How to file for unemployment benefits if you lose your job in an economic downturn

There are a lot of layoffs in the US.

Amazon, Meta, and Microsoft are some of the big tech companies that are cutting jobs.

Businesses like Amazon are seeing their revenue grow at the lowest rate in decades due to inflationary pressures and a labor shortage. It's not a signal of a recession already in progress, but it is a sign that a recession is likely next year.

Companies are likely to lay off more workers in the next year if the Fed raises interest rates.

The tech industry is compensated for years of investing in mass expansions during the tech boom.

The world quickly moved online and a surge of e- commerce led to outsized revenue growth. Many people predicted that this would be a permanent acceleration that would continue even after the Pandemic ended.

I decided to increase our investments. He wrote that this didn't play out as he expected.

Most Americans aren't at risk of losing their jobs as companies are still struggling to find workers. There were over 10 million openings in October. The tech layoffs show that not every position is safe and that many workers could lose their jobs in a recession.

If you've been laid off or have had your hours reduced, here's how to apply for unemployment insurance.

How to determine whether you're eligible for unemployment insurance

You will most likely qualify for benefits if you:

• "Are unemployed through no fault of your own. In most states, this means you have to have separated from your last job due to a lack of available work."
• "Meet work and wage requirements. You must meet your state's requirements for wages earned or time worked during an established period of time referred to as a 'base period.' (In most states, this is usually the first four out of the last five completed calendar quarters before the time that your claim is filed.)"
• "Meet any additional state requirements. Find details of your own state's program."

REUTERS/Andrew Kelly

The unemployment benefits were mostly expired by Labor Day last year. Congress increased unemployment benefits for self-employed workers.

Workers with wage and salary positions are the only ones who are eligible for unemployment insurance again. The application process and identity-verification measures that states got rid of during the Pandemic have been restored.

Andrew Stettner told Insider that when in doubt, apply.

Benefit rate calculator are included on many state unemployment websites.

Fill out an application through your state's unemployment website 

If you no longer work, you should apply for unemployment insurance. Many states, including New York, California, and Ohio, waive the one-week waiting period before you can receive benefits.

Don't worry, just apply." The senior economist at the Economic Policy Institute told Insider to "don't wait." You don't have to wait a week to get those benefits. It is good for the economy.

Unemployment insurance claims can be filed online or in person. Online applications are encouraged by most states. It's a good idea to file your claim in the state where you worked. If you now live in a different state than the one where you worked, the state's unemployment insurance agency can give you information about how to file claims with other states.

You can start with your state's unemployment insurance benefits website. The analyst at InsuranceQuotes told Insider that you're going to get the most recent and accurate information there and that you'll learn exactly what documents you need to start gathering.

You'll usually need this.

• your social security number
• driver's license number of alien registration number and expiration date, if a non-citizen
• information on all your employers in the past 18 months, including company name, supervisor's name, address (mailing and physical location), and phone number
• the Employer Registration number or Federal Employer Identification Number (FEIN) of your most recent employer (FEIN can be found on your W-2 forms)
• the reason for working reduced hours or no longer working with the employer
• wages earned and how you were paid (e.g. hourly, weekly, monthly)
• your most recent separation form (DD 214 form) if you served in the military

The Department of Labor says it can take up to three weeks to process your claim.

You can choose to receive your payment in a variety of ways.

Keeping searching for work, even if getting hired seems unlikely

One of the baseline requirements for unemployment benefits may seem like a roadblock during an economic downturn. The job market isn't going to be a problem for now. It's important to keep looking for work even if companies stop hiring.

What counts as looking for a job in one state is different in another. In New York, if the Department of Labor wants to see a weekly work search record, it must be kept online. Dates, names, addresses, and numbers of employers contacted, names and/ or job titles of specific people contacted, contact methods used, positions applied for, or a description of attending job fairs or workshops should be included in the record.

You must recertify online every two weeks.

Even if there is no chance of getting a job, applicants should still try to find one.

Shutterstock/wichayada suwanachun

In most states, unemployment benefits last up to six months

According to The New York Times, most states pay benefits for 26 weeks or six months.

It is possible to be eligible for extended benefits during high unemployment. In the early days of the Pandemic, the CARES Act extended unemployment benefits by an additional 13 weeks for a total of up to 39 weeks.

The Department of Labor has a list of phone numbers and links to websites.