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.
Lawyer Matches (21)
Atwater, Brandon
North Carolina Unemployment Lawyers
Durham, North Carolina
Wilms, Chris
Employment Law Attorneys
Durham, North Carolina
Balaban, Michael
Las Vegas, Nevada
Leah, Scott
Employment law attorney representing both employers and employees in all areas of employment law
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Meyer-O'Day, Jeremiah
Helping workers know and enforce their rights on the job
Fort Atkinson, Wisconsin
Smith, Brian J.
Respected, Experienced, Trusted
Rocky River, Ohio
Schneider, Daniel H.
Free Initial Consultation Available
Milford, Connecticut
Blanchard, David
Fight abusive non-compete lawsuits, wrongful termination and all employment retaliation
Ann Arbor, Michigan
Isaac, Kendall
Employment law attorney helping victims of discrimination retaliation and termination at work
Columbus, Ohio
Abramson, Andrew
Lawyers For Pennsylvania Employees
Blue Bell, Pennsylvania
Hennessy, Brendan
Employment Attorney Philadelphia Malvern
Malvern, Pennsylvania
Rose, Patty
COMPASSIONATE ADVICE AND COUNSEL ON EMPLOYMENT ISSUES
Seattle, Washington
Mertz, Andrea
Your vigorous advocate pursuing unscrupulous employers.
Wyomissing, Pennsylvania
Ezold, Christopher
Passionate advocate of parties in employment matters (noncompetition, discrimination, wages, etc.)
Bala Cynwyd & Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Royer, Christina
Experienced, Respected Employment Lawyer
Independence, Ohio
Pietrucha, Cynthia
Employment Severance Lawyer
Naperville, Illinois
Shishkin, Natalia
NJ/NY Employment Attorney
Morristown, New Jersey
Wagner, Lindsey
Employment Attorney
Jupiter, Florida
Fitzpatrick, Kate
Strategic legal advice, counseling and employment law representation
Worcester, Massachusetts
Spencer, Marilynn Mika
Representing working people and labor organizations in the fight for justice on the job
San Diego, California
DeBrota, Amy
Experienced Employment Lawyer and Mediator
Carmel, Indiana