Unemployment insurance is a temporary income provided by the state to those who become unemployed through no fault of their own. Each state determines eligibility requirements to receive benefits for a certain period. The benefit payments are based on the number of hours worked and the amount of money earned for the year. The money a recipient receives is intended to provide funding to pay bills while the individual seeks new employment.

Collecting unemployment is easy once an individual has applied for benefits through the state agency. The applicant receives a weekly payment based on his or her previous earnings for each week they are available and actively seeking work. The average number of weeks to collect benefits is 26 weeks, but this time can be extended if the applicant qualifies for extended benefits.

Eligibility Determination:
To be considered eligible to receive unemployment benefits an individual must have been employed for a period of no less than 1 year in most states. For New York State applicants this period is a minimum of 18 months of consecutive employment. This means an applicant must have been employed at their previous job for a minimum of one year. The employer pays for unemployment insurance for each employee so the money is charged to the previous employer.

How to File a Claim:
Visit the state employment office and inquire about the best method of filing a claim. Many states now have an online option available for filing a claim. The applicant will be instructed on how to file a claim and to register for work. Once the initial claim is filed, weekly reports can be made online or by phone. The week begins on Monday and ends on Sunday making Sunday the deadline for reporting.

Information needed to file a claim:

• Contact information such as name, address and phone number
• Driver's License number or State ID
• Social Security number
• Employer's name, address and phone number
• Employer's Federal ID Number (from your W2 form or pay stub)
• Date started and date ended employment
• Amount of money earned for the period, length of employment and reason for unemployment.

To Continue Eligibility:
The applicant must be registered with the employment office for work, available to work each week and must meet the reporting deadline each week to collect a payment for the following week. Delayed reporting can delay payments.

Some circumstances that would result in a denial of unemployment benefits include voluntarily quitting a job, being fired due to absenteeism or repeated policy violations.

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Collecting Unemployment is a very useful method of staying above water until you find another job, don't miss out on the opportunity, file immediately.