Where to file for unemployment in Minneapolis

You file for unemployment through the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED), not through the city of Minneapolis. DEED handles all unemployment claims for the state, including those from people who live or worked in Minneapolis.

You can file online at uimn.org, by phone at 1-888-337-8366, or in person at a DEED office. The online portal is fastest — you can start a claim and finish it in one session if you have your documents ready. The phone line has wait times, especially early in the week and early in the month.

If you prefer to file in person, the nearest DEED office to central Minneapolis is at 1200 IDS Center, 80 South 8th Street, Minneapolis, MN 55402. Hours are Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Bring your Social Security number, driver's license, and information about your last employer.

Key Takeaways

  • File through DEED at uimn.org, by phone at 1-888-337-8366, or at the Minneapolis DEED office on 8th Street; the online option is usually fastest.
  • You need your Social Security number, driver's license, and your last employer's name, address, and phone number to start a claim.
  • DEED will contact your employer to verify the reason you left work, so be honest about whether you quit, were laid off, or were fired.
  • Weekly claims must be filed every week you want to receive a payment, and you must report any work or income you earned that week.
  • Payment amounts depend on your earnings in the past year and vary by individual; DEED will tell you the amount when your claim is approved.

What you need before you file

Gather these documents before you start: your Social Security number, a valid photo ID (driver's license or passport), and information about your most recent employer. For the employer, you need the business name, street address, phone number, and the dates you worked there.

If you were fired or quit, DEED will ask why. Be straightforward — they will contact your employer anyway to verify your account. If you left because of unsafe conditions, wage theft, or discrimination, write that down. If you quit without a job lined up, say that too. Lying about the reason delays your claim and can result in a denial.

Have your bank account information ready if you want direct deposit. DEED can deposit payments into a checking or savings account, which is faster than waiting for a check in the mail.

The difference between quitting, being laid off, and being fired

DEED treats these situations differently, and the distinction affects whether you receive benefits. If you were laid off — meaning your employer ended your job due to lack of work, business closure, or downsizing — you almost always may have access to. Layoffs are not your fault, and DEED approves these claims quickly.

If you quit, you must have had a good reason. DEED considers "good cause" to include unsafe working conditions, wage theft, discrimination, or a significant change in job duties or pay without your consent. Personal reasons like needing a different schedule or wanting a different job do not count. If you quit without good cause, you will be denied.

If you were fired, DEED looks at whether you were fired for misconduct. Misconduct means you deliberately broke a rule or did something you knew was wrong. Being fired for poor performance, making a mistake, or not being a good fit is not misconduct — you would still may have access to. Being fired for theft, violence, or repeated rule-breaking after warnings is misconduct, and you would be denied.

How long approval takes and what happens next

DEED usually makes a decision within two to three weeks of filing. During that time, they will contact your employer to ask why you left. Your employer may dispute your account — for example, they might say you quit when you say you were laid off. If that happens, DEED will contact you to ask for more information.

If DEED approves your claim, you will receive a notice in the mail with your weekly benefit amount and instructions for filing weekly claims. You must file a claim every week you want to receive payment, even if you have not worked. You do this through the same uimn.org portal or by phone.

If DEED denies your claim, the notice will explain why. You have the right to appeal within 10 days of the denial date. An appeal goes to a hearing officer who will listen to both your side and your employer's side. Many people win on appeal, especially if they have documentation (emails, texts, pay stubs) that supports their version of events.

Weekly filing and reporting work or income

Once your claim is approved, you must file a claim every week to receive a payment. You do this by logging into uimn.org or calling the automated phone line. Filing takes five minutes and asks: Did you work this week? How many hours? How much did you earn?

You must report all work and all income, including gig work, part-time jobs, and cash payments. DEED does not take your word for it — they cross-check with employers and the IRS. If you fail to report income and DEED finds out later, you will owe back the overpayment plus a penalty.

If you earn some income during a week, DEED does not take away your entire benefit. Instead, they subtract a portion of your earnings from your weekly payment. The exact amount depends on how much you earned, but you usually keep some of the benefit even if you work part-time.

Special situations in Minneapolis

If you worked for a school district, university, or other educational institution and were laid off between school years, you may not be able to file until the new school year starts. DEED considers this a temporary layoff, not a permanent job loss. Ask DEED about your specific situation when you file.

If you are a self-employed person or independent contractor, you cannot file for regular unemployment. Minnesota has a separate program called Pandemic Unemployment information (PUA), but this is only available during federal emergencies. Outside of those periods, self-employed people have no state unemployment coverage.

If you are undocumented, you cannot file for unemployment in Minnesota. DEED requires a valid Social Security number or ITIN (Individual Taxpayer Identification Number) to file, and undocumented workers typically do not have either.

What disqualifies you or reduces your payment

You will be denied if you quit without good cause, were fired for misconduct, or are not able and available to work. "Able and available" means you are physically able to work, not in school full-time, and willing to take a job if one is offered. If you are in school more than part-time, you may not may have access to.

You will also be denied if you are receiving certain other benefits, such as workers' compensation for a work injury or a pension from a previous employer. Some pensions reduce your unemployment payment rather than disqualifying you entirely — DEED will calculate this when they process your claim.

If you were fired for theft, violence, or a serious safety violation, you will be denied. If you quit because of a personal issue (childcare, transportation, health) that is not related to your job itself, you will be denied. If you were laid off but turned down a similar job your employer offered, you may be denied.

Payment amounts and how long benefits last

Your weekly benefit amount is based on your earnings in the past year. Minnesota calculates this by taking your highest quarter of earnings and dividing by 26. The minimum is $38 per week and the maximum varies by year — in 2024 it is $863 per week, but this amount changes annually.

You can receive unemployment for up to 26 weeks in a benefit year. A benefit year runs from the week you file your first claim. If you exhaust your 26 weeks and are still unemployed, you cannot file again until a new benefit year begins — usually 52 weeks after your first claim.

During times of high unemployment, Minnesota may extend benefits beyond 26 weeks, but this requires federal approval and is not automatic. DEED will notify you if an extension becomes available.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I have to look for work while I'm on unemployment?

Minnesota does not require you to prove you are looking for work or to report job searches to DEED. However, you must be "able and available" to work, which means you have to be willing to take a job if one is offered. If you turn down a job without good cause, DEED can deny your benefits.

What if I was laid off but my employer says I quit?

File anyway and tell DEED your version. DEED will contact your employer and ask them directly. If your accounts differ, DEED will ask for more details from you — emails, texts, or witnesses help. You have the right to appeal if DEED sides with your employer, and many people win on appeal with documentation.

Can I file if I was fired for being late or making mistakes?

Yes. Being fired for poor performance, lateness, or mistakes is not misconduct in DEED's view. Misconduct means you deliberately broke a rule or did something you knew was wrong. If you were fired for something you did not intend or did not know was against the rules, you should still file.

How do I report income from a side gig or part-time job?

Report it when you file your weekly claim. Tell DEED how many hours you worked and how much you earned. They will reduce your weekly benefit by a portion of that income, but you usually keep some of the unemployment payment. Do not skip reporting — DEED cross-checks with the IRS and will catch unreported income.

What happens if I move out of Minneapolis while I'm on unemployment?

You can still receive Minnesota unemployment as long as you remain in Minnesota or move to a state that honors Minnesota's benefits. If you move out of state, contact DEED to ask whether the new state will continue your claim. Some states will; others will not.