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When, how and where to apply, wages used to establish an account and more...
When should I apply for unemployment benefits?
You should apply for unemployment benefits as soon as you are unemployed or your hours are greatly reduced. (If you work 32 or more hours in a week you are not considered to be unemployed for that week).
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How do I apply for unemployment benefits?
Applying for unemployment benefits can be done online or by phone using the Applicant Self-Service System. The automated phone system allows you to choose English, Spanish, Hmong, or Somali. Filing online is the fastest!
Refer to “How to Apply for Benefits”  for step-by-step instructions and a list of information you will need before you start the application process.
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What happens after I apply for unemployment benefits?
About 7 days after you apply, you will be mailed:
An unemployment insurance customer service representative may contact you by phone or by mail if additional information is required. If you receive a written request for information, you can respond online by logging in to your account at www.uimn.org, by mail, or fax. Responding online gets your information to a representative faster. Information on how to contact us is available on the Contact UI page.
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What wages are used to establish a benefit account?
Your benefits are based on the amount of gross wages paid to you from all employers during a recent 52-week (one year) period of time. This is called your base period. Commissions, bonuses, overtime, vacation pay, severance pay (depending on timing), and wages earned in other states are included. Earnings from self-employment are not included.
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Can I choose which employer(s) I use to establish my unemployment benefit account?
You cannot pick and choose employers. You must provide information about all your employment in the past 18 months. Your benefits will be based on wages paid by all employers in your base period. Employers who did not cause you to be unemployed will usually not be affected by your receipt of benefits.
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Can wages earned in another state be used to establish a benefit account?
To establish a Minnesota unemployment benefit account using wages from another state, you must have at least some wages in your base period that were paid by a Minnesota employer. If you did not work in Minnesota during your base period and your employment was in another state(s) or U.S. territory(ies), you should contact the state in which you last worked to apply for unemployment benefits.
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Can wages earned in the federal government be used to establish a benefit account?
All federal civilian wages can be used, but if you had no covered employment in Minnesota, you must apply against the state of your last federal duty station. If your last duty station was in another country, and you reside in Minnesota, you can apply to Minnesota.
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Can wages earned in the military be used to establish a benefit account?
To use military wages to establish an account, you must:
- be physically present in Minnesota to establish a Minnesota account; and,
- have completed your first term of service and been discharged under honorable conditions.
If you did not complete your first term of service, your branch of service determines your eligibility for unemployment benefits based on the narrative reason for your discharge.
National Guard or Military Reserve wages can be used if earned in unbroken active duty for 90 days or more, with an honorable discharge.
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What if I was injured and on Workers’ Compensation within the past year?
Unless you have been disabled from working for two years or more, you may still qualify for unemployment benefits. Try to give accurate dates of all periods in the past 18 months that you received wage loss payments under Workers’ Compensation or other insurance.
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When will my unemployment benefit account be effective?
Unemployment benefit accounts are effective the Sunday of the week in which the completed application is submitted. At the time you apply for unemployment benefits, you may request your account be backdated to the previous week, if you were unemployed for that week.
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What should I do if I was paid as an independent contractor or received a form 1099 instead of a W-2 form?
These are indications that your employer considered you self-employed and not covered by unemployment insurance. If you were indeed self-employed, those earnings cannot be used in computing your unemployment benefits. However, an employer is not the authority that determines whether you worked as a covered employee or as a self-employed individual.
If your employer said you were an independent contractor, but you believe your working relationship and responsibilities were those of an employee, or are not sure, complete the Wage and Employer Correction sheet included with your Determination of Benefit Account. Include a brief description of your job situation with this employer, along with a note regarding the type of work you did and how you were paid. A department auditor may contact you and the employer before the customer service specialist determines your status.
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What is "covered" employment?
"Covered” employment and "non-covered" employment are defined in Minnesota Law; §268.035 Subd.12 and Subd.20 (2009). Wages earned in "covered” employment can be used to establish an unemployment benefit account. "Non-covered” employment cannot be used. Most employment is covered.
“Non-covered” employment includes, but is not limited* to:
- employment by most churches or religious organizations;
- as a "sheltered" worker in a rehabilitation facility;
- in a government work relief or training program;
- student employment/work study;
- academic and hospital internships, and student nursing;
- commission-based insurance and real estate sales, and employment as a direct seller;
- agricultural employment if performed for someone who did not pay $20,000 in wages in a calendar quarter in the current or prior calendar year AND who did not employ four or more employees and provide employment in 20 weeks in the current or prior calendar year.
*For a complete listing of non-covered employment, reference Minnesota Law, §268.035 Subd.20 (2009)
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Can I change the effective date of my unemployment benefit account?
To see if the effective date can be changed, contact a customer service representative. Contact information is available on the Contact UI page.
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Can I apply for another benefit account when the current one runs out of benefits?
You cannot apply for a second benefit account until 12 months have passed since the effective date of your previous account.
In addition, you must:
- have worked again since you established your first benefit account, and
- have total gross earnings in that new employment of at least eight times the weekly benefit amount of your first account.
Note: You may have to provide check stubs to prove this.
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If I run out of benefits, can I apply for an extension?
See “Extension of Benefits”.
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