Lost your job? Unemployment benefits and next steps

Updated November 2026

If you lost your job through no fault of your own, you can probably get unemployment insurance (UI) benefits: weekly payments that replace part of your wages while you look for work. File with your state's unemployment agency as soon as possible after your last day; even then, the first payment usually takes two to three weeks.

How unemployment insurance works

UI is a joint federal and state program. Each state runs its own program within federal guidelines and sets its own rules for who qualifies, how much is paid and for how long. In most states the program is funded entirely by a tax on employers, so nothing is deducted from your paycheck for it.

26 weeksmaximum length of regular benefits in most states
2–3 weekstypical wait for the first payment after you file
1-877-US-2JOBSDepartment of Labor toll-free help line

Who qualifies

You usually qualify if:

You are unemployed through no fault of your own, as your state defines it. In most states that means you lost your job because there was not enough work, such as a layoff or position cut. If you quit or were fired, your state will look at the reasons before deciding.
You earned enough in your base period. States look at your wages or time worked over a "base period," which in most states is the first four of the last five completed calendar quarters before you file. Example: if you file in November 2026, the last completed quarter is July to September 2026, so the base period is usually July 2025 through June 2026.
You meet your state's other requirements. Some states add conditions, and every state asks you to confirm each week that you are still eligible.

How to file

File in the state where you worked. If you live in one state and worked in another, or worked in more than one state, contact the unemployment agency in the state where you live now; it can explain how to file with the others.
Find your state's agency. Use the unemployment benefits finder on CareerOneStop.org, or call the Department of Labor at 1-877-US-2JOBS (1-877-872-5627). Your state's site explains how to file; some states take claims online, some by phone. Make sure you are on the state's official government site before you enter personal details.
Have your information ready: Social Security number, your recent employers' names and addresses, dates worked, earnings, and the reason you left each job. Have your bank details if you want direct deposit.
Give complete and accurate answers. Incomplete or wrong information delays payment.

After you file

File your weekly or biweekly claims. After each week ends, you answer questions about your continued eligibility and report any earnings, job offers and job refusals. Missing a claim can mean missing a payment.
Waiting week. Some states have a one-week waiting period, so the second week you claim is the first one paid.
Work search. Your state may direct you to register with its employment service, and may require you to search for work while you claim. Keep a record of every application and contact; a tracking spreadsheet works well.
If you are denied, you have the right to appeal. You must appeal within the deadline your state sets, so read your notice and act promptly. Your former employer can also appeal a decision in your favor.
Extended benefits may be available after regular benefits run out during periods of high unemployment.

Benefits are taxable. Unemployment compensation generally counts as income for federal tax. Your state will send you Form 1099-G showing the total paid. You can ask to have federal income tax withheld from your benefits by filing Form W-4V with your state agency; if you do not, you may need to make estimated tax payments. Example: if you receive $450 a week for 20 weeks, that is $9,000 ($450 × 20) of taxable income for the year.

Health insurance: COBRA or the Marketplace

If you had health insurance through your job, you have two main options:

COBRA continuation coverage: Lets you keep your employer's group health plan, generally for up to 18 months (longer, up to 36 months, after certain other events). Federal COBRA generally applies to group health plans of employers with 20 or more employees in the prior year. You have 60 days to choose COBRA, counted from the later of the day your coverage ends or the day you receive the election notice. The catch is cost: you usually pay the full premium, including the share your employer used to pay, plus up to 2% for administration (up to 102% of the plan's cost). Your spouse and children can elect COBRA even if you do not.
Marketplace coverage (HealthCare.gov or your state's marketplace): Losing job-based coverage usually qualifies you for a Special Enrollment Period: you can enroll within 60 days before or after losing it. Savings are based on your household size and expected income for the year, not on your job status, so a drop in income may mean lower premiums than COBRA.

Compare the monthly cost, deductible and whether your doctors are in network before you decide. Questions about COBRA can go to the Department of Labor's Employee Benefits Security Administration at 1-866-444-3272.

Your first-week checklist

File your unemployment claim.
Get your final paycheck details and ask about unused vacation pay, severance and your retirement plan.
Decide on health coverage within the deadlines above.
Make a bare-bones budget: list fixed costs and see how long your savings plus benefits will last.
Call lenders and utilities early if you will have trouble paying; ask about hardship programs.
Visit an American Job Center. They provide job search help, referrals and reemployment services for people receiving unemployment benefits.
Update your resume and start a weekly search routine.

Beware of scams aimed at job seekers. Being out of work makes "easy money" offers more tempting. A real employer never asks you to pay to get a job or to deposit a check and send money back. See job scams.