How to File for Unemployment in Minnesota
How to apply for unemployment in Minnesota, what you need, and what you must do each week to keep getting benefits.
Short answer: Apply online at ui.mn.gov or by phone. Request a benefit payment for each week you are unemployed, online Sunday through Friday, 6 a.m. to 8 p.m., or by phone on the day assigned by the last digit of your Social Security number. Minnesota Unemployment Insurance Information Handbook (October 26, 2025 through October 24, 2026)
| How to apply | Apply online at ui.mn.gov or by phone. Request a benefit payment for each week you are unemployed, online Sunday through Friday, 6 a.m. to 8 p.m., or by phone on the day assigned by the last digit of your Social Security number. Keep requesting payments even while eligibility or an appeal is pending. The soonest you will be paid is usually the third week after your account is established. |
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| Earnings needed to qualify | To establish a benefit account, your base period wage credits must total at least 5.3% of the state's average annual wage, rounded down to the next lower $100. The current dollar amount was not stated on the agency pages read. Source: Minn. Stat. § 268.07, subd. 2 |
| Work search requirements | You must actively seek suitable employment every week you request benefits and be willing to accept the hours, wages and commuting distance normal for your occupation. Activities that count include applying at employers, sending resumes, calling employers to arrange interviews, job search classes or workshops, career counseling, networking, using online job banks and attending a Reemployment Session at CareerForce. If your benefits are based on part-time work, you can limit your search to part-time work. Referral union members meet the requirement by staying in good standing with the union. The agency does not set a fixed number of contacts per week. |
| Logging in and filing weekly claims | Minnesota Unemployment Insurance (Department of Employment and Economic Development) uses the Applicant Self-Service System. Log in to your account to request benefit payments on your scheduled request dates, see pending issues and print your payment history. Applicant login: https://www1.ui.mn.gov/ui_applicant/ui/applicant/login |
Where to get help in Minnesota
More Minnesota unemployment benefits
- Logging In to Your Minnesota Unemployment Claim
- Unemployment for Self-Employed and Gig Workers in Minnesota
- Unemployment After Being Fired in Minnesota
- Unemployment After Quitting in Minnesota
- How Much Unemployment Pays in Minnesota
- All Minnesota unemployment benefits rules
FAQ
How do I apply for unemployment in Minnesota?
Apply online at ui.mn.gov or by phone. Request a benefit payment for each week you are unemployed, online Sunday through Friday, 6 a.m. to 8 p.m., or by phone on the day assigned by the last digit of your Social Security number. Keep requesting payments even while eligibility or an appeal is pending. The soonest you will be paid is usually the third week after your account is established.
How much do you need to have earned to get unemployment in Minnesota?
To establish a benefit account, your base period wage credits must total at least 5.3% of the state's average annual wage, rounded down to the next lower $100.
What are the work search requirements for unemployment in Minnesota?
You must actively seek suitable employment every week you request benefits and be willing to accept the hours, wages and commuting distance normal for your occupation. Activities that count include applying at employers, sending resumes, calling employers to arrange interviews, job search classes or workshops, career counseling, networking, using online job banks and attending a Reemployment Session at CareerForce. If your benefits are based on part-time work, you can limit your search to part-time work. Referral union members meet the requirement by staying in good standing with the union.
Where do I log in to my unemployment claim in Minnesota?
Minnesota Unemployment Insurance (Department of Employment and Economic Development) uses the Applicant Self-Service System. Log in to your account to request benefit payments on your scheduled request dates, see pending issues and print your payment history.
General legal information, not legal advice. Laws change and local rules can differ; check the linked official source or talk to a lawyer about your situation.