Minnesota's online filing system is DEED, and you can start a claim from any device with internet access

Minnesota's Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) runs the state's unemployment insurance program. You file your claim through their online portal at uimn.org, not through a phone line or in person. The system is available 24 hours a day, and you can begin, pause, and return to your claim without losing your progress.

You will need your Social Security number, driver's license or state ID number, and information about your most recent employer—including the company name, address, phone number, and the dates you worked there. If you were laid off, you should have a separation notice or letter; if you quit, you will need to explain why. Have these details ready before you start, because the form moves forward and does not let you go back to earlier sections.

The claim itself takes 15 to 20 minutes to complete if you have your documents in front of you. DEED will send you a confirmation email with your claim number. You will also receive a debit card in the mail within 7 to 10 business days; that card is how you receive your weekly benefit payments.

Key Takeaways

  • File your claim at uimn.org using your Social Security number and information about your most recent job.
  • You must file a new claim each week you want to receive a payment, even after your initial claim is approved.
  • Minnesota pays up to $740 per week, but the amount depends on your earnings in the past 12 months and is calculated by DEED.
  • Your first payment usually arrives 7 to 10 days after you file your weekly claim, delivered to a debit card DEED mails to you.
  • If DEED denies your claim, you have 30 days from the denial letter to request a hearing before an administrative law judge.

What happens after you file your initial claim

After you submit your claim on uimn.org, DEED reviews it to determine whether you meet the basic requirements: you must have worked in Minnesota or for a Minnesota employer, earned at least $1,300 in the past 12 months, and lost your job through no fault of your own. This review takes 3 to 5 business days. You will receive a letter in the mail with the decision.

If DEED approves your claim, they will tell you your weekly benefit amount and the week your benefits begin. This amount is based on your average weekly earnings during the highest-earning quarter of the past 12 months. If you earned $2,000 per week, your benefit will be higher than if you earned $800 per week. DEED calculates this automatically; you cannot request a different amount.

If DEED denies your claim, the letter will explain why. Common reasons include not meeting the earnings requirement, being fired for misconduct, or quitting without good cause. You have 30 days from the date on the denial letter to request a hearing. You do this by contacting the Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry's Office of Administrative Hearings, not DEED itself.

Filing your weekly claim to receive payment

Once your initial claim is approved, you must file a weekly claim every week you want to receive a payment. You do this through the same uimn.org portal. Each week, you will answer questions about whether you worked, earned any money, or refused any job offers. You must file by 11:59 p.m. on Sunday of the week you are claiming.

When you file your weekly claim, you will be asked whether you are able and available to work, whether you looked for work that week, and whether you were offered any jobs. You must answer honestly. If you say you did not look for work, DEED may deny that week's payment. If you worked part-time and earned money, report the exact amount; DEED will reduce your benefit by a portion of what you earned, not dollar-for-dollar.

After you file your weekly claim, DEED processes it within 2 to 3 business days. The payment is deposited onto your debit card. If you do not file your weekly claim by the Sunday important date, you will not receive a payment for that week, and you cannot file it late.

Understanding what disqualifies you or reduces your payment

Minnesota has specific reasons that can disqualify you from receiving benefits or reduce the amount you receive. If you quit your job without good cause—meaning a reason that would make a reasonable person leave—DEED will deny your claim. Good cause includes unsafe working conditions, a significant cut in pay or hours, or harassment. Disagreeing with your boss or wanting a different job is not good cause.

If you were fired for misconduct, DEED will also deny your claim. Misconduct means you deliberately broke a rule you knew about, or you were so careless that it shows you did not care about doing your job right. Being fired for poor performance alone is not misconduct. If you were laid off or your position was eliminated, you are not disqualified.

If you work part-time while receiving benefits, DEED reduces your weekly payment. They subtract 50 percent of what you earn from your benefit amount. If your weekly benefit is $400 and you earn $200 that week, you receive $300 ($400 minus half of $200). If you earn more than your weekly benefit amount, you receive nothing that week, but you can still file your weekly claim and receive benefits in weeks you earn less.

What to do if DEED asks for more information

Sometimes DEED will send you a letter or email asking for documents or clarification about something on your claim. Common requests include proof that you worked at the job you listed, a copy of your separation notice, or details about why you left your job. You have 10 days to respond. If you do not respond, DEED will deny your claim based on the information they have.

If DEED asks for documents, send them by mail to the address on the letter, or upload them through your uimn.org account if that option is available. Keep a copy for yourself. If you are unsure what DEED is asking for, call the DEED customer service line at 1-877-896-5050. Wait times are longest on Monday and Tuesday mornings.

If you disagree with DEED's decision to deny your claim or reduce your payment, you can request a hearing. You have 30 days from the date on the decision letter. Request the hearing by contacting the Office of Administrative Hearings at 1-651-296-6196 or by mail. At the hearing, you can present documents and explain your situation to an administrative law judge. The judge's decision is final unless you appeal to the Minnesota Court of Appeals.

How long benefits last and what happens when they end

Minnesota's regular unemployment insurance program pays benefits for up to 26 weeks in a benefit year. A benefit year runs from the week you file your initial claim through 52 weeks later. If you exhaust your 26 weeks of benefits before you return to work, your benefits end. You cannot receive more benefits in that same benefit year unless you return to work and earn at least $1,300 again.

During times of high unemployment, Minnesota may offer extended benefits that add 13 or 20 additional weeks beyond the standard 26 weeks. These are not automatic; DEED announces them when the state's unemployment rate meets a certain threshold. You do not need to do anything to switch to extended benefits—if you are still unemployed when your 26 weeks end and extended benefits are available, DEED will notify you.

When your benefits end, you will receive a final letter from DEED. If you have returned to work, you can file a new claim in a future benefit year if you lose that job. If you are still unemployed and extended benefits are not available, you may be able to look into other programs, such as Supplemental Nutrition information Program (SNAP) or Temporary information for Needy Families (TANF), through Minnesota's Department of Human Services.

Common reasons claims are delayed or denied

The most common reason for a delay is incomplete information on your initial claim. If you list an employer's name or address incorrectly, DEED may not be able to contact them to verify your employment. If this happens, DEED will send you a letter asking you to provide the correct information. Respond as soon as you can; delays in responding push back your approval date.

Another frequent issue is a wage dispute. Your employer reports your earnings to the state, and DEED uses that information to calculate your benefit amount. If your employer reports lower earnings than you believe you made, you can dispute it by providing pay stubs or a letter from your employer. You have a limited time to dispute, so respond to any DEED letter about wages right away.

Some claims are denied because the person was fired or quit. If you were fired, DEED will contact your employer to ask why. Your employer may say you were fired for misconduct, which disqualifies you. You can then request a hearing to dispute that claim. Bring documentation—emails, performance reviews, or witness statements—that shows you did not deliberately break a rule or act with reckless disregard.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I file for unemployment if I was fired?

It depends on why you were fired. If you were fired for misconduct—deliberately breaking a rule or being recklessly careless—you are disqualified. If you were fired for poor performance, inability to do the job, or any reason other than deliberate misconduct, you may be able to receive benefits. DEED will ask your employer why you were fired and make a decision based on their answer. You can request a hearing if you disagree.

What if I quit my job?

If you quit without good cause, DEED will deny your claim. Good cause means a reason that would make a reasonable person leave—unsafe conditions, a significant pay cut, or harassment. If you quit because you wanted a different job or disagreed with your boss, that is not good cause. You can request a hearing to argue that your reason was good cause, but you will need to show evidence of the condition that forced you to leave.

How much will I receive each week?

Minnesota pays up to $740 per week, but your amount depends on your earnings during the highest-earning quarter of the past 12 months. DEED calculates this automatically when they approve your claim. The letter you receive will show your weekly benefit amount. If you work part-time while receiving benefits, your payment is reduced by 50 percent of what you earn.

What if I miss the Sunday important date to file my weekly claim?

If you do not file your weekly claim by 11:59 p.m. on Sunday, you will not receive a payment for that week. You cannot file it late. If you know you will be unavailable on Sunday, file your claim earlier in the week. If you miss the important date by accident, contact DEED customer service at 1-877-896-5050 to ask whether they can make an exception, but they usually cannot.

Can I receive unemployment while I am in school or training?

You can receive unemployment while in school only if you are able and available to work full-time and you are actively looking for work. If you are in a full-time training program that DEED has approved, you may be able to receive benefits while in that program, but you must report it when you file your weekly claim. Contact DEED to ask whether your specific training program qualifies.