First and foremost, apply as soon as you lose the job. State unemployment offices generally take 1-3 weeks to process your application, especially for the initial claim. The compensation will be paid from the week you applied and if you delay, you will lose the benefits prior to the week of filing. You won't be allowed to back-date your claims or claim the benefits for prior weeks.
Tennessee Unemployment Compensation Eligibility Requirements
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.
- You must have lost your job through no fault of your own. That means if you have quit job voluntarily you may not qualify for unemployment insurance. However, there are exceptions - such as working in hazardous or inhuman working conditions etc. to this rule.
- You must be willing and able to work. If you are physically disabled, you do not qualify.
- You must have worked minimum number of weeks specified by the State. Colorado State minimum weeks of covered employment requirement (employer must have paid unemployment taxes on your behalf):
- You must have earned minimum amount of wages specified by State during this period. This amount may change every year. You can get get complete eligibility criteria and the benefits calculator from state website mentioned in the next section. Minimum wages earned during the base period:
Prepare documents required to apply for unemployment in TN
- Your name, address, social security number and other personal details such as telephone number, email address etc.
- Dependents name, date of birth and their social security number.
- Details of your previous employer. For each employer, you need to provide
- Name and address
- Telephone number
- Start and end dates of employment
- If you had out-of-state employment in the past 18 months, you also need to provide the employment details.
- Reason you lost the job – it has to be involuntary to be eligible to receive benefits.
- Your job skills summary
- If you are not an US citizen, keep your alien registration number and work authorization. However if you are on a work visa such as H1-B, immigration experts do not advise claiming unemployment insurance.
Apply for Benefits or Claim Extension
You can submit your application for unemployment compensation online, off-line (by mail or by visiting local employment office) or through telephone. Online application is the quickest and most efficient option which will also be available 24x7, 7 days a week.
Prepare and submit your application online here
If you choose to file over phone, call the unemployment compensation services toll-free number at 1-877-813-0950 or 615-253-0800. Additional help lines - Nashville: 615-532-1800. Other Tennessee Area - TIPS Telephone Number 1-800-689-9799; Out-of-State Claimant: TIPS Telephone Number 1-800-262-8094
If you are applying for unemployment extension in Tennessee, make sure you check the latest rules. Many states are in the process of revising the rules to extend the benefits beyond the initial period. Also, remember that you need to report unemployment benefits as an income when you file taxes with IRS at the end of the year.
All the major cities in Tennessee including Athens, Bristol, Chattanooga, Clarksville, Columbia, Cookeville, Crossville, Dyersburg, Gallatin, Humboldt, Jacksboro, Jackson, Johnson City, Knoxville, Lawrenceburg, McMinnville, Murfreesboro, Nashville, Paris, Rogersville, Talbott/Morristown, and Tullahoma have an unemployment office location to process unemployment claims. You can visit the local office for consultation or to file for unemployment in person
Tennessee Unemployment Rate (Trend)
The graph below shows the current and historical unemployment rate in the state
Frequently Asked Questions
Working in multiple city or states
If you worked in Tennessee during the base period but moved to another state, you may, if you are unemployed, file
a claim for benefits on those wages earned in Tennessee. If you worked in another state during the base period, but
moved to Tennessee, you may file a claim for benefits from another state. In some cases your wages from two or
more states may be combined to provide benefits.
If you have filed a claim for benefits in another state within the last 12 months and established a benefit year, you
must continue to file on that claim until your benefits are exhausted, your benefit year ends, or you are disqualified
for benefits. Then you may qualify for benefits in another state.
Part-time work and TN Unemployment benefits
You can earn up to 25% of your weekly benefit amount without it affecting your
weekly check; however, if you do go over your weekly benefit amount, it will suspend
your claim and you will need to actually re-open your claim in order to receive
unemployment benefits in the future. And what you will do is report this on your
weekly certification.
Minimum number of non-work days required to qualify for benefits
To be paid benefits for any week, a claimant must have a qualifying reason to apply and the total gross wages earned during the UI Week must be less than the claimant’s weekly benefit amount. A UI week is calculated from one Saturday night midnight to the following Saturday night midnight. Gross wages are those earned during this seven day period. If the gross wages are equal to or exceeds the claimant’s weekly benefit amount, the week is considered to have excess wages and be disqualified.
How is unemployment compensation amount calculated?
An otherwise eligible claimant shall be entitled during any benefit year to a total amount of benefits equal to whichever is the lesser of (A) twenty-six (26) times the claimant’s weekly benefit amount; or (B) one fourth (1/4) of such claimant’s wages for insured work paid during such claimant’s base period.
The weekly benefit amount is determined on the individual’s base period and the two calendar quarters in which such total wages are highest. The minimum weekly benefit amount in Tennessee is $30 and the maximum weekly benefit amount is $275.
The base period means the first four of the last five completed calendar quarters immediately preceding the first day of an individual’s benefit year; provided, that the first quarter of the last five completed calendar quarters was included in the base period applicable to any individual’s previous benefit year, such individual’s base period shall be the last four completed calendar quarters.
Tennessee Unemployment Video Instructions
Use this video guide to understand the claims process:TN Unemployment Video Instructions
Mass Filing Facility for Unemployed Workers
The State has set up mass filing facilities where you will get live help so you can quickly file your papers. Note that this is a temporary measure and can be decommissioned anytime. Here are mass filing locations. Check Participating Career Centers to find out the address and phone numbers. Athens, Bristol, Chattanooga, Clarksville, Columbia, Cookeville, Crossville, Dyersburg, Gallatin, Humboldt, Jacksboro, Jackson, Johnson City, Knoxville, Lawrenceburg, McMinnville, Murfreesboro, Nashville, Paris, Rogersville, Talbott/Morristown, and TullahomaNext steps
After you have submitted your application, you should actively look out for work because the benefits you receive will not be enough to cover your living expenses. The best thing to do is to take a look at your job skills and determine if you want to improve or learn new skills so that you can use this opportunity to revive your career. There are plenty of online opportunities to earn a living while working from home.
State Unemployment Guides
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