 TITLE: How Do I File for Unemployment? CONTENT: How Long Can I Collect Unemployment?\n------------------------------------\nIn most states, people who are out of work can collect unemployment benefits for 26 weeks. Only a few exceptions exist, including Montana, which allows you to collect unemployment insurance for 28 weeks, and Idaho, Missouri, Arkansas, Alabama, Florida, South Carolina and North Carolina, which provide benefits for less than the national norm—some as briefly as 12 weeks. Check your state's unemployment office's website to see how many weeks of unemployment are available where you live.\nIn addition to the 26 weeks given by most states, the CARES Act extended this time period and made unemployed workers eligible for an extra 13 weeks of benefits. This extended timeline is intended to give unemployed Americans extra wiggle room as they continue to manage the impact of COVID-19. END