New Mexico Unemployment Eligibility

New Mexico Unemployment Benefits

New Mexico Unemployment Eligibility Calculator

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How to qualify for New Mexico unemployment benefits

In order to receive compensation through the New Mexico unemployment insurance program, you have to meet the state’s eligibility guidelines. This includes:

  • Earning enough income during your base period
  • Being unemployed through no fault of your own
  • Be able and available to work
  • Registering for work with New Mexico Workforce Connection
  • Meeting the work search requirements
  • Accepting any offers for suitable work

Monetary eligibility requirements

When you apply for unemployment benefits, the amount you receive each week is determined by the wages you earned during a specific time frame called the base period. The base period usually covers the first four of the last five calendar quarters before you applied for UI benefits.

Your weekly benefit amount is based on your earnings. You must have earned at least $2,089.72 during your base period, and have earnings in at least two of the four periods.

The state of New Mexico calculates your weekly benefit amount by taking 53.5% of your average weekly earnings in the highest quarter of your base period, along with a $25 dependent allowance, for a maximum benefit amount of $565 per week.

The New Mexico Department of Workforce Solutions will send you a Monetary Determination letter outlining your base period earnings and how much you qualify for after you submit an initial application.

If you do not qualify for UI benefits under the traditional base period, the state may allow you to use an alternate base period to qualify. This is typically the last four calendar quarters that you worked before applying for benefits. You do not have to ask the department to calculate benefits using an alternate base period—they will do it automatically if you are eligible.

You can estimate your weekly benefit amount by using our New Mexico Unemployment Calculator.

Wage Credits

A wage credit refers to any compensation or income earned from an employer that is paid into the state’s unemployment tax pool. In the context of New Mexico unemployment benefits, a wage credit is important because it is used to determine your eligibility and the amount of benefits you receive.

Non-monetary UI benefit eligibility requirements

Unemployment insurance benefits are for workers who are without a job because of circumstances beyond their control. To qualify, you must be able and willing to look for full-time work and accept any suitable job offers.

You also must register for work with a New Mexico Workforce Connection Center, either online at jobs.state.nm.us or in person at your local office.

How many weeks of New Mexico unemployment do I qualify for?

If you were working in New Mexico and lost your job through no fault of your own, you are eligible for up to 26 weeks of financial assistance per benefit year. Your benefit year starts the week that you apply for benefits.

Maintaining eligibility

Once you apply for unemployment benefits, you’ll need to file a claim every week to receive payment. This includes reporting any work you performed or money you earned during the week.

You will also need to show how you met the state’s job search requirements by providing the contact information of each employer you reached out to for a new job. You must contact at least two employers each week.

If you forget to file your weekly claim, you might not receive your unemployment payment on time.

What is considered “suitable work?”

Suitable work refers to a job that matches a person’s skills, experience, and qualifications. It is also a job that provides comparable pay and benefits to what others in the same role receive.

If you decline an offer of suitable work, you risk losing your unemployment insurance eligibility. However, you can decline any job offer if:

  • The job puts you physically at risk or goes against your morals
  • You do not have the physical or mental abilities to perform the job
  • The workplace is too far away from your home
  • The job pays much less or has worse hours and conditions than similar jobs in the area
  • The job is open because of a strike or lockout
  • You’re required to join a company’s union to get the job or will be forced to quit a union you are already part of

Can I work part time and receive benefits?

Yes, though how much you work and how much you earn can affect your weekly benefit amount. You also must be willing to apply for and accept a full-time position.

You can earn up to 20% of your weekly benefit amount without affecting your unemployment compensation. If you earn more than 20%, however, your benefit payment will decrease by the dollar amount you earned above the limit until you no longer qualify for benefits.

Do I qualify for unemployment if I am self-employed?

No, income from self-employment, freelancing, commissions, and gig work does not qualify for unemployment benefits. This is because these wages are not paid by an employer who pays into the unemployment tax pool.

Any money earned from self-employment activities while receiving unemployment benefits will make you ineligible for benefits.

What would disqualify me from the New Mexico UI benefit program?

There are many reasons you may not qualify for New Mexico unemployment insurance benefits. This includes:

  • Voluntarily quitting a job without a good cause
  • Being fired for misconduct
  • Not meeting the income requirements
  • Refusing offers for suitable work
  • Failing to report earnings
  • Being unavailable for work
  • Failing to participate in job search activities
  • Committing New Mexico unemployment fraud

If you were denied benefits but believe the decision was made in error, you can appeal the decision before an administrative law judge.

What can affect my claim for benefits?

Anything that affects your ability to accept a full-time job could impact your unemployment claim. This includes being sick, traveling, losing child care, or experiencing transportation issues. You will need to let the New Mexico Department of Workforce Solutions know if any of these circumstances apply to you.

When do I no longer qualify for New Mexico unemployment benefits?

If you return to work full-time or start earning your weekly benefit amount plus 20%, you are no longer eligible to continue receiving unemployment benefits. When this happens, you no longer need to file a weekly certification anymore. The unemployment division will assume that you’ve started working full-time, and they’ll stop making benefit payments automatically.

Furthermore, claimants are no longer eligible for New Mexico unemployment insurance once they’ve received benefits for 26 weeks – unless there are Extended Benefits programs available.

    • Hi, Betty – you can certainly apply. Your overall eligibility depends on several different factors, but it is possible to be approved for benefits, in some cases, if you need to quit your job in order to care for a sick family member. You also may want to connect directly with the New Mexico unemployment office to discuss the details of your situation.

  1. If I am employed but my hours were severely cut to the point im only working 20 or less hours over 2 weeks can I claim partial unemployment like texas allows

  2. I have been working at my job for a little over a year. My schedule has been 8-5, Monday through Friday since I started. I also started school 5 months into working for the same company. My school schedule used to be Monday through Friday from 5:30 pm to 10:30 pm but it is about to change to 8:30 am to 1:30 pm. If I quit, will I be eligible to receive UI benefits? If they fire me for not complying to the attendance policy as I would be missing to attend class, would I be eligible to collect then?

    • Savannah,

      You may not be eligible since unemployment insurance is only extended to those who become unemployed due to involuntary reasons. Please call the Unemployment Office for clarification.

  3. I have been employed at my company for one year and the months. I have been on an approved leave of absence for the past 10 months. I let my supervisor know that I was ready to come back to work full time and then I was terminated before she got back to me about returning to work. Will i be able to collect UI even though I was on a leave of absence?

    • Crystal,

      UI benefits are only extended to those who’re able and available for full-time work. Not sure if you will qualify.

      Please contact the Unemployment Office.

  4. My job involves countless extra hours well above full-time. I’m told I’m the top performing employee on the team, but the stress is becoming unbearable. Management is very cold and unwavering. Any attempt to change this gets you labeled as a traitor to the organization. Twenty people have left over this making even more work for the rest of us. I’m working sick all the time now. Can I quit and cite the excessive hours with no additional pay (salary, so they don’t have to) and generally toxic culture, but still receive unemployment?

    • Joe,

      This is a sensitive situation. Please tread carefully. If you’re confident of proving yourself with documentation in case of a dispute at a later time, you can be eligible.

  5. I had worked as a caregiver and was told by the consumer that she needs a female provider due to Personnal issues like help with bathing…and got release from my job does that mean I can get benefits until I find another job?

  6. I gave a 30 day resignation but was let go before the resignation date expired. Am i eligible for unemployment or does my employer have to pay me to the end of the 30 day deadline?

    • If you resigned voluntarily, you will not be eligible to draw UI benefits since its offered to claimants who lose their job due to involuntary reasons.

  7. If you worked more than 2 years and have been laid off. Are you eligible for U.I. Benefits if you attend school full time at a vocational school?

    • If your course is permissible, you can attend school and claim UI benefits. Please call the Unemployment Office to get further clarification.

  8. Hi! I was wondering of there was any particular length of time one had to work at a job (in NM) in order to claim unemployment if terminated. I keep reading that the amount is determined by your base period and that sounds as if it is a year.

    Thanks!

    • I don’t think you will be eligible for such instances.

      Please check further with the labor authorities in your state by calling them.

  9. I have been employed for 3 years at one company and my hours were always at 28 per week. Can I qualify for UI benefits if my hours are cut from 28 to 16 hours a week for no proof of misconduct. I tried talking to ASM then the GM. They just told me hours will not change.

    • So do I write a letter stating the reason why I want to leave because if I don’t come in as schedule I think I’ll be “abandonment of a job”

    • Yes, you can apply for benefits for the reduced hours.

      Please speak to the labor authorities in your state and apply accordingly.

  10. I have been working at my current job for 6 weeks and have been told that I am not meeting the companies expectations and they will need to terminate me. They have asked for me to sign and give them a letter of resignation so I will not be terminated I also have been informed that I will not be able to file for unemployment if they terminate me. Can I qualify for unemployment until I can find another job?

  11. I cannot support myself with the part time job I have, can I collect unemployment insurance if I quit my job to move to a different State to find a higher paying full time job?

    • You will not be eligible since unemployment insurance is only extended to those who become unemployed due to involuntary reasons.

  12. I have been working full time for a company for the last one year, during the month June/July and now again in November, due to low work load the company is cutting hours, to the point that few weeks I have worked only 2-3 days. The work has became uncertain, it’s like I have no idea till the morning that I am working that day or not. Or, I will get an email the night before that I am off the next day, it makes it not feasible to get another job because the schedule is so erratic. This has been going on and off, and just hard to pay the bills. I am wondering if situations like this would qualify for benefits.

    • Depends. If you’re able to provide supporting evidence in case of a dispute, you can be eligible.

      Please speak to the labor authorities in your state for further information.

      • Thanks Martin for the response, If I am not wrong supporting evidence will be the pay stubs, correct. I have all them which shows the hours normally I would work and then months with decrease in numbers of hours worked. I also have emails sent with the notification that I would off because the company has less work load.

        • That is correct.
          Any e mail records, letters, instances of verbal confirmation(sequence of events) can support your stand.

  13. I have been looking for a job ever since I was told the firm I work at is closing down. I am considered a dependent because I am 21, yet I do not live at my parents home or rely on them financially. Does this effect my eligibility?

    • Personal factors do not really matter here.You must meet other eligibility criteria prescribed in your state.

      Please consider applying for UI benefits until you find a job.

  14. I had to resign from my employment due to not having a vehicle. I work 40 miles from my employer and did not have any means to get to work. I also have a newborn and do not have a baby sitter. Can I draw unemployment?

  15. I had a seizure, (first time) and was told that due to the seizure the company insurance would not cover me to drive. My job was a car sales person at a large car dealership. I showed up for work a week later, ready to work and was told they had to let me go. After filing for unemployment I was told the company indicated I had quit, which was a lie. I was not offered any other position. I am waiting for my appeal at this moment. Am I eligible for unemployment?

  16. I only worked at employers for 6 months and was let go. Is there a certin length of time at job to determine if im eligible for unemployment?

    • Generally they consider 4 of the last five calender quarters to ascertain various criteria for qualification.

      Hope you have enough to cover.

  17. Come June I will no longer be able to work at my job that I have had for 6 years. This will be because I will be student teaching for a semester and attending evening classes. I will be considered a full time student. My work will have no need for me because I won’t be able to work any hours that this company is open during the week. Will I be able to qualify for Unemployment if I quit because I am unable to work there due to my school schedule?

    • UI benefits are only extended to those who are able and available to work.

      Looks like your school schedule will restrict you from qualifying.

  18. I am a bus driver for CCSD and the summer is coming up. I don’t work during the summer but I go back to work in August. CCSD do not pay us for the summer. Can I apply for unemployment?

  19. I recently resigned for reason of dangers of commuting from Hobbs to Carlsbad daily.
    Am I Eligible to apply for benefits?

    • If there was a genuine threat or danger, you must be eligible.

      You must meet other eligibility criteria as well.

  20. If I am going to be receiving a big cut in pay, can I receive partial unemployment benefits?
    If I quit my job due to this cut in pay, may I receive unemployment benefits?

    • You can receive partial benefits only if your working hours in a day are reduced.If you quit the job voluntarily,you may not be eligible.

  21. I moved to Alamogordo about three months ago to help my sister take care of our elderly mother. I have been looking for work without success. I was wondering if I would be eligible for benefits. My savings is getting.

  22. Can i quit my job and apply for unemployment. Due to running a commercial vehicle falsifying logs. Poor dispatching forces me to meet appointment for pickups or delivery. The boss also has poor communication skills and screams out his points of view to me.

  23. I have a feeling administration might try and push me out of the door. I just had a baby and asked to be part time for the next few months due to child care, which was denied. Thankfully we have been “flexing” hours (leave work early, unpaid) So it has worked out well. Anyhow, my question is…If i sucessfully comeplete all of my job requirements and tasks, daily, yet I have miss work due to child care (with out any write ups) can i be terminated or forced to resign due to past attendance (that was always approved)? Sorry so long and confusing, i am new to NM and not sure of the laws and just want to cover myself just in case something is to happen. Thank you in advance.

  24. I was accused of filing a complaint with the labor commission, which is not true and sent home until further notice. Can I still claim unemployment?

  25. I was forced to resign for unspecified reasons which I’m told had nothing to due with violation of any rules, regulations, or policy. I assume I am eligible even though I resign rather than be fired. Please clarify.

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