What Minnesota unemployment benefits cover and who can receive them

Minnesota's unemployment insurance program pays a portion of your lost wages if you lose your job through no fault of your own. The program is run by the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED), and the money comes from taxes employers pay into the state fund — not from general tax revenue.

You can receive benefits if you were laid off, had your hours cut significantly, or were fired for reasons unrelated to misconduct. You cannot receive benefits if you quit without good cause, were fired for willful misconduct, or are self-employed. The state defines "good cause" narrowly — it usually means unsafe working conditions, wage theft, or a substantial change in job duties that you reported to your employer first.

Benefits are not automatic. You must file a claim with DEED, report your earnings and job search activity each week, and meet ongoing requirements to keep receiving payments. The amount you receive depends on your earnings in the year before you lost your job, and the length of time you can receive benefits depends on the state's unemployment rate at the time you file.

Key Takeaways

  • You must file your claim within 30 days of losing your job, or you may lose benefits for the weeks you waited.
  • Minnesota requires you to report your weekly earnings and job search activities online through the DEED portal or by phone.
  • Your weekly benefit amount is calculated from your highest quarter of earnings in the past year, and the maximum weekly amount changes each year.
  • You must be able and available to work, actively looking for a job, and willing to accept suitable work to keep receiving benefits.
  • If you are denied benefits, you have the right to request a hearing before an administrative law judge within 30 days of the denial letter.

How to file your claim with DEED

File your claim online through the Minnesota DEED website at uimn.org. 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. Have your final paycheck stub handy so you know your last date of work and final pay amount.

The online form asks for your work history for the past 18 months, your reason for separation from your job, and whether you have been fired or disciplined in the past. Answer these questions truthfully. If you say you quit, DEED will contact your employer to verify the reason, and if your reason does not match their account, your claim will be denied. If you say you were fired, DEED will ask your employer why, and you will have a chance to respond.

You can also file by phone at 1-844-493-4646 if you do not have internet access or prefer to speak with someone. The phone line is open Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Central Time. Wait times are often long, especially in the first week after a mass layoff. Filing online is faster.

File as soon as you know you will not be returning to work. Your benefits start the week you file, not the week you lost your job. If you wait two weeks to file, you lose two weeks of benefits.

What information you need before you start

Gather these documents and details before you log in to file:

  • Your Social Security number
  • Your Minnesota driver's license or state ID number
  • Your most recent paycheck stub or final pay statement
  • Your employer's full legal name, street address, city, state, and zip code
  • Your employer's phone number (usually on your paycheck stub)
  • The date you started working there and the date your employment ended
  • Your job title and a brief description of what you did
  • The name and contact information of your direct supervisor or manager
  • Information about any severance pay, vacation payout, or other final payments
  • Your bank account number and routing number if you want benefits deposited directly (optional but faster than a check)

If you were laid off, have your layoff notice. If you were fired, have any written warning or disciplinary notice. If you quit, write down the specific reason — for example, "unsafe working conditions" or "wage theft" — because you will need to explain it clearly.

Weekly reporting and job search requirements

After you file your initial claim, you must report your weekly activity every week you want to receive a payment. Minnesota requires you to report by the important date shown on your claim — usually Sunday at 11:59 p.m. — or you will not be paid for that week.

Each week you report, you must tell DEED how much you earned (if you worked part-time or had a final paycheck), whether you worked any hours, and how many job search contacts you made. A job search contact means you applied for a job, attended an interview, or spoke with an employer about a position. You do not need to provide the names of employers you contacted, but you should keep a record in case DEED asks for details.

You can report online at uimn.org, by phone at 1-844-493-4646, or by mail. Online reporting is fastest and gives you a confirmation number when ready. Phone reporting has long wait times. Mail is slow and should be your last option.

If you miss a weekly report important date, contact DEED right away. You can file a late report, but you will not be paid for the week you missed. If you miss reports for two weeks in a row without contacting DEED, your benefits will be stopped and you will have to file a new claim.

How much you will receive and how long benefits last

Your weekly benefit amount is based on your earnings in the highest-earning quarter of the 12 months before you lost your job. Minnesota calculates this as roughly 50 percent of your average weekly wage, up to a maximum amount that changes each year. The maximum weekly benefit amount for 2024 is $863, but your actual amount will likely be lower unless you earned a high wage.

The length of time you can receive benefits depends on the state's unemployment rate. When the rate is low (under 5 percent), you can receive benefits for up to 26 weeks. When the rate is higher, you may be able to receive benefits for up to 34 weeks through an extended benefits program. DEED will tell you the maximum number of weeks you are may have access to to when your claim is approved.

Your benefits are reduced dollar-for-dollar by any earnings you report. If you earn $200 in a week and your weekly benefit is $400, you will receive $200 that week. If you earn more than your weekly benefit amount, you will receive nothing for that week, but the week still counts against your total weeks of benefits.

Common reasons claims are denied and how to appeal

DEED denies claims most often because the person quit their job without good cause, was fired for misconduct, or did not meet the earnings requirement. The earnings requirement is that you earned at least $1,000 in your highest quarter in the past year. If you worked part-time or were new to the job, you may not meet this threshold.

If your claim is denied, DEED will send you a written notice explaining the reason. You have 30 days from the date on the notice to request a hearing. Request the hearing in writing by mail or online through uimn.org. Do not wait — if you miss the 30-day important date, you lose your right to appeal.

At the hearing, an administrative law judge will listen to your side of the story and your employer's side. You can bring documents, witnesses, or both. If you quit, be ready to explain why and show that you reported the problem to your employer before you left. If you were fired, be ready to explain your side of what happened. The judge will issue a written decision within a few weeks.

If you disagree with the judge's decision, you can appeal to the Minnesota Unemployment Insurance Appeals Board within 30 days. This is a longer process and usually requires a lawyer, but it is possible to do it on your own.

What happens if you return to work or your situation changes

If you find a new job, you must report your earnings in your weekly report. Your benefits will be reduced by the amount you earn, but you can continue to receive partial benefits while you work part-time. If you return to full-time work, your benefits will stop, but you can reopen your claim later if you lose that job.

If your situation changes — you move, your phone number changes, you go back to school, or you become unable to work — contact DEED right away. Some changes affect your benefits. For example, if you enroll in school full-time, you may no longer be considered "able and available" to work, and your benefits will stop. If you have a medical condition that prevents you from working, you may be able to receive benefits while you recover, but you must report this to DEED.

If you receive benefits you were not may have access to to — for example, because you did not report earnings or because your claim was later found to be invalid — DEED will send you a notice asking you to repay the money. You can request a hearing to dispute the overpayment, but if the overpayment is upheld, you will owe the full amount plus interest.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does it take to receive my first payment?

Most claims are processed within one to two weeks of filing. Your first payment will be deposited into your bank account or mailed as a check about one week after your claim is approved. If you choose direct deposit, payments arrive faster than by mail. If there is a delay, contact DEED to check the status of your claim.

Can I receive unemployment benefits while I am looking for a new job?

Yes, that is the purpose of unemployment insurance. You must be actively looking for work and report your job search contacts each week. You do not need to have interviews or offers — you just need to show that you are making a genuine effort to find work.

What if my employer says I quit when I was actually laid off?

DEED will investigate the disagreement. Bring any written documentation — a layoff notice, an email, a text message, or a witness who was there. If you have no written proof, explain what happened as clearly as you can at your hearing. The judge will decide who is more credible based on the evidence.

Do I have to report job search activities if I am receiving unemployment benefits?

Yes. Minnesota requires you to report how many job search contacts you made each week. You do not need to provide the names of employers, but you should keep a record. If DEED asks for details and you cannot provide them, your benefits may be stopped.

What if I receive a job offer but turn it down?

If you turn down a job offer without good reason, DEED may stop your benefits. Good reasons include that the job pays significantly less than your previous job, the hours are unsafe or unreasonable, or the job is not in your field of work. If you turn down a job, be ready to explain why at your weekly report or in a hearing.