File for Unemployment: Your First Steps

To get your unemployment claim filed and your health coverage sorted within your first week after a layoff.

Find your state's unemployment office website (search "[your state] unemployment benefits" and use the .gov site). Have your Social Security number, your last employer's name/address/dates, and your pay history nearby.

1) File your initial claim online this week, even if you're unsure you qualify — let the state decide. 2) Note your weekly certification day and set a recurring reminder. 3) Answer every question exactly; small mistakes cause big delays. 4) Check your health insurance options: compare COBRA from your old employer vs. a marketplace plan at healthcare.gov — you have 60 days to choose. 5) Save your confirmation number and any login details somewhere safe.

File the day you're eligible even if the paperwork feels overwhelming — a messy claim filed on time beats a perfect claim filed late.