Unemployment
Unemployment compensation benefits are weekly cash payment to workers who lose their jobs through no fault of their own. Unemployment compensation benefits last six months or longer, depending on economic conditions, or until workers find new work. Unemployment compensation benefits create a safety net for laid off workers and are considered one of the most efficient means of stimulating a distressed economy. Following the great recession, for example, federal stimulus funding helped states extend unemployment compensation payments for up to 90 weeks.
The federal government created unemployment compensation benefits in 1935. Employers fund unemployment benefits through a tax on payroll. States administer unemployment compensation benefits, under guidelines established by the federal government.
To qualify for unemployment compensation benefits or insurance, employees must typically work a certain amount of time for any employer during the year or two before their employment loss, and earn a certain amount from their most recent employment. If qualified, employees are entitled to unemployment benefits or insurance, with certain exceptions. Those exceptions, known in some states as “disqualifying reasons,” include voluntary resignations and terminations for cause.
Unemployment compensation benefits provide some cash when needed most, but not a lot of cash. The maximum weekly unemployment insurance payment in most states is between $400 and $600.
To receive unemployment insurance, employees must be able to work and looking for work. Most states have “anti-fraud” units to prevent employees from receiving benefits when they are not eligible, and to recover benefits from employees who received benefits when they were not eligible for them.
Related Articles from around the web (228)
Texas Unemployment Law - Unemployment Overpayments
Unemployment Down in Maryland, or So it Seems
Unemployment Rate Down to 9.7%
When Should Unemployment Benefits End?
Unemployment Rates Looking Marginally Better
Maryland Unemployment Overpayments
Lobel on Unemployment Insurance
Unemployment Benefits Extended Again
Demographic Disparity in Unemployment
I (usually) hate unemployment challenges
Is Unemployment Discrimination Illegal?
Unemployment: The Economists Just Don’t Get It
On Unemployment Insurance and COVID-19
A Primer on Unemployment Benefits
May Unemployment Rate increases to 9.4%
A Primer on Unemployment Benefits
A Primer on Unemployment Benefits
How to Apply for Maryland Unemployment Insurance
Reducing Unemployment with Work-Sharing
Important Changes to Maryland Unemployment Law
Severance Pay and Unemployment Benefits
Unemployment Benefits Recipients Do More, Not less, to Look for Work
Mass Unemployment Is a Failure of Capitalism
Severance Pay and Unemployment Benefits
Help - I was disqualified for unemployment benefits. How do I get re-qualified?
Texas Unemployment Claims Guide
How to Apply for Maryland Unemployment Insurance
Important Changes to Maryland Unemployment Law
UNEMPLOYMENT IS DROPPING IN CALIFORNIA AND AROUND THE COUNTRY
Hallmark Releases Unemployment Cards
Help - I was disqualified for unemployment benefits. How do I get re-qualified?
Doing it Their Way: Government Layoffs Worsening Unemployment
The Toll of Long-term Unemployment
Maryland Unemployment Benefits Extended
Bunning Spikes Unemployment Extension
Unemployment Insurance Contributions to Rise
Maryland Unemployment: Using Best Judgment is Not Misconduct
Texas Unemployment Claims Guide
Unemployment Insurance: Must You Pay for Misconduct?
14 Senators Urge Unemployment Extension
At Least 30 Countries Have Unemployment Benefits More Generous Than The U.S.
New Unemployment Bill to Provide Relief
Texas Unemployment Benefits Cut
In The News: Unemployment Rate Study
New Case on Unemployment Hearing Proof
The Rise in Entrepreneurship Often a Mask for Unemployment
Unemployment: Why Won’t Congress Talk About It!?
Unemployment Compensation: Case Update
Unemployment Rates Continue to Improve
Terminated for Absenteeism? You May Still Be Entitled to Unemployment Benefits
Long-Term Unemployment: A Terrifying Existence
Consult an Attorney if You Have an In-Person Unemployment Hearing
Coronavirus Update 4-6-2020: We CARES about unemployment
Black Unemployment Has Topped 10 Percent For Most Of The Last 50 Years
End of Unemployment Benefits Hitting Workers
Restaurants’ bailout problem: Unemployment pays more
COVID-19 Unemployment Assistance for Independent Contractors
Tell Speaker Boehner to Allow a Vote on Unemployment Insurance
New unemployment claims rose by 1.9 million last week
Unemployment claims jump back over 1 million
Unemployment drops in May to 13.3 percent as states reopen
Important Changes to Florida's Unemployment Compensation Law
Consult an Attorney if You Have an In-Person Unemployment Hearing
Texas Employers Unemployment Rate Headed Up
Unemployment Maximum Benefit will Rise on Monday
Unemployment Rates Affect Veterans Disproportionately
NYT Has 411 on Unemployment Compensation Benefits
Economic Policy and Unemployment: The Power of Stupidity
Feds Deliver Unemployment Funds to Maryland
Unemployment Benefits Extension Bill Stalls Yet Again
U.S. unemployment rate fell to 8.4 percent in August
Senate Votes to Proceed with Unemployment Bill
Maximum Unemployment Benefit Rate Has Risen
House Approves Measure Extending Unemployment Benefits
Involuntary Part-Timers Would Boost the Unemployment Rate
Know Your Rights to Paid Leave and Unemployment During the COVID-19 Crisis
Millions of gig workers are still waiting for unemployment benefits
Long-term Unemployment in African-American Community
COBRA Subsidy, Unemployment Benefits Extended to June
How Long-Term Unemployment Decreases Life Expectancy
Initial Unemployment Claims Rise to 380,000
Is Severance Pay Deducted from Unemployment Benefits in Maryland?
Texas to Begin Drug Testing Applicants for Unemployment
Unemployment Gap Between Rich and Poor at Record Levels in the U.S.
Florida Leads Race to the Bottom on Unemployment Compensation
Unemployment Gap Between Rich and Poor at Record Levels in the U.S.
On the Path to Economic Recovery: Extended Unemployment Benefits
Cameron County had Texas' worst unemployment in March
Unemployment Fraud Rate is Low, Study Finds
Bill Would Prohibit Employment Discrimination Based on Unemployment
Maryland Misclassification Cases Often Start with a Claim for Unemployment
Unemployment Benefits Extension Bill Stalls in Senate
Unemployment Benefits Bill Ready for Obama's Signature
Texas Unemployment Law - Staff Leasing Companies
Cameron County had Texas' worst unemployment in March
EEOC Holds Public Hearing on Unemployment Discrimination
A gap in federal unemployment benefits is now unavoidable. Here’s why.
Workers filed 1.5M unemployment claims as infections spike
New unemployment claims fall below 1 million for the first time in five months
Unemployment Extension Bill Clears Senate Hurdle
Florida Unemployment Compensation Law Has Become More “Employer Friendly”
You May Be Entitled to Unemployment If You Quit With Good Cause for Health Reasons.
Bill Would Ban Discrimination Based on Unemployment Status
Global Youth Unemployment Reaches Record Levels
Unemployment situation is improving for some groups and not others, and you’ll never guess who
Two Months of Extended Unemployment Insurance Passes Congress
Rise in Unemployment Negatively Correlated With Support for Unions
More Than a Number: Troubling Trends Behind the Dropping Unemployment Rateo
You May Be Entitled to Unemployment If You Quit With Good Cause for Health Reasons.
Rise in Unemployment Negatively Correlated With Support for Unions
Black workers are hurt most as Congress doesn’t extend unemployment
New York Unemployment Benefits No Longer Available to Former Employees Receiving Severance
Economy Loses 20.5 Million Jobs in April; Unemployment Jumps to 14.7%
Severance Pay can reduce Ohio Unemployment Compensation Benefits
288,000 New Jobs Drop Unemployment Rate to 6.3% in April
Obama Signs Unemployment Insurance Extension Bill into Law
Unemployment claims rise by 2.4 million as states try to open for business
Economy Gains 1.8 Million Jobs in June; Unemployment Declines to 10.2%
Labor Department reports 36.5 million unemployment claims over 2 months
Mounting unemployment crisis fuels racial wealth gap
Unemployment claims climbed by 1.5 million last week, despite jobs gains in May
A lack of child care is keeping women on unemployment rolls
Economy Gains 4.8 Million Jobs in June; Unemployment Declines to 11.1%
Unemployment claims near 17 million in three weeks as coronavirus ravages economy
In Record Numbers, Employers Move to Block Unemployment Payouts
Coronavirus layoffs surge across America, overwhelming unemployment offices
New unemployment claims rose last week to 1.4M, ending months of declines
South Florida AFL-CIO Rallies for Unemployment Insurance
Who should have to pay back overpaid Unemployment Benefits in North Carolina?
Department of Labor Tries to Leverage Social Media to Solve Unemployment
African-American Unemployment Rate Was ‘Virtually Unchanged’ In 2011
Compromise Bill Extending COBRA, Unemployment Benefits Introduced
EDD Will Deny Unemployment Benefits to Claimants Not Authorized to Work in US
New Regulations Offer Higher Likelihood of Representation at Unemployment Hearings
Texas Unemployment Law - How Temporary Work Affects Your Benefits
San Antonio May Unemployment Numbers Send a Mixed Message
Surge in Women’s Employment Brings Unemployment Rate Down to 9.7 Percent
House Passes Jobs Bill Containing COBRA, Unemployment Extensions
House Passes Jobs Bill Containing COBRA, Unemployment Extensions
Are Workers ‘Sacrificial Lambs’ For Indiana’s Unemployment Fund Deficit?
Federal Unemployment Benefits Expire Due To Congressional Inaction
CHART: The Federal Reserve Is Failing Its Obligation To Fight Unemployment
Trade war drives up unemployment in key 2020 battleground states
Economy Gains 266,000 Jobs in November; Unemployment Down Slightly to 3.5%
Why Maryland Employment Lawyers Are Reluctant to Represent Claimants in Unemployment Hearings.
Trump administration wants states to zip their lips about soaring unemployment numbers
‘A meaningful hit to the economy’: What could happen if Congress cuts unemployment benefits
Court Upholds New Jersey’s Ban on Unemployment Discrimination in Job Advertisements
Obama Signs Bill Temporarily Extending COBRA, Unemployment Benefits
Economy Loses 701,000 Jobs in March; Unemployment Jumps to 4.4%
House Passes Bill Temporarily Extending COBRA, Unemployment Benefits
Employee Who is Repeatedly Found Sleeping on the Job Entitled to Unemployment Compensation
New Maryland Law Protects Unemployment Benefits for Victims of Domestic Violence
House Passes Defense Bill Containing Arbitration, Unemployment and COBRA Provisions
Congress Moves to Extend Unemployment Insurance to Hard-Hit States
Proposed Senate Bill Would Void Non-Competes For Employees Eligible for Unemployment
What amount of unemployment tax does a Maryland Employer pay for each employee in a year?
Fed’s Powell warns unemployment could reach Depression-level 25 percent
Surprise unemployment drop sparks debate over how fast the economy will rally
Extended Emergency Unemployment Compensation Will Expire for 2.1 Million Recipients on December 29
House Passes Defense Bill Containing Arbitration, Unemployment and COBRA Provisions
Tax breaks for businesses led to state unemployment funds going broke
Unemployment (or prior lawsuits) as a protected class? Not so fast says the 6th Circuit
House Passes Bill Imposing Regulatory Moratorium until Unemployment Drops
Senators Introduce Unemployment Benefits Extension Bill that Would Apply to All 50 States
Court of Appeal: Lying on Timesheets re Break Time is Misconduct: No Unemployment for You
Best Practices for Handling Unemployment Compensation Claims Part 2: The Referee's Hearing
Economy Adds 243,000 Jobs, Unemployment Drops to 8.3 Percent
Texas Workforce Commission Issues 2011 Unemployment Tax Rates
2.1 million new unemployment claims filed last week, as workers still struggle to get benefits
Furloughed Disney Workers “Can’t Wait” For Help, But Florida’s Unemployment System Is Broken
House, Senate Approve Payroll Tax Cut, Unemployment Insurance Extension
San Antonio Unemployment Rate Drops As Local Businesses Start Hiring Again
Workplace bullying targets winning unemployment benefits appeals in New York State
San Antonio Unemployment Rate Drops As Local Businesses Start Hiring Again
Maine governor faces call for investigation on pressure to deny unemployment benefits
Pennsylvania Unemployment Compensation Reform Law Expected to Result in Savings for Employers
Big support for $600 unemployment benefit, but people don’t know who to blame for its lapse
Coronavirus Update 7-30-2020: Ohio needs to fix its unemployment system, 𝗻𝗼𝘄
House Passes Bill Extending Emergency Unemployment Benefits, Payroll Tax Reduction
Recent Amendments to Pennsylvania Unemployment Compensation Law Include Severance Pay Offset
Senate Advances Tax Bill Extending Unemployment Benefits, Decreasing Payroll Taxes
Failure to Pay Union Dues is Willful Misconduct under Pennsylvania Unemployment Compensation Law
Unemployment insurance boost is tiny next to tax cuts for the rich, this week in the war on workers
Studies: Increasing The Minimum Wage During Times Of High Unemployment Doesn’t Hurt Job Growth
A Decade of High Unemployment & Falling Wages… Or We Could Create Jobs & Help our Cities
Unemployment claims worse than expected as nation hits 14th week with more than 1 million claims
Obama to Sign Tax Bill Temporarily Extending Unemployment Benefits, Payroll Tax Cuts
Virginia Employment Lawyers
Sheri AbramsSheri R. Abrams PLLC
Oakton, VA
Gerald LutkenhausVirginia Workers Compensation & Disability Lawyer
Richmond, VA
Edward LowryMichieHamlett
Charlottesville, VA
Matthew KaplanThe Kaplan Law Firm
ARLINGTON, VA
Matthew SutterSutter & Terpak, PLLC
Annandale, VA