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Originally Posted by butterbean
Can't you only draw unemployment if you are paying into it while you are working?
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You do pay into it as a W-2 employee. In my state you can file if you are unemployed due to no fault of your own, have earned the minimum amount in your base period ($8800), and are actively seeking work. The employers' taxes pay the benefits.
(The Base Period is the first four of the last five completed calendar quarters before the starting date of your claim. So if you file now your base period would be the prior July through June.) You're paid 4.6% of what you earned in the quarter you made the most money. So if my math's right - assuming you did 20 hours a week for 4 months you'd make $4800. Multiply that by 4.6% and your benefit will be $221/week.
Look for the Department of Labor & Training for your state for specifics.