Unemployment Benefits in Minnesota
State-specific overview · Employment Law
Minnesota provides up to 26 weeks of regular benefits; the state uses a high-wage quarter method to calculate benefit amounts.
How Minnesota treats Unemployment Benefits
Minnesota determines weekly benefit amounts by dividing one-third of the worker's highest-earning quarter by 13, up to a state maximum. Workers must have earned at least $4,000 in the base year and worked in at least two quarters to establish eligibility. The state offers additional extended benefits during periods of elevated unemployment. Minnesota also provides special programs for workers affected by plant closures and mass layoffs.
The general definition of Unemployment Benefits
Temporary income payments to workers who lose their jobs through no fault of their own.
Unemployment benefits are payments provided by the government to workers who have lost their jobs involuntarily and meet certain eligibility requirements. These benefits are funded by taxes that employers pay into a state unemployment insurance fund. To qualify, a worker typically must have been employed for a minimum period, have lost the job without quitting, and not have been fired for misconduct. Benefits are usually a percentage of the worker's prior wages and last for a limited time, often 26 weeks. Workers must actively search for new employment to continue receiving benefits.
Read the full Unemployment Benefits entry →This page is a plain-English reference and is not legal advice. State laws change frequently. For specific situations consult a licensed attorney in Minnesota.