Minnesota Unemployment Benefits

Are you physically able to work?

Are you willing to actively look for a job?

Did your employer pay unemployment taxes ("Covered Employment")?

Did you earn at least $1250 in the base period in Minnesota?

Base period is the first four of the last five completed calendar quarters. If you are filing today, base period is Jan 2012 - Mar 2012 to Oct 2012 - Dec 2012

How did you lose your job?

Did you quit your last job due to unsafe working conditions, not being paid, discrimination and / or health and safety risks?

Were you fired for no fault of your own?

Were you laid off for no fault of your own?

Your State : Minnesota

   Wages Earned:

   $

   $

   $

   $

Apply Online:
Applying online is the easiest and fastest way to claim benefits. Check for more specific details such as timings and requirements to claim benefits in your state.
CALL: 1-877-898-9090. Twin Cities local number is 651-296-3644. Note from the unemployment office: To speak directly to a representative Monday-Friday, between 8 AM and 4:30 PM.It is best to avoid calling on Mondays and during morning hours due to the high volume of calls coming in. Calling later in the afternoon, or later in the week, will help you avoid busy signals and long wait times.
Visit UC Center:
You can’t seem to find assistance on call? No worries. Visit one of the UC center and let the specialist help you out. Please note that wait times can be longer but assistance is guaranteed.

you are not eligible

Disclaimer: The estimates are given in good faith and accuracy is not guaranteed. We are not liable for loss or damage caused by the tools on our website.

    State: Minnesota (MN)
    Phone Number: 1-877-898-9090. Twin Cities local number is 651-296-3644. Note from the unemployment office: To speak directly to a representative Monday-Friday, between 8 AM and 4:30 PM.It is best to avoid calling on Mondays and during morning hours due to the high volume of calls coming in. Calling later in the afternoon, or later in the week, will help you avoid busy signals and long wait times.
    File Online: http://www.uimn.org/
    Major Towns: Minneapolis, St. Paul, Rochester, Duluth, Bloomington, Brooklyn Park, Plymouth, St. Cloud and Eagan

    Current Unemploymnet Rate in Minnesota

    What is the Eligibility Criteria in Minnesota?

    There are some basic rules for eligibility. Even if you meet some of these rules partially, you should still apply for unemployment because state offices make a reasonable attempt to process your claim, as long as you provide a good justification.

    1. Must have lost job with no fault of his theirs
    2. Must be totally or partially unemployed.
    3. Must have received enough wages during the base period to establish a claim
    4. Must be physically able to work, available for work, and actively seeking suitable work.
    5. Meet eligibility requirements each week benefits are claimed.

    To learn more check unemployment eligibility article

    A "base period" is four consecutive calendar quarters that fall within the 18 month period before establishing a new benefit year.

    Claim your benefits

    How to File Your Initial Claim in Minnesota?

    1. If you have been separated from work, you can file your initial claim during your first week of total or partial unemployment.
    2. You can file your first claim in one of the two ways: by calling the TeleClaim Center or visiting a One-Stop Career Center close to you. Unluckily, you cannot file an initial claim online at this time.
    3. Have your entire information ready before filing your claim.
    4. If you have received severance pay upon your separation from work, you may still be eligible for unemployment benefits, so it is still important to call to file your initial claim during your first week of total or partial unemployment.
    5. If eligible for unemployment benefits, you can expect to receive your first payment in 3-4 weeks if there are no issues with your claim.
    6. In general, it takes approximately 3 weeks to process a claim; however, you will still need to claim benefits every week.

    Information needed is as follows:

    1. Your Social Security Number
    2. The year you were born
    3. Your home address and telephone number
    4. Whether you have filed an unemployment insurance claim in your state or in any other state during the past 12 months
    5. Your last day of employment
    6. The names and addresses of all of the employers you have worked for during the 15 months prior to filing your claim and the dates you worked for each of these employers. If you are reopening a claim, be ready with the same information for the past 8 weeks
    7. The reason that you are no longer working or that your hours have been reduced The names, dates of birth and social security numbers for any dependent children, if you are going to apply for dependency allowance
    8. Your alien registration number if you are not a U.S. citizen

    If You Are Not a United States Citizen

    You must give verification that you were legally eligible to work in your state and that you are presently eligible to begin a new job.

    How to File Your Weekly Claim?

    After you file your application for unemployment benefits, you must start filing your weekly claims. You require filing each week, even though you are:

    1. Waiting for a verdict about benefits,
    2. Waiting for your claim to become valid, or
    3. Appealing a denial of benefits

    You can file your weekly claim:

    1. Through the Internet - You can file your weekly claim online. You must have a User ID and PIN in order to file your weekly claim online.
    2. By phone – You must call the number given to you during the registration process.

    File every week that you want to claim benefits and keep on filing until you go back to work, run out of benefits or stop seeking work. You should claim at least one week before we can make a decision on your eligibility.

    How to Claim for an Extension?

    If you are presently filing weekly claims for unemployment benefits; carry on filing your weekly claim if you are jobless or working reduced hours. You will be informed by mail of your eligibility for the added benefits.

    In case you have been filing weekly claims and are still laid off or working reduced hours, you will have to file an application for these extra benefits online or by telephone. You will be alerted by mail of your eligibility for the additional benefits.

    To be eligible for EUC (Emergency Unemployment Compensation) benefits you must:

    1. Have an unemployment claim that began on or after May 07, 2006
    2. Have base period wages in the base period of this claim that is equal to at least 40 times your usual benefit rate
    3. Tired your usual benefits or your benefit year has ended and not be eligible for a new claim in any state
    4. Be unemployed or working reduced hours
    5. Be able and available for work and looking for work

    To be eligible for EB benefits you must:

    1. Qualify for EUC and then
    2. Exhaust all customary UI benefits and all available EUC Tiers
    3. Be out of a job or working reduced hours
    4. Be seeking work and submitting evidence of work search to DWD
    Recent Questions
    Who can get UI Employer Account in the state Minnesota?

      View all questions

    Minnesota Unemployment Questions


    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.

    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.

    How does part-time work affect unemployment benefits?
    If you work 32 or more hours in a week or if your gross earnings for a week equal or exceed your weekly benefit amount, you are not eligible for unemployment benefits for that week.

    If you work less than 32 hours and earn less than your weekly benefit amount, you can receive a partial benefit payment. 55% of your part-time earnings in a week will reduce your benefits for that week dollar for dollar. Any money not paid to you due to a reduction stays in your account balance through the end of your benefit year.

    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.

    How does social security retirement affect benefit payment?
    If your Social Security claim was approved before the beginning date of your base period, your Social Security benefits will not affect your benefit payment.
    If your Social Security claim was approved after the beginning date of your base period, your weekly unemployment benefits will be reduced by 50% of your weekly social security benefit amount.
    Survivor's benefits will not affect your benefits.

    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.


    How do pension payments affect my unemployment benefits?
    Pension payments from a fund your base period employer contributed to will reduce your unemployment benefits dollar for dollar; unless:
    You have to pay a penalty for early withdrawal, or
    You roll the pension into another retirement fund without taking a taxable payment.
    Pension payments from a fund your base period employer did not contribute to will not reduce your unemployment benefits.

    Can I receive unemployment benefits while working in self-employment?
    You can be eligible for benefits for any week you meet all three of these requirements:
    You worked less than 32 hours in any combination of employment and self-employment, and earned less than your weekly benefit amount.
    You are also seeking a job as an employee, by making contacts with potential employers that week. Keep a record of your job contacts.
    You are willing to rearrange or quit self-employment activity if it interferes with seeking or accepting employment under the normal conditions of your usual occupation.


    What are Federal-State Extended Benefits (EB)?
    Federal-State Extended Benefits (EB) are benefits available after you have exhausted your regular state unemployment benefits, or a tier of federal Emergency Unemployment Compensation (EUC). The Federal-State Extended Benefits program (EB) provides for up to 13 more weeks.


    calculator

    How Benefits are calculated?

    To calculate your weekly benefits amount click here

    1. Work out your base period for calculating unemployment.
    2. Take a look at the base period where you received the highest pay.
    3. Calculate the highest quarter earnings with a calculator.
    4. Calculate what your weekly benefits would be if you have another job.
    5. Calculate your unemployment benefits for every week if the partial gross income is different.

    The minimum benefits amount in Minnesota is $38.

    The maximum benefits amount in Minnesota is $610

    A "base period" is four consecutive calendar quarters that fall within the 18 month period before establishing a new benefit year.

    To learn more Unemployment benefits article

Questions & Answers


State Unemployment Guides
Alabama Unemployment Benefits Guide Alaska Unemployment Benefits Guide Arizona Unemployment Benefits Guide Arkansas Unemployment Benefits Guide California Unemployment – Claims Guide Colorado Unemployment Benefits Guide Connecticut Unemployment Benefits Guide Delaware Unemployment Benefits Guide Florida Unemployment Claims – Complete Guide Georgia Unemployment Benefits Guide Hawaii Unemployment Benefits Guide Idaho Unemployment Benefits Guide Illinois Unemployment Benefits Guide Indiana Unemployment Benefits Guide Iowa Unemployment Benefits Guide Kansas Unemployment Benefits Guide Kentucky Unemployment Benefits Guide Louisiana Unemployment Benefits Guide Maine Unemployment Benefits Guide Maryland Unemployment Benefits Guide Massachusetts Unemployment Benefits Guide Michigan Unemployment Claims – Complete Guide Minnesota Unemployment Benefits Guide Mississippi Unemployment Benefits Guide Missouri Unemployment Claims – Complete Guide Montana Unemployment Benefits Guide Nebraska Unemployment Benefits Guide Nevada Unemployment Benefits Guide New Hampshire Unemployment Benefits Guide New Mexico Unemployment Benefits Guide NH Unemployment Benefits Guide NJ Unemployment Claims – Complete Guide North Carolina Unemployment Benefits Guide North Dakota Unemployment Benefits Guide NY Unemployent Benefits – Claims Guide Ohio Unemployment Claims – Complete Guide Oklahoma Unemployment Benefits Guide Oregon Unemployment Claims – Complete Guide Pennsylvania (PA) Unemployment Benefits Guide Rhode Island Unemployment Benefits Guide South Carolina Unemployment Benefits Guide South Dakota Unemployment Benefits Guide Tennessee Unemployment Benefits Guide Texas Unemployment Benefits Guide Utah Unemployment Benefits Guide Vermont Unemployment Benefits Guide Virginia Unemployment Benefits Guide Washington DC Unemployment Benefits Guide Washington Unemployment Benefits Guide West Virginia Unemployment Benefits Guide Wisconsin Unemployment Claims – Reference Guide