To collect unemployment, you must meet two basic requirements. First, you must have earned at least a minimum amount, set by state law, in the time before you lost your job. Second, you must be out of work through no faults of your own. (Learn more about these requirements in Am I Eligible for Unemployment Benefits?)
If you lost your job in a layoff, reduction-in-force (RIF), or downsizing, you will be eligible for unemployment insurance benefits. But what if you are fired? And, what if you are fired for illegal reasons? Select your state from the list below to find out about unemployment benefits and wrongful termination.