Federal and State Benefits

• The Federal-State Unemployment Insurance Program provides unemployment compensation to Americans who lose their jobs at no fault of their own. While the federal government regulates the program, each U.S. state administers it and sets the program's benefit restrictions for its residents. If you qualify for federal-state unemployment income, the amount of your benefits will be based on a percentage of your average income over the previous 52-week period, not to exceed your state's maximum benefit amount. In most cases, you will receive unemployment benefits for no longer than 26 weeks unless you qualify for extended benefits. To apply for federal-state unemployment compensation, contact your state's unemployment agency either in person, over the phone or via the Internet.
  
  

Extended Benefits

• During a period of low employment rates, such as a recession, states will extend the period of time its residents can receive unemployment benefits. The federal government requires the extended benefits program to last a minimum of 13 weeks, though some states offer even longer extended benefits periods of up to 20 weeks. In total, unemployed individuals who cannot find work during low employment periods may receive federal income aid for between 39 and 46 weeks or until they find a job. The unemployment benefit amounts remain the same during the extension period.
  
  

Disaster-Related Unemployment

• The Disaster Unemployment Assistance program, or DUA, offers benefits to anyone who loses his job due to a disaster as declared by the president of the United States. Though the program's benefits calculations work almost identically to the regular unemployment program in each U.S. state, DUA requires states to provide unemployed individuals enrolled in the program with benefits that equal a minimum of 50 percent of the state's average unemployment benefits. DUA is available for up to 26 weeks following the first day of the week after the disaster occurs.
  
  

Ex-Military and Federal Employees

• If you previously served in the military or were previously employed as a civilian for the federal government, you may be eligible for special unemployment benefits. While the laws of your state will determine your eligibility and benefit amount, you will not have any federal tax withholding taken from your weekly unemployment distributions as those under the Federal-State Unemployment Insurance Program do. Be aware that you will not qualify for ex-military compensation if you were discharged from the military dishonorably.