Eligibility criteria
In order to qualify for this benefit program, you must have worked in the past 12 to 18 months and have earned at least a minimum amount of wages as set by each state. You must also be able to work and available for work each week that you are collecting benefits.

Description
Unemployment insurance benefits provide temporary financial assistance to workers unemployed through no fault of their own who meet eligibility requirements established by state laws. Each state, the District of Columbia, the Virgin Islands, and Puerto Rico have unemployment insurance programs.

Managing organization
Employment and Training Administration (ETA) http://www.dol.gov/

Program contact information & web resources
For more information, you may also call a toll-free help line:
866-487-2365

People who are deaf or hard of hearing may call this toll-free TTY number:
877-889-5627

For information about the agency in each state that is responsible for unemployment claims, visit the Department of Labor's Workforce Security website and select the state where you would like to file:
http://www.workforcesecurity.doleta.gov/map.asp

To confirm your eligibility for Unemployment Insurance (UI) benefits you should file a claim with the state where you worked. If you worked in more than one State, you should file a claim in the State where you are currently located. Federal civilian employees should file claims for UI in the state where their duty station was located, and recently discharged military service members should file in the state where they are looking for work.