File through Minnesota's DEED portal or by phone within two weeks of job loss
Minnesota handles unemployment claims through the Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED). You can file online at uimn.org, by phone at 1-888-209-8124, or by mail. The state processes most online claims within one to two weeks, though some take longer if DEED needs to verify information with your employer. Filing quickly matters because benefits are not retroactive — your claim date determines when your first payment can arrive, and Minnesota has a one-week waiting period before payments begin.
You will need your Social Security number, driver's license or state ID number, and information about your most recent employer: their name, address, phone number, and the dates you worked there. If you were fired or quit, have a clear explanation ready — Minnesota asks why you left, and the reason affects whether you receive benefits. If you were laid off or had hours cut, that information strengthens your claim.
The online portal is fastest if you have all documents ready. The phone line has wait times but can answer questions about your specific situation before you file. Mail claims take longer and are best used only if you cannot access the internet or phone.
Key Takeaways
- File at uimn.org, by calling 1-888-209-8124, or by mail to the address on DEED's website within two weeks of your job loss.
- Minnesota has a one-week waiting period, so your first payment arrives one week after your claim is approved, not when ready.
- You must report the reason you left your job — quitting without cause or being fired for misconduct can disqualify you, but layoffs and reduced hours do not.
- DEED contacts your employer to verify the information you provide, so be accurate about dates, job title, and reason for separation.
- Once approved, you must file a weekly claim every week to continue receiving payments, which you do through the same uimn.org portal.
What Minnesota considers disqualifying reasons to leave a job
Minnesota distinguishes between separations that may have access to for benefits and those that do not. If you were laid off, your position was eliminated, your hours were cut, or you were fired for reasons unrelated to your conduct, you receive benefits. If you quit without what the state calls "good cause," you do not may have access to. Good cause means you had a substantial and reasonable cause to leave — not just dissatisfaction with pay or schedule.
Examples of good cause include unsafe working conditions, wage theft, harassment or discrimination, a significant change in job duties without agreement, or a medical condition that made the job impossible. If you quit to care for a family member or to escape domestic violence, Minnesota may consider that good cause if you can document it. If you quit because you found another job, were unhappy with management, or wanted better hours elsewhere, that is not good cause.
If you were fired, DEED looks at whether the reason was misconduct. Misconduct means you deliberately violated a reasonable employer rule or deliberately acted in a way that harmed the employer's business. Being fired for poor performance, making mistakes, or not meeting targets is usually not misconduct — it is incompetence. Being fired for showing up late once is not misconduct. Being fired for repeated tardiness after warnings, or for theft, or for being under the influence at work, is misconduct and disqualifies you.
How to file your weekly claim and stay on the payment schedule
After your initial claim is approved, you must file a weekly claim every week to keep receiving payments. You do this through the uimn.org portal under "File Weekly Claim." The portal opens on Sunday and closes on Friday of each week. File as soon as it opens — waiting until Friday increases the risk that you miss the important date and lose that week's payment.
When you file your weekly claim, you report how many hours you worked that week and how much you earned. If you worked zero hours, you report zero. If you earned any income — from part-time work, gig work, or self-employment — you report that too. Minnesota reduces your benefit by 50 cents for every dollar you earn above $25 per week, so small amounts of work do not eliminate your benefit, but significant earnings do.
You also certify that you are actively looking for work. Minnesota does not require you to list specific jobs you applied for, but you must be able to show you are searching if DEED asks. If you are not looking for work — for example, because you expect to be recalled by your employer — tell DEED that when you file. The state may still pay you, but it needs to know your situation.
How much you receive and how long payments last
Minnesota's weekly benefit amount is based on your earnings in the highest-earning quarter of the year before you filed. The state divides that quarter's earnings by 26 and pays you roughly 50 percent of that amount, up to a maximum. The maximum benefit changes each year — in 2024 it was $863 per week, but this varies. Your actual payment depends on what you earned, not on how long you worked or how many dependents you have.
You can receive benefits for up to 26 weeks in a year if you remain unemployed and continue filing weekly claims. If you find work, even part-time work, your benefits end or reduce. If you exhaust your 26 weeks and are still unemployed, you do not automatically receive more — you would need to look into federal extended benefits programs, which exist only during periods of high unemployment and require separate filing.
Payments arrive by direct deposit or debit card, usually within three to five business days of your weekly claim being processed. If you do not have a bank account, DEED can issue a debit card instead.
What happens if DEED contacts your employer or denies your claim
DEED sends a form to your employer asking them to verify your employment dates, job title, reason for separation, and whether you were may be able to access for rehire. Your employer has a important date to respond — usually 10 days. If your employer says you quit without cause or were fired for misconduct, DEED will deny your claim or reduce your benefits. You then have the right to appeal.
An appeal means you request a hearing before a DEED examiner. You can attend by phone or in person. At the hearing, you present your side of the story, and your employer presents theirs. The examiner decides based on what Minnesota law says about good cause and misconduct. This process takes several weeks, and you do not receive payments during the appeal unless you win. If you win, you receive back pay for all weeks you were denied.
If DEED denies your claim for a reason other than employer dispute — for example, because you did not report earnings correctly or missed the filing important date — you can also appeal. The appeal process is the same: request a hearing, present your case, and wait for the examiner's decision.
How to report a change in your situation
If your circumstances change while you are receiving benefits, you must report it to DEED. Changes that matter include: you found a job, your hours changed, you returned to work part-time, you moved to another state, you are no longer able to work due to illness or injury, or you are receiving severance pay or vacation payout from your employer.
Report changes through the uimn.org portal when you file your weekly claim, or call 1-888-209-8124. If you start working, report your new employer's name and your start date. If you are receiving severance or vacation payout, report the amount and the dates you will receive it — Minnesota counts this as income and reduces your benefit accordingly. If you move out of state, tell DEED when ready, because you may no longer be able to receive Minnesota benefits.
If you do not report a change and DEED discovers it later, you may be required to repay benefits you received while ineligible. This is called an overpayment. DEED can recover overpayments by reducing future benefits, taking tax refunds, or pursuing collection. It is always better to report changes as they happen.
Frequently Asked Questions
What if I was fired but my employer says I quit?
File your claim and report that you were laid off or fired. When DEED contacts your employer, they will ask for the reason for separation. If your employer's answer contradicts yours, DEED will investigate further. You can then appeal and present evidence — emails, text messages, or witness statements — showing you were fired. Bring documentation to your hearing.
Can I receive unemployment while I am looking for a new job?
Yes. Minnesota requires you to be actively looking for work, but you can receive benefits while you search. You do not need to show proof of applications each week, but you must be able to describe your search efforts if DEED asks. If you are not looking — for example, because you are waiting to be recalled — tell DEED that when you file.
What if I earned money from a side job during the week I file my claim?
Report the earnings when you file your weekly claim. Minnesota reduces your benefit by 50 cents for every dollar you earn above $25 per week. So if you earned $100, you report $100, and your benefit is reduced by $37.50 (50 cents times $75). You still receive a reduced payment, not zero.
How long does it take to get my first payment after I file?
If you file online and your claim is approved without issues, your first payment arrives one to two weeks after you file. This includes the one-week waiting period Minnesota requires. If DEED needs to contact your employer or verify information, it can take longer — sometimes three to four weeks. Call 1-888-209-8124 to check the status of your claim.
What if I move to another state while receiving benefits?
Contact DEED when ready. If you move permanently, you will need to file a claim in your new state instead. If you move temporarily but plan to return to Minnesota, tell DEED your situation — they may be able to continue your claim. Do not stop filing weekly claims without telling DEED, because that can result in an overpayment you will have to repay.