Minnesota Unemployment FAQ Sheet

1. What Is Unemployment Insurance?
2. What Are Unemployment Insurance Benefits?
3. How to Qualify for Unemployment Benefits
4. When to Apply for Unemployment
5. How to Apply for Minnesota Unemployment Insurance
6. How Unemployment Insurance Benefit Amounts Are Calculated
7. I Just Applied for Unemployment Insurance. Now What?
8. What Happens After You Are Approved for Unemployment Benefits?
9. How to Appeal an Unemployment Insurance Denial
10. Need More Help?
11. View or Download Our Free Guide

What is Unemployment Insurance?

Unemployment Insurance is a benefit program designed to replace part of the income of recently unemployed or underemployed workers. Unemployment Insurance is available to workers who are out of work through no fault of their own.

Learn more about Unemployment on Minnesota’s Unemployment Program Overview page here.

What are Unemployment Insurance Benefits?

Unemployment Insurance Benefits are weekly payments given to eligible workers who apply to and are accepted into the program. These payments are typically provided via direct deposits to the beneficiary’s bank account.

Learn more about how Unemployment Insurance payments work here.

How to Qualify for Unemployment Benefits

To qualify for Unemployment Insurance in Minnesota, you must:

• Have lost your job due to no fault of your own.
• Be able to work.
• Be actively seeking work.
• Meet Minnesota’s monetary and personal eligibility requirements.

You can learn more about Minnesota’s requirements to qualify for Unemployment Insurance here.

When to Apply for Unemployment

Apply for benefits online here during the week you are seeking payment, when your hours have been reduced or when you are no longer employed. Do NOT wait until the week is over.

Learn more information on when to apply for Unemployment Insurance here.

How to Apply for Unemployment in Minnesota

To apply for Unemployment Insurance in Minnesota, complete the following three steps:

1. Gather the documentation related to your previous employment and information you will need for the application.

Learn what documents and information you need here.

2. Choose how you are going to apply, whether online or over the phone. 

To apply for Unemployment Insurance online, click here to access Minnesota’s Unemployment claim portal. The online portal is available Sunday through Friday from 6:00 AM until 8:00 PM CST.

To apply for Unemployment Insurance over the phone, call (651) 296-3644 from the Twin Cities area or 1 (877) 898-9090 from other areas. The phone line is available Sunday through Friday from 6:00 AM until 8:00 PM CST.

You must file on the specific day that coordinates with your Social Security Number (SSN). See the filing schedule below:

Last Digit of SSN	Day to Apply Online
0, 1 or 2	Monday
3, 4 or 5	Tuesday
6, 7 or 8	Wednesday
Any	Thursday
Any	Friday

3. Submit the Unemployment application, which is also known as filing a claim. 

If you have questions about the application process or require assistance, contact the Minnesota Unemployment Insurance Program Monday through Friday from 6:00 AM to 8:00 PM at (651) 296-3644 from the Twin Cities area or 1 (877) 898-9090 from other areas.

For more information on the application process, click here.

How Unemployment Insurance Benefit Amounts Are Calculated

The amount of Unemployment Benefits you receive is based on your past reported earnings by employers that you have worked for in Minnesota. To determine how much an applicant will receive in Unemployment Benefits each week, the Minnesota Unemployment Insurance Agency takes approximately 0.5 percent of your average weekly earnings in the base period.

The maximum weekly benefit amount is $740. To learn more about benefit payments, click here. You can get an approximation of how much you will receive with the MN Benefits Estimator here.

I Just Applied for Unemployment Insurance. Now What?

• Report Your Waiting Week

The week after you file your unemployment claim is called the Waiting Week (also known in Minnesota as the non-payable week). During the Waiting Week, you must file a Weekly Certification Application through the claimant portal and the Unemployment Office will make sure you are still unemployed or underemployed, and meet all other eligibility requirements.

If approved, you will begin receiving your weekly benefits the following week. You are not paid for the Waiting Week, but you do receive a Waiting Week credit. You can access the Minnesota claimant portal here.

Learn more about the Weekly Certification Application on page 8 of this handbook.

• Start Looking for Work 

Keep track of your work-search contacts. You are required to make at least two contacts per week to receive payments and waiting week credit.

• Discuss Possible Issues 

If you were discharged or quit your last job, expect a call (or email if that is your preferred contact method) to determine if you are eligible for unemployment insurance.

You can learn more about what to expect after applying here.

What Happens After You Are Approved for Unemployment Benefits?

You must file a Weekly Certification Application every week you are receiving Unemployment Benefits until you are employed again. This weekly claim is like a follow-up application that certifies your continued eligibility for the program, and proves you are actively applying for new jobs.

Learn more about the Weekly Certification Application on page 8 of this handbook.  File your Weekly Certification Applications here.

You must file your claim on the specific day that coordinates with your Social Security Number (SSN). See the filing schedule below:

Last Digit of SSN	Day to Apply Online
0, 1 or 2	Monday
3, 4 or 5	Tuesday
6, 7 or 8	Wednesday
Any	Thursday
Any	Friday

You can also file your weekly claim by calling the automated line at (651) 296-3644 from the Twin Cities area or 1 (877) 898-9090 from other areas. The phone line is available Sunday through Friday from 6:00 AM until 8:00 PM CST. You must call on the specific day that coordinates with your Social Security Number (SSN). See the schedule below:

Last Digit of SSN	Day to Call	Time to Call
1, 3 or 5	Tuesday	6:00 AM to 12:00 PM
7 or 9	Tuesday	12:00 to 6:00 PM
0, 2 or 4	Wednesday	6:00 AM to 12:00 PM
6 or 8	Thursday	12:00 PM to 6:00 PM
Any	Thursday or Friday	6:00 AM to 6:00 PM

It is important to remember that your Unemployment benefits may be denied or delayed if you fail to submit your weekly application.

You can learn more about the next steps and filing weekly claims here.

How to File an Appeal If You Are Denied Unemployment Benefits

If your Unemployment Insurance application was denied, you have the right to file an appeal with the Minnesota Unemployment Insurance Agency.

To file an appeal online, log into the Unemployment Insurance portal here and click “View and Maintain My Account.” Then, click “Determination and Issue Summary” and find the issue identification number that matches the one on your denial letter.

To file an appeal by mail, send a letter explaining your disagreement to:

P.O. Box 4629
St. Paul, MN
55101-4629

You can fax an appeal to the Minnesota Unemployment Insurance Agency at (651) 205-4007.

If you choose to mail or fax an appeal, it must include the following information:

• Your full name and signature
• The reason for the appeal
• The Issue ID Number listed on the denial letter
• Your Social Security Number (SSN)

Need More Help?

If you have general questions about Minnesota Unemployment Benefits, call the Minnesota Unemployment Insurance Program’s customer service center at (651) 296-3644. 

Contact your local Unemployment Office or visit an office in person. Find your nearest Unemployment Office location and contact information here.

The Minnesota Unemployment Insurance Program’s customer service is available Monday through Thursday from 8:00 AM until 2:00 PM, except for observed holidays noted here.

Find answers to other topics related to Unemployment Insurance on the Minnesota Unemployment Insurance FAQs page here.

View or Download Our Free Guide

While we are not affiliated with the government in any way, our private company engaged writers to research the Unemployment Insurance program and compiled a guide and these answers to frequently asked questions. Our goal is to help you get the benefits that you need by providing useful information on the process.

Our free Unemployment Insurance Guide is filled with helpful information about how to apply, program eligibility requirements and how to get in touch with local offices. You can view or download our free guide here.