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Unemployment benefits and your job search: the rules to know

To collect unemployment while you search, file right away, certify every week, do the job search activities your state requires and report any pay you receive. Rules and amounts differ by state, so read your state’s instructions and keep a log of each contact you make.

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What most states require

  • File as soon as you lose your job; benefits generally start from the date you file.
  • Certify each week that you were able and available for work and actively looking.
  • Keep a work-search record: date, employer, how you applied and the result. Many states require a minimum number of contacts per week.
  • Report earnings, including part-time and freelance work, and severance if your state counts it.
  • Accept suitable work that is offered. Turning it down can end benefits.

Common mistakes

  • Waiting to file because you expect severance. Check your state’s rule instead; in many states you should still file.
  • Missing a weekly certification, which can delay payment.
  • Not reporting small earnings. It can create an overpayment you must repay.

Make the required activity count

Most states accept networking, interviews, job fairs and workforce center workshops along with applications. Use the minimum to build real conversations, not just to fill the log.

Frequently asked questions

How long do unemployment benefits last?

It varies by state, from a few months to about half a year in most. Our state pages list the maximum weeks.

Does severance stop unemployment?

In some states severance delays or reduces benefits for the weeks it covers; in others it does not. File anyway and report it as asked.

Can I work part-time and still collect?

Often, with a reduced payment. You must report the earnings each week.

Do I have to look for work in my own field?

Early on, many states allow a search in your usual field. Over time you may have to widen it.

See your state’s rules

Maximum weekly benefit, how many weeks, the waiting week, how severance counts and where to file, state by state.

Find your state