Question 1

Can you get unemployment if you were fired in Mississippi?

Accepted Answer

You are disqualified if you were discharged for misconduct connected with your work. Under the definition used by the Mississippi Supreme Court, misconduct means willful and wanton disregard of the employer's interest, such as deliberate violations of the standards of behavior an employer can expect, or carelessness so serious or repeated that it shows wrongful intent. Mere inefficiency, poor performance due to inability, isolated ordinary negligence and good-faith errors are not misconduct. Breaking a rule counts only if you knew or should have known of it, it was lawful and job-related, and it was fairly and consistently enforced. The disqualification lasts until you are reemployed and earn 8 times your weekly benefit amount in covered work.

Question 2

Can you get unemployment if you quit in Mississippi?

Accepted Answer

Your benefits may be delayed or denied if you left work without good cause under the law. Any separation for a reason other than lack of work is investigated to decide eligibility.

Question 3

Can you get unemployment if your hours were cut in Mississippi?

Accepted Answer

You must be unemployed through no fault of your own. If you are working less than full time because of lack of work and earn less than your weekly benefit amount plus $40, you may be eligible for partial benefits.

Question 4

How much do you need to have earned to get unemployment in Mississippi?

Accepted Answer

The base period is the first four of the last five completed calendar quarters before your claim. You must have worked in at least two quarters of the base period, earned at least $780 in your highest quarter, and earned at least 40 times your weekly benefit amount in the base period.

Question 5

How much is unemployment in Mississippi?

Accepted Answer

Your weekly benefit amount is your highest base period quarter's wages divided by 26. The minimum is $30 and the maximum is $235 per week.

Question 6

How long can you get unemployment in Mississippi?

Accepted Answer

The most you can receive in a benefit year is the lesser of 26 times your weekly benefit amount or one-third of your total base period wages (up to 26 weeks).

Question 7

Is there a waiting week for unemployment in Mississippi?

Accepted Answer

Yes. You must serve a one-week waiting period, and benefits are not paid for that week.

Question 8

What are the work search requirements for unemployment in Mississippi?

Accepted Answer

You must be registered for work with MDES Employment Services (Mississippi Works) and contact three employers each week about full-time work (35 hours or more). At least one of the three must be a completed application or resume submitted for suitable work. Report each contact (what you did, how, the date, the company and the person's name and phone number) on your weekly certification; contacts are subject to verification. Self-employed and 1099 workers must also meet this requirement.

Question 9

Does severance pay affect unemployment in Mississippi?

Accepted Answer

Bonus, holiday, vacation and severance pay are not reported as weekly earnings. A pension or retirement pay that a base period employer contributed to (not Social Security) may reduce your benefits and must be reported.

Question 10

How do I apply for unemployment in Mississippi?

Accepted Answer

Register with MDES Online Services and file your claim online, then file a weekly certification with your work search details after each week ends (Sunday through Saturday). You can also call the MDES contact center at 601-493-9427, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Identification such as a driver's license or state ID is required. You may be scheduled for reemployment services appointments at a WIN Job Center.

Question 11

How do I appeal an unemployment denial in Mississippi?

Accepted Answer

Appeal within 14 calendar days of the mail date on the decision, by contacting the MDES Call Center or mailing a written request to MDES, Appeals Department, P.O. Box 1699, Jackson, MS 39215-1699.

Question 12

Can you work part-time and collect unemployment in Mississippi?

Accepted Answer

Report all gross earnings for the week you did the work. Earnings over $40 a week are deducted from your weekly benefit amount.

Question 13

Can self-employed or gig workers get unemployment in Mississippi?

Accepted Answer

Services performed for wages are employment for unemployment purposes unless it is shown to the Mississippi Department of Employment Security that the worker is and will remain free from control and direction over the work, both under the contract and in fact. The employer-employee relationship is decided under common-law principles.

Question 14

Where do I log in to my unemployment claim in Mississippi?

Accepted Answer

Mississippi unemployment claims and weekly certifications are filed online in ReEmployMS, the Mississippi Department of Employment Security (MDES) claimant system. For help, call the MDES Contact Center at 601-493-9427 (TTY 800-582-2233).

If you were fired	You are disqualified if you were discharged for misconduct connected with your work. Under the definition used by the Mississippi Supreme Court, misconduct means willful and wanton disregard of the employer's interest, such as deliberate violations of the standards of behavior an employer can expect, or carelessness so serious or repeated that it shows wrongful intent. Mere inefficiency, poor performance due to inability, isolated ordinary negligence and good-faith errors are not misconduct. Breaking a rule counts only if you knew or should have known of it, it was lawful and job-related, and it was fairly and consistently enforced. The disqualification lasts until you are reemployed and earn 8 times your weekly benefit amount in covered work. Source: MDES, UI Claimant Handbook
If you quit	Your benefits may be delayed or denied if you left work without good cause under the law. Any separation for a reason other than lack of work is investigated to decide eligibility. The agency pages do not list examples of good cause or the length of the quit disqualification. Source: MDES, Benefit Eligibility Requirements; UI Claimant Handbook
Layoffs and reduced hours	You must be unemployed through no fault of your own. If you are working less than full time because of lack of work and earn less than your weekly benefit amount plus $40, you may be eligible for partial benefits. Source: MDES, UI Claimant Handbook
Earnings needed to qualify	The base period is the first four of the last five completed calendar quarters before your claim. You must have worked in at least two quarters of the base period, earned at least $780 in your highest quarter, and earned at least 40 times your weekly benefit amount in the base period. Source: MDES, Benefit Eligibility Requirements
Self-employed, 1099 and gig workers	Services performed for wages are employment for unemployment purposes unless it is shown to the Mississippi Department of Employment Security that the worker is and will remain free from control and direction over the work, both under the contract and in fact. The employer-employee relationship is decided under common-law principles. Mississippi Code text read on a public code mirror (FindLaw), because the official Mississippi Code is published through LexisNexis. Source: Miss. Code Ann. § 71-5-11(14)

Weekly benefit amount	Your weekly benefit amount is your highest base period quarter's wages divided by 26. The minimum is $30 and the maximum is $235 per week. The agency describes $235 as the maximum allowed "at this time" and does not give an effective date. Source: MDES, Benefit Eligibility Requirements
How many weeks	The most you can receive in a benefit year is the lesser of 26 times your weekly benefit amount or one-third of your total base period wages (up to 26 weeks). Source: MDES, Benefit Eligibility Requirements
Waiting week	Yes. You must serve a one-week waiting period, and benefits are not paid for that week. Source: MDES, Benefit Eligibility Requirements
Working part-time on benefits	Report all gross earnings for the week you did the work. Earnings over $40 a week are deducted from your weekly benefit amount. Source: MDES, Properly Report Earnings
Severance and vacation pay	Bonus, holiday, vacation and severance pay are not reported as weekly earnings. A pension or retirement pay that a base period employer contributed to (not Social Security) may reduce your benefits and must be reported. The agency pages do not say whether severance or vacation pay delays the start of benefits. Source: MDES, Properly Report Earnings

How to apply	Register with MDES Online Services and file your claim online, then file a weekly certification with your work search details after each week ends (Sunday through Saturday). You can also call the MDES contact center at 601-493-9427, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Identification such as a driver's license or state ID is required. You may be scheduled for reemployment services appointments at a WIN Job Center. Source: MDES, Worksearch Requirements; UI Claimant Handbook
Work search requirements	You must be registered for work with MDES Employment Services (Mississippi Works) and contact three employers each week about full-time work (35 hours or more). At least one of the three must be a completed application or resume submitted for suitable work. Report each contact (what you did, how, the date, the company and the person's name and phone number) on your weekly certification; contacts are subject to verification. Self-employed and 1099 workers must also meet this requirement. Source: MDES, Worksearch Requirements
Appealing a denial	Appeal within 14 calendar days of the mail date on the decision, by contacting the MDES Call Center or mailing a written request to MDES, Appeals Department, P.O. Box 1699, Jackson, MS 39215-1699. Source: MDES, UI Claimant Handbook
Logging in and filing weekly claims	Mississippi unemployment claims and weekly certifications are filed online in ReEmployMS, the Mississippi Department of Employment Security (MDES) claimant system. For help, call the MDES Contact Center at 601-493-9427 (TTY 800-582-2233). ReEmployMS login: https://reemployms.mdes.ms.gov/cp/landing Source: Mississippi Department of Employment Security, Unemployment Claims

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