 TITLE: How Do I File for Unemployment? CONTENT: Who Is Eligible for Unemployment Insurance?\n-------------------------------------------\nEligibility requirements differ by state, but generally you'll need to meet these three conditions in order to receive unemployment benefits:\n*   **You're unemployed by no fault of your own.** This means if your employer laid you off for financial reasons—like downsizing, closure or general lack of work—you could be eligible for unemployment benefits. Generally, if you quit or are fired from your job, you will not be eligible for benefits.\n*   **You were recently employed.** Your unemployment benefits are based on your past income, and to qualify, you'll need to have earned wages for a certain \"base period\" of time. For example, in many states, you'll need to have earned wages for around a year. If you've worked in multiple states, or earned wages for less than the required period of time, you may still be eligible under alternate programs offered by your state. Check with your state's unemployment office for full details on your wage eligibility.\n*   **You meet additional state requirements.** Some states will have additional criteria that you'll need to meet before you can be approved for unemployment benefits. Check with your state to find out if they have additional requirements for eligibility.\nIn addition to initially qualifying for benefits, most states require that you continue to file for benefits on a regular basis. That means you will have to file with the employment agency every one to two weeks, during which time you'll have to report any income you've earned and any job offers you've received. Most states require unemployment benefit recipients to prove they are actively searching for a new job, which may require a report outlining their job search efforts be submitted.\nAs part of the CARES Act, the list of eligible workers has been temporarily expanded to include people who would not usually be able to receive benefits. This new list makes the following workers eligible to receive unemployment benefits:\n*   Self-employed\n*   Independent contractors\n*   Furloughed workers\n*   Employees of religious institutions\n*   Workers and caregivers affected by the coronavirus END