To be eligible for unemployment benefit payments, you must:
- Lose your job through no fault of your own OR quit for good cause related to the work or the employer.
- Make at least $2,250—at least $1,500 during one of the calendar quarters, and at least $750 during the remainder of the base period—from an insured employer during your base period. (See chart below).
- AND your total base period wages must be at least 1.5 times your highest quarter wages.
- OR you must make at least 1.5 times the Taxable Wage Base during two of the four base period quarters.
How to determine your base period
| If your claim begins on a Sunday between: | Your base period is the prior twelve month period as shown: | |
|---|---|---|
| January 1 - March 31 | October 1 - September 30 | |
| April 1 - June 30 | January 1 - December 31 | |
| July 1 - September 30 | April 1 - March 31 | |
| October 1 - December 31 | July 1 - June 30 |
Special Notes:
- Any information provided during the claims application process may be subject to verification through computer matching programs.
- If your hours were reduced, you may also be eligible for partial unemployment benefits.
- To remain eligible:
- You must report all wages earned each week, even if you won’t be paid until later. This includes tips, commissions, bonuses, show-up time, military reserve pay, board, and lodging.
- You must be able and available for work each week. This means you have no illness, injury, or personal circumstances that would keep you from working full time.
- Refusing an offer of work may result in denial of unemployment benefits.
- Visit jobs.mo.gov at least once a month. At jobs.mo.gov you can create your resume and begin searching through thousands of jobs posted statewide
- You may visit MO Careers to browse open positions in State Government.
- NOTE- The Division of Child Support Enforcement has the ability to intercept up to 50 percent of a claimant’s weekly benefits if they are delinquent on their child support payments. The Division of Employment Security does not have the ability to alter, remove, or add child support intercepts. Any questions regarding the interception of unemployment benefits for Child Support should be directed to Child Support Enforcement at 866-313-9960.
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