Minnesota Unemployment Insurance

Unemployment insurance in Minnesota is a system designed to provide temporary financial assistance to eligible workers who have lost their jobs through no fault of their own. The program is administered by the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) and funded by employers who pay unemployment taxes.

Eligibility

To be eligible for unemployment benefits in Minnesota, you must meet the following requirements:

1. You must have worked in Minnesota during the past 12 to 18 months.
2. You must have earned enough wages during your base period.
3. You must be able to work, available for work, and actively seeking work.
4. You must be unemployed through no fault of your own, such as being laid off or having your hours reduced.

If you meet these eligibility requirements, you can apply for unemployment benefits online at www.uimn.org or by phone at 1-877-898-9090.

Base Period

The base period is the first four of the last five completed calendar quarters before the week in which you file your initial claim. For example, if you file your claim in July 2021, your base period would be from April 1, 2020 to March 31, 2021.

To be eligible for benefits, you must have earned at least $1,400 during your base period and your total earnings during your base period must be at least one and a half times your highest quarter earnings.

Work Requirements

You must be able to work, available for work, and actively seeking work to be eligible for unemployment benefits in Minnesota. This means that you must be physically and mentally able to work, and you must actively search for work and be willing to accept any suitable job offer.

You must also register for work at MinnesotaWorks.net within seven calendar days of applying for benefits, unless you have a valid exemption.

Benefits

The amount of your unemployment benefit in Minnesota is based on your earnings during your base period. The maximum weekly benefit amount is $740, and the minimum is $32. The amount of benefits you receive depends on your earnings during your base period and the number of dependents you have.

Duration

The duration of your unemployment benefits in Minnesota depends on how long you worked and earned wages during your base period. You can receive benefits for up to 26 weeks.

However, during times of high unemployment, the federal government may provide additional weeks of benefits through the Emergency Unemployment Compensation (EUC) program.

FAQ

Conclusion

Unemployment insurance in Minnesota provides temporary financial assistance to eligible workers who have lost their jobs through no fault of their own. To be eligible for benefits, you must have worked in Minnesota during the past 12 to 18 months, earned enough wages during your base period, and be able to work, available for work, and actively seeking work. The amount and duration of benefits depend on your earnings during your base period. If you have any questions or need assistance, visit the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development website at mn.gov/deed.