What Minnesota Unemployment Insurance Covers

Minnesota unemployment insurance replaces part of your 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 it pays a weekly benefit amount based on your earnings during a specific period before you filed.

You must have worked in Minnesota and earned enough wages to meet the program's threshold. The state does not cover you if you quit, were fired for misconduct, or are self-employed. You also cannot collect while you are working full-time, though you may be able to collect a reduced benefit if you work part-time.

Benefits typically last up to 26 weeks in a standard year, though Congress sometimes extends this during recessions or economic crises. The amount you receive depends on your prior earnings, not on how many dependents you have or how much you need.

Key Takeaways

  • You must file your claim with DEED within two weeks of your last day of work, or you may lose benefits for that week.
  • Minnesota calculates your weekly benefit by looking at your highest-earning quarter in the past 12 months and dividing by 26.
  • You must report any part-time work, gig work, or self-employment income when you file your weekly claim, or you risk overpayment and repayment demands.
  • You can file online through DEED's website, by phone, or by mail, and most people receive their first payment within two to three weeks.
  • If DEED denies your claim, you have the right to request a hearing before an administrative law judge, and you can bring evidence or a representative.

How to File Your Initial Claim

File your claim as soon as you know you are out of work. DEED accepts claims online through its website, by phone at 1-888-337-3337, or by mail. The online portal is the fastest route and lets you track your claim status in real time.

Have these documents ready before you start: your Social Security number, driver's license or state ID, the names and addresses of your employers for the past 18 months, your dates of employment at each job, and the reason you are no longer working. If you were laid off, have the date. If you were fired, have the reason the employer gave you. If you quit, be prepared to explain why.

When you file, DEED will ask about your work history, your reason for separation, and whether you have been offered any work since your last day. Answer honestly. DEED contacts your employer to verify what you report, and mismatches can delay your claim or result in a denial.

After you file, DEED sends you a notice showing your weekly benefit amount and the week your benefits begin. This notice also explains your right to request a hearing if you disagree with the decision. Keep this notice — you will need it to file your weekly claims.

Filing Your Weekly Claim and Reporting Work

Once your initial claim is approved, you must file a weekly claim every week you want to receive a payment. DEED calls this "certifying for benefits." You can do this online, by phone, or by mail, and most people file online because it is fastest.

When you file your weekly claim, DEED asks whether you worked that week, earned any money, or turned down any job offers. You must report all income, including part-time work, gig work through apps, freelance jobs, and any self-employment. If you earned $100 in a week, report it. DEED reduces your benefit dollar-for-dollar for most earnings above a small threshold, and if you do not report income, DEED will discover it later and demand repayment.

File your weekly claim by the important date DEED gives you — usually by Sunday or Monday of the following week. If you miss the important date, you lose that week's payment. If you are sick, on vacation, or unable to file on time, contact DEED when ready to ask for an extension.

Your payment is deposited into your bank account or onto a debit card DEED issues. Payments arrive within three to five business days of filing your weekly claim.

What Disqualifies You or Reduces Your Benefit

You cannot collect benefits if you quit your job without good cause, were fired for misconduct, or refused suitable work without a good reason. "Good cause" and "misconduct" have specific meanings under Minnesota law. Quitting because you were unhappy with the pay or the commute is usually not good cause. Being fired for being late once is usually not misconduct, but being fired for repeated tardiness after warnings may be.

If DEED denies your claim for one of these reasons, you will receive a notice explaining the decision. You have 30 days to request a hearing. At the hearing, you can present your side of the story, bring witnesses, and ask questions of the employer's representative.

Your benefit is also reduced if you earn money during the week. DEED allows you to earn a small amount — currently $25 per week — without a reduction. Above that, your benefit is reduced by 50 cents for every dollar you earn. If you earn $100 in a week and your weekly benefit is $300, you would receive $150 that week (300 minus 50 cents times 100).

If you receive severance pay, vacation pay, or sick leave payout after your last day of work, DEED may reduce or delay your benefits. Report any lump-sum payments to DEED when you file your claim.

If DEED Denies Your Claim

DEED sends you a written notice if it denies your claim. The notice explains the reason — for example, "You quit without good cause" or "You were fired for misconduct" — and tells you how to request a hearing.

You have 30 days from the date on the notice to request a hearing. You can request a hearing online through DEED's website, by phone, or by mail. Request it as soon as you receive the notice, because the 30-day window is firm.

At the hearing, an administrative law judge listens to both you and your employer, reviews documents, and makes a decision. You can bring a representative — a lawyer, a union representative, or a friend — but you do not have to. The judge's decision is mailed to you within two weeks. If you disagree with that decision, you can appeal to the Minnesota Court of Appeals, though this is rare and usually requires a lawyer.

How DEED Calculates Your Weekly Benefit

Your weekly benefit is based on your earnings in the highest-earning quarter of the 12 months before you filed your claim. DEED divides that quarter's total earnings by 26 to get your weekly amount. The state has a minimum and maximum weekly benefit; the minimum is currently $38 per week, and the maximum changes each year based on state wage averages.

For example, if you earned $10,000 in your highest quarter, DEED would calculate $10,000 divided by 26, which is about $385 per week. If that is below the minimum, you receive the minimum. If it is above the maximum, you receive the maximum.

DEED uses the wages your employer reported to the state, not what you remember earning. If you think DEED calculated your benefit incorrectly, ask DEED to review the calculation. Bring your pay stubs or tax return to show what you actually earned.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I collect unemployment if I was laid off due to lack of work?

Yes. A layoff due to lack of work, a reduction in force, or a plant closure is a separation through no fault of your own, and you are generally not disqualified. File your claim as soon as you know you are laid off. Your employer will report the reason for separation to DEED, and DEED will verify it matches what you reported.

What happens if I find a new job while collecting benefits?

Report your new job when you file your next weekly claim. Your benefit will be reduced based on what you earn. If you earn enough, your benefit may drop to zero, but you can still file weekly claims. Once you have worked long enough at the new job to meet DEED's earnings threshold, you can file a new claim if you lose that job too.

Do I have to look for work while collecting unemployment?

Minnesota does not currently require you to search for work or report job search activities to DEED. However, you must be able and willing to work. If DEED asks whether you are available for work, you must answer truthfully. If you are not available — for example, because you are in school full-time or caring for a family member — you may not be able to collect.

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

DEED will investigate the disagreement. File your claim and explain what happened. DEED contacts your employer to verify the reason for separation. If your employer's account differs from yours, DEED may schedule a fact-finding interview with both of you. Bring any documents that support your version — emails, texts, or a written notice of layoff. If DEED denies your claim, you can request a hearing.

How long does it take to receive my first payment?

Most people receive their first payment within two to three weeks of filing. DEED must verify your work history and contact your employer, which takes time. If there is a disagreement about why you left your job, the process may take longer. You can check the status of your claim online through DEED's website.