Can asylum seekers receive unemployment benefits?

Unemployment benefits are weekly or bi-weekly payments from your state when you lose a job through no fault of your own (for example, you were laid off), while you look for a new job. 

Getting unemployment benefits should not negatively impact your asylum or other immigration case. Learn more.

Many asylum seekers with valid work permits can get unemployment benefits if they lose their job and meet certain requirements. You can generally get benefits if you have a valid work permit at all of these times:

1. During your “base period” (usually the 18 months before you first apply for unemployment benefits) 

2. When you first submit an application for unemployment benefits

3. During the time that you receive unemployment benefits. If your work permit expires during this time, you usually cannot receive more benefits until it is renewed. Learn how to renew your work permit.

There are other requirements, which can also vary by state. In most states, you also must:

• Have earned at least a certain amount of money during your “base period” 

• Have worked consistently during your “base period”

• Look for a new job while you get benefits

To learn about your state’s rules and how to apply for unemployment benefits, visit this website and select your state.

Find organizations that may be able to help you apply for unemployment benefits in your state:

• Arizona

• California

• Connecticut 

• Florida

• Georgia

• Illinois

• Indiana

• Maine

• Maryland

• Michigan

• Minnesota

• Montana

• Nebraska

• Nevada

• New Jersey

• New York

• North Carolina

• Ohio

• Oregon

• Pennsylvania

• Rhode Island

• South Dakota

• Texas

• Virginia

• Washington D.C. 

• Washington State

• Wisconsin

Arizona

Arizona Department of Economic Security list of free legal help for unemployment appeals

• https://des.az.gov/services/employment/unemployment-individual/how-file-appeal-ui-benefits/legal-representation

Maricopa, Yuma, Mohave, La Paz, and Yavapai Counties

Community Legal Services

• Maricopa County: (602) 258-3434

• Yuma County: (928) 782-7511

• Mohave and La Paz Counties: (928) 681-1177

• Yavapai County: (928) 445-9240

• https://apply.azlawhelp.org/forms/intake 

California

San Francisco

Legal Aid at Work

• (415) 864-8848

• https://legalaidatwork.org/contact/ 

Centro Legal de la Raza

• (510) 437-1554

• https://centrolegal.org/workers-rights/ 

Asian Law Caucus

• (415) 896-1701

• https://www.asianlawcaucus.org/get-help

Los Angeles

Bet Tzedek

• (323) 939-0506

• https://bettzedek.org/get-help/

Connecticut

Connecticut Legal Services

• (800) 453-3320 

• https://ctlegal.org/get-help/ 

Connecticut Department of Labor – Office of the Unemployed Workers’ Advocate

• (860) 263-6000

• https://portal.ct.gov/DOL/Home/Office-of-the-UWA

Florida

Orlando

Florida Legal Services

• (407) 801-4350

• https://www.floridalegal.org/contact-us 

Alachua, Baker, Bradford, Clay, Columbia, Dixie, Duval, Gilchrist, Hamilton, Lafayette, Levy, Madison, Nassau, St. Johns, Suwannee, Taylor and Union

Jacksonville Area Legal Aid

• (904) 356-8371

• https://www.jaxlegalaid.org/get-help/ 

Clay County

Jacksonville Area Legal Aid – Green Cove Springs

• (904) 284-8410

• (866) 284-8410

Miami

Legal Services of Greater Miami

• (305) 576-0080  

• https://www.legalservicesmiami.org/contact-us

Georgia

Atlanta Legal Aid

• (404) 524-5811

• https://atlantalegalaid.org/contact-2/ 

Illinois

Illinois Legal Aid

• https://www.illinoislegalaid.org/get-legal-help 

Indiana

Neighborhood Christian Legal Clinic

• (317) 429-4131

• https://www.nclegalclinic.org

Maine

Maine Equal Justice

• (866) 626-7059

• https://www.mejp.org

Maryland

Washington Lawyers’ Committee

• (202) 319-1040  

• https://www.washlaw.org/clinic 

Michigan

Michigan Unemployment Insurance Agency – Advocacy Program

• (800) 638-3994

• https://www.michigan.gov/uia

Minnesota

Mid-Minnesota Legal Aid

• (612) 332-1441

• https://mylegalaid.org/get-legal-help

Montana

Montana Legal Services Association

• (800) 666-6899

• https://www.mtlsa.org/apply-for-services/

Nebraska

Legal Aid of Nebraska – AccessLine

• (877) 250-2016

• (402) 348-1060 (Omaha area)

• https://www.legalaidofnebraska.com

Nevada

Nevada Legal Services

• (702) 386-0404

• https://nvbar.org/for-the-public/pro-bono-for-the-public

New Jersey

Legal Services of New Jersey

• (888) 576-5529

• https://www.lsnjlawhotline.org

North Carolina

Buncombe, Madison, Transylvania, Henderson, Polk, and Rutherford Counties 

Pisgah Legal Services

• (828) 253-0406

• (800) 489-6144

• https://www.pisgahlegal.org/contact/ 

Charlotte

Charlotte Center for Legal Advocacy

• (704) 376-1600

• https://charlottelegaladvocacy.org/get-help/ 

New York

New York City

The Legal Aid Society

• (888) 663-6880

• https://legalaidnyc.org/get-help/employment/ 

Cabrini Immigrant Services

• (212) 791-4590 ext. 100

• https://cis-nyc.org/contact 

Mobilization for Justice – Workplace Justice Project

• (212) 417-3838 (Tuesdays, 2–5 p.m.)

• https://mobilizationforjustice.org/projects/workplace-justice-project/

Buffalo

Legal Aid Bureau of Buffalo

• (716) 853-9555

• https://legalaidbuffalo.org/get-help-now-apply/ 

Ohio

Legal Aid Society of Cleveland

• (888) 817-3777

• https://lasclev.org

Oregon

Public Benefits Hotline – Legal Aid Services of Oregon and Oregon Law Center

• (800) 520-5292

• https://oregonlawhelp.org/node/107

Pennsylvania

Community Legal Services

• (215) 981-3700

• https://clsphila.org

Rhode Island

Rhode Island Legal Services

• (401) 274-2652

• (800) 662-5034

• https://www.helprilaw.org

South Dakota

SD Law Help

• (800) 952-3015

• https://sdlawhelp.org/apply

Texas

Texas Rio Grande Legal Aid

• (956) 996-8752

• https://www.trla.org/help 

Equal Justice Center

• (800) 853-4028

• https://www.equaljusticecenter.org

Virginia

Washington Lawyers’ Committee

• (202) 319-1040  

• https://www.washlaw.org/clinic 

Legal Aid Justice Center

• Charlottesville Area: (434) 977-0553

• Northern Virginia Area: (703) 778-3450

• Richmond Area: (804) 643-1086

• Petersburg Area: (804) 862-2205

• https://www.justice4all.org/get-help/#WhatWeCanHelp 

Washington D.C. 

Legal Aid Society of the District of Columbia 

• (202) 628-1161

• https://www.legalaiddc.org/contactus 

Washington Lawyers’ Committee

• (202) 319-1040  

• https://www.washlaw.org/clinic 

Washington State

Unemployment Law Project

• (888) 441-9178 (Seattle)

• (800) 940-9178 (Spokane)

• https://www.unemploymentlawproject.org

Wisconsin

Unemployment Compensation Appeals Clinic

• Call 211 or (608) 246-4357 to make an appointment

• https://dwd.wisconsin.gov/dwd/publications/ui/legalhelp.htm

Other Topics

Click on the links below to learn more about:

• Food Assistance

• Health Care

• Public Charge Rule

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