• Unemployment income is temporarily paid by the state to the unemployed who have lost their jobs due to dismissal or for other reasons through no fault of their own.

  • The purpose of unemployment income is to provide a safety net for those individuals who become unemployed while looking for a new job.
  • Generally, unemployment is treated as ordinary income for tax purposes and must be reported to the IRS.
  • Under normal circumstances, most states pay unemployment benefits for a maximum of 26 weeks, but benefits can be extended or increased during times of economic crisis.
  • If you quit your job, you must have a good reason, otherwise you most likely will not qualify for unemployment benefits.