If you have lost work due to COVID-19, you may be eligible for unemployment insurance. Unemployment insurance provides partial wage replacement payments to eligible workers who lose their job or have their hours reduced. The unique nature of our industry means that some of you aren’t protected by current unemployment policies, but you may qualify and the AFM encourages you to apply for benefits.

Unemployment insurance is a joint state-federal program that provides cash benefits. Each state sets its own unemployment insurance benefits and eligibility guidelines.

To receive unemployment insurance benefits, you need to generally file a claim in the state where you worked. If you worked in a state other than the one where you now live or if you worked in multiple states, the state unemployment insurance agency where you now live can provide information about how to file your claim with other states.

When you file a claim, you will be asked for certain information, such as addresses and dates of your former employment. Make sure you have gathered all that information to help complete your application.

Find details of your state’s program on the CareerOneStop website at https://bit.ly/2Wqh8Uo.