualify for unemployment benefits, you must have worked in the state where you're filing, usually for one to two years. This requirement may not apply if you were serving in the military or working for the federal government.
You worked enough hours: You usually have to work a certain number of hours during what's known as the base period. In most states, the base period is usually defined as the first four of the last five completed calendar quarters before a claim is filed.
You lost your job through no fault of your own: This usually means you were laid off, quit for a covered reason such as a hostile work environment or workers' rights violations, or were discharged from the military. You probably won't be eligible for unemployment benefits if you were fired for cause or were involved in a strike.
You're actively searching for a new job: You can only get unemployment or reemployment benefits if you register with your state's unemployment office and are looking for a new job. Investing time in career planning can help you land a role that fits your long-term goals. That means you also need to be legally and physically cleared for work.
To apply for unemployment benefits, you need your Social Security number (SSN), driver's license number, mailing address, list of past employers, and, in most cases, your bank account's routing number. This information will help the government verify your identity, approve your unemployment application, and send payments on time.
Have the following documents available to avoid submission delays:
Birth certificate
Social Security card
W-2(s) (from the last one to two years)
Bank statements
Applying for unemployment can seem overwhelming if you haven't done it before. Luckily, you can submit your claim online or over the phone in most cases. Processes vary by state, but in general, you can expect the application process to include the following steps.
When you're ready to file for unemployment, visit your state's official unemployment website to find the application and state-specific guidelines. You can find your state's link in the benefits table later in this article.
Once you're on the official unemployment webpage, look for words like "Apply for benefits," "Apply online," "File a claim," "Unemployment benefits application," or similar wording to open the application portal.
Once you find the correct application, you can fill it out. Double-check your application and correct mistakes like misspellings and incorrect dates before submitting.
During this step, enter some or all of the following details:
Identifying information, like your full name, claimant ID, birth date, address, work authorization status, and Social Security number.
Contact information, like your phone number and email address.
Qualifications, including your education, work experience, training, licenses, and certifications.
Work history, including where you worked, your position, earned wages, and time worked.
Job loss information, such as your reason for separation, your current job (if applicable), and your plan to find a new job.
Some states approve your unemployment application in a few days, while others take weeks. File as soon as you lose your job to avoid interruptions to your cash flow. You can look into resources like rental assistance, food banks, and nonprofit aid if you're waiting for approval or your application is denied.
What happens next:
If approved: You'll receive an unemployment debit card to access your funds.
If denied: You can submit an appeal to the relevant office in your state or look into alternative aid.
Most states deposit money on unemployment debit cards instead of mailing out checks. They work just like any other bank card, making it easy to buy essentials at the store, pay your bills, and withdraw cash from ATMs. The only difference is that they're prepaid cards and don't connect to your bank account.
Benefit payments are generally made after your weekly certification, but deposits may be delayed due to holidays or other temporary holds while eligibility is determined.
Once you are approved, you generally must recertify every one to two weeks to show you remain eligible for payments. If you don't, the state may suspend your payments, and there might be legal consequences.
Fortunately, recertifying is a simple process:
Let the state know that you still haven't found work, usually through the state website portal.
Show proof that you're looking for work – usually by submitting copies of applications, a job search log, or a list of hiring events you've gone to.
Report income fluctuations from sources like freelance work or earnings from social media.
Each U.S. state has different unemployment requirements and benefit amounts, so it's smart to know what to do when your benefits run out. The table below shows the maximum weekly benefit and the duration of funding in your state. Your state may temporarily increase these amounts or extend the benefit period during high unemployment, and some states offer additional money if you have dependents.
State | Maximum weekly benefit | Maximum term length |
|---|---|---|
$275 | 14 weeks | |
$370 | 26 weeks | |
$320 | 24 weeks | |
$451 | 12 weeks | |
$450 | 26 weeks | |
$844 | 26 weeks | |
$721 | 26 weeks | |
$450 | 26 weeks | |
$444 | 26 weeks | |
$275 | 12 weeks | |
$365 | 14 weeks | |
$868 | 26 weeks | |
$590 | 21 weeks | |
$859 | 26 weeks | |
$390 | 26 weeks | |
$763 | 16 weeks | |
$637 | 16 weeks | |
$720 | 16 weeks | |
$275 | 12 weeks | |
$623 | 26 weeks | |
$430 | 26 weeks | |
$1,105 | 30 weeks | |
$530 | 26 weeks | |
$948 | 26 weeks | |
$235 | 26 weeks | |
$320 | 20 weeks | |
$698 | 24 weeks | |
$564 | 26 weeks | |
$631 | 26 weeks | |
$427 | 26 weeks | |
$905 | 26 weeks | |
$511 | 26 weeks | |
$869 | 26 weeks | |
$350 | 12 weeks | |
$815 | 26 weeks | |
$842 | 26 weeks | |
$539 | 16 weeks | |
$872 | 26 weeks | |
$605 | 26 weeks | |
$745 | 26 weeks | |
$350 | 20 weeks | |
$553 | 26 weeks | |
$325 | 12 weeks | |
$605 | 26 weeks | |
$777 | 26 weeks | |
$705 | 26 weeks | |
$430 | 26 weeks | |
$1,152 | 26 weeks | |
$662 | 26 weeks | |
$370 | 26 weeks | |
$624 | 26 weeks |
If you find yourself suddenly out of work, making a budget can help you manage reduced income while you search for work. Focus on covering essential expenses like housing, utilities, and food first. Then, adjust your discretionary spending — money for non-essential items or wants — until you land your next job.
To explore flexible income options while you search, learn how to conquer the gig economy.
That depends on where you live. In New York, for example, you may be eligible for partial unemployment if you work 30 hours or fewer in a week and earn less than the maximum benefit rate for that week. Check with your state unemployment office to verify.
Most states grant unemployment benefits if your severance pay is a standard company policy, but you may not qualify if you negotiated the amount. Some states also require a waiting period before benefits begin.
Yes, you must report any freelance or contract income during recertification, which can reduce your benefits. Some states may also disqualify you if they consider contract work a sign you're unavailable for full-time employment.
Sometimes, scammers will attempt to trick job seekers into sharing private information by pretending to be a legitimate state unemployment office. Here are a few ways to identify and protect yourself against these scams:
Visit official government websites. Official government websites usually end in .gov.
Never pay to file for unemployment.
Don't click links or open texts in emails that claim your debit card has been deactivated.
Verify the sender's contact information before replying.
Chime® is a financial technology company, not a bank. Banking services provided by The Bancorp Bank, N.A. or Stride Bank, N.A., Members FDIC.
Chime is not FDIC-insured. The Bancorp Bank, N.A. and Stride Bank, N.A. are the FDIC-insured members. Deposit insurance covers the failure of an insured bank. Certain conditions must be satisfied for pass-through deposit insurance coverage to apply. FDIC deposit insurance limit is $250,000 per depositor, per insured bank, per ownership category.
Chime Checkbook: While Chime doesn’t issue personal checkbooks to write checks, Chime Checkbook gives you the freedom to send checks to anyone, anytime, from anywhere. See your issuing bank’s Deposit Account Agreement for full Chime Checkbook details.
By clicking on some of the links above, you will leave the Chime website and be directed to a third-party website. The privacy practices of those third parties may differ from those of Chime. We recommend you review the privacy statements of those third party websites, as Chime is not responsible for those third parties' privacy or security practices.
Opinions, advice, services, or other information or content expressed or contributed here by customers, users, or others, are those of the respective author(s) or contributor(s) and do not necessarily state or reflect those of The Bancorp Bank, N.A. and Stride Bank, N.A. (“Banks”). Banks are not responsible for the accuracy of any content provided by author(s) or contributor(s).
APPLE and the Apple Logo are registered trademarks of Apple Inc. GOOGLE PLAY and the Google Play Logo are registered trademarks of Google LLC. Third-party trademarks referenced for informational purposes only; no endorsements implied.
This guide is for informational purposes only. Chime does not provide financial, legal, or tax advice. You should check with your legal, financial, or tax advisor for advice specific to your situation.
Third-party trademarks referenced for informational purposes only; no endorsements implied.
Optional services and products may have fees or charges, such as outbound instant transfers, out-of-network transactions, and credit products. Learn more here.
Out-of-network ATM withdrawal and over the counter advance fees may apply except at FCTI® ATMs in a 7-Eleven® or Speedway, or any Allpoint® or Visa® Plus Alliance ATM participating in the Allpoint network.
Once the retailer accepts your cash, the funds will be transferred to your Chime account. You may use your barcode, debit card, or Chime Card to deposit cash. Cash deposit fees may apply if using a retailer other than Walgreens and Duane Reade. Cash deposits using a barcode or debit card are deposited to your Checking Account. If you have the Chime Card, those funds will be automatically swept to your Chime Card Secured Deposit Account. Cash deposits using your Chime Card first go to your Chime Card Account, then transferred to your Chime Card Secured Deposit Account. Cash deposits are not payment for any Chime Card balance due.
Licenses
Chime Capital, LLC, Nationwide Multistate Licensing System ("NMLS") ID 2316451
Chime Payments, Inc., Nationwide Multistate Licensing System (“NMLS”) ID 2538752
Address: 101 California Street, Floor 5, San Francisco, CA 94111, United States.
No customer support available at HQ. Customer support details available on the website.
© 2013-2026 Chime Financial, Inc. All rights reserved.
Chime® is a financial technology company, not a bank. Banking services provided by The Bancorp Bank, N.A. or Stride Bank, N.A., Members FDIC.