How to file for unemployment

Unemployment benefits and eligibility vary by state
You must have worked consistently for the last 12-24 months
File in the state where you worked, instead of where you lived

Updated: Jun 30, 2025 / 04:18 AM CDT

A hiring sign is displayed at a grocery store in Northbrook, Ill., on Jan. 21, 2025. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)

(NewsNation) — More than 7 million people were unemployed in May, according to the latest jobs report from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

The number of people who filed for unemployment was significantly lower, but about 247,000 new people filed jobless benefit applications for the week ending May 31 — the highest level in eight months, the Associated Press reported.

Am I eligible for unemployment?

Unemployment benefits and eligibility vary by state, but many require applicants to have:

Earned at least a certain amount within the last 12-24 months.
Worked consistently for the last 12-24 months.
Looked for a new job.