How to file for unemployment in Minnesota
The fastest way to file for unemployment in Minnesota is online through Minnesota Unemployment Insurance Program (DEED) at www.uimn.org. Minnesota pays up to $948 per week, has one unpaid waiting week before benefits begin, and regular state benefits run up to 26 weeks. File the week your job ends, since claims generally do not backdate, and choose "laid off / no fault" as your reason.
HOW MUCH YOU CAN GET
Up to $948 / week
About half of your average weekly pay, up to a cap indexed to state wages each October.
Effective October 2025. Your exact amount comes from your wage history; Minnesota Unemployment Insurance Program (DEED) calculates it when you file.
Just laid off? Unemployment is one of five clocks
Severance review, COBRA, health coverage, and the rest: every first-week deadline in one place. Free, no account needed.
Minnesota unemployment at a glance
Agency
Minnesota Unemployment Insurance Program (DEED)
Official portal
www.uimn.org
Ways to file
Online · Phone
Max weekly benefit
$948/week
Waiting week
One unpaid waiting week
Max benefit weeks
Up to 26 weeks
Apply through the UI Minnesota applicant self-service system; phone is Twin Cities 651-296-3644 or Greater Minnesota 1-877-898-9090, Sun-Fri 6 a.m. to 8 p.m.
File in the state where you worked, not where you live. Worked in more than one? Start with the agency where you live now.
Filing is always free. No real state or federal program charges a fee to file. If a site asks for payment, it's a scam.
How to file, step by step
1
Gather your documents (see the checklist below) before you start.
2
Go to the official state portal: www.uimn.org.
3
Create an account and complete any identity verification the state requires.
4
File your initial claim. For the separation reason, choose "laid off / no fault," not "fired" or "quit."
5
Then certify each week (answer the weekly questions) to keep benefits coming, and set up direct deposit.
What to have ready
Your Social Security number and a government photo ID.
Employer details for the last 18 months: each company's name, address, and your dates there.
The reason you left each job. For this one, that's "laid off / no fault," not "fired" or "quit."
Your most recent pay stubs and last year's W-2.
Bank routing + account number, if you want benefits paid by direct deposit.
Minnesota unemployment FAQ
How do I file for unemployment in Minnesota?
File online through Minnesota Unemployment Insurance Program (DEED) at www.uimn.org. Have your Social Security number, photo ID, and 18 months of employer details ready, and choose "laid off / no fault" as your reason for leaving. You can also file by phone.
How much is unemployment in Minnesota?
Minnesota pays up to $948 per week. About half of your average weekly pay, up to a cap indexed to state wages each October. Figure effective October 2025; confirm your exact amount with Minnesota Unemployment Insurance Program (DEED) when you file.
Does severance affect unemployment in Minnesota?
Minnesota delays benefits by the number of weeks the severance represents at your former weekly wage (when it equals or exceeds the weekly benefit), starting the week after separation regardless of when the check arrives. File the week your job ends either way and answer the portal's questions honestly; the agency applies the rule. (Researched July 2026; confirm current treatment with Minnesota Unemployment Insurance Program (DEED).)
Is there a waiting week for unemployment in Minnesota?
Minnesota: one unpaid waiting week. A waiting week is an unpaid first week of a claim; where it applies you still file and certify during it.
How many weeks of unemployment can I get in Minnesota?
Minnesota pays regular state benefits for up to 26 weeks. Federal extensions can change this in a downturn; confirm the current rule with Minnesota Unemployment Insurance Program (DEED).
Official references
How unemployment insurance works (US DOL)
Plain-language overview of eligibility, the unpaid waiting week, and weekly certification.
Unemployment is taxable (IRS Topic 418)
Benefits count as income. Consider asking Minnesota to withhold so tax time isn't a surprise.
Keep going
The unemployment guide
Waiting weeks, weekly certification, and the timing that trips people up.
Not your state? See all states
The official place to file in every other state.
Reviewed July 2026. State rules change; confirm the current waiting week and benefit weeks on the official Minnesota portal (www.uimn.org) before you rely on them.