COVID-19: What Should I Know About Unemployment Insurance?

The arrival of COVID-19 in the Unites States as turned everyone’s lives upside down. Millions of us not only have to deal with fear of the virus but also sudden unemployment and the pressure of covering everyday bills.

Do you find yourself without work because your company has closed temporarily or you have been laid off entirely? You may qualify for unemployment insurance.

What is it?

Unemployment insurance is temporary assistance to help those who have lost their jobs through no fault of their own, and are actively trying to find another one. You apply for unemployment insurance through a state agency and if approved you receive 40% - 50% of your income while you look for a new job. Each state has different programs with different requirements for eligibility.

Do I Qualify?

Each state has its’ own set of unemployment insurance requirements, which you can find on their respective websites. For the most part all require that you have been let go or laid off through no fault of your own. This means you were laid off due to company closure, downsizing or other reasons. You may still qualify if you were fired, it all depends on the circumstances and the individual state.

Another requirement is that you must have met your state’s requirement for wages earned - essentially how long have you been fully employed. For many states this is generally one year but can vary. You can learn more about your individual state including requirements through the Department of Labor’s website.

How Has COVID-19 Affected Unemployment?

Since businesses have closed many people have been looking to unemployment insurance to bridge the gap while the world waits out the virus. In response the government has implemented more flexibility in the program allowing states to issue payments faster as well as cover people that may be temporarily laid off due to temporary closures, can’t work because of quarantine or has to leave work temporarily to avoid infection or care for a sick family member.

Learn more about unemployment insurance at the Department of Labor’s website.

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