Applying for unemployment benefits is often a crash course on the fine art of sitting outside an office for hours at a time. There can be a significant amount of paperwork to complete while you wait for the next state unemployment employee to become available. Even then, the paperwork is often exchanged for a lengthy interview to determine eligibility and employability. The good news is, however, that it is now possible to file for unemployment online and avoid the long lines found at state unemployment agencies.
Not all state unemployment agencies allow applicants to file for unemployment online, but the number that do appears to be growing. Visitors to an official government website can register for free and password-protected accounts which allow them to access any number of services and application forms. Many of these services are employment-related, such as a posting area for potential jobs or a list of prominent local employers to contact. But it is also possible to use the website to file for unemployment online, check on an application's status or contact a specific employee or official for more information.
The main reason many eligible workers file for unemployment online is to avoid the overcrowded and often understaffed state employment offices. The online application for unemployment benefits requests the same information as the form offered in brick-and-mortar unemployment offices, so there is no need to wait for hours for a human to receive and process the standard form. Online applicants may have to provide personal information and other sensitive information, but the websites themselves are generally secure and protected by firewalls.
The actual processing of the benefit application is the same for those who file for unemployment online or in person. Online applications are not necessarily expedited or given a higher priority over other applications received in the office that day. Online applicants must also supply detailed information about their employment history, which could also mean a detailed reason for their recent unemployment. Being fired from a job for no fault of their own, such as a layoff or firing, may qualify applicants for unemployment benefits sooner, but situations such as a voluntary quit may require more details or a face-to-face interview before benefit eligibility can be determined.
In short, many unemployed workers can indeed file for unemployment online, but that step alone does not provide any other benefit besides getting the application in the system in minutes instead of hours. There may still be a need to set up a face-to-face interview, and a denial of benefits may still require real world legal action or a visit to a real brick-and-mortar state employment office for further explanation.
