Mississippi Unemployment Eligibility

To be eligible for unemployment benefits in Mississippi, you need to meet the following requirements.

Non Monetary Eligibility

• Be unemployed through no fault of your own
• Be able to work
• Be available for work and seeking full time work
• Serve a one-week waiting period (benefits cannot be paid for this week)
• Be registered for work at the WIN Job Center in your area
• Must leave work with good cause  under the Law
• Must not be discharged for misconduct connected with your work

Monetary Eligibility

To be monetarily eligible, you must earn sufficient wages in the base period. The base period of a claim includes the first four (4) of the last five (5) completed calendar quarters immediately preceding the effective date of the claim.

To qualify for benefits, you:

• Must have worked in at least two quarters of your base period
• Must have earned at least $780.00 in the highest quarter of your base period
• Must have earned 40 times your weekly benefit amount in your base period

If you file a claim for benefits and it is determined that you do not have sufficient wages in your base period to qualify, you may reapply again after the quarter changes, if you are still unemployed.

Eligibility Questions

Can I collect unemployment if I am fired?

Although you may meet the above eligibility requirements, your benefits may be delayed or denied if you are discharged for misconduct connected with your work.

The definition of ‘misconduct’ as held by the Mississippi Supreme Court is as below:

“The meaning of the term ‘misconduct’, as used in the unemployment compensation statute, is conduct evidencing such willful and wanton disregard of the employer’s interest as is found in deliberate violations or disregard of the standards of behavior which the employer has the right to expect from his employees. Also, carelessness and negligence of such degree, or recurrence thereof, as to manifest culpability, wrongful intent or evil design, and showing an intentional or substantial disregard of the employer’s interest or of the employee’s duties and obligations to his employer, came within the term. Mere inefficiency, unsatisfactory conduct, failure in good performance as the result of inability or incapacity, or inadvertencies and ordinary negligence in isolated incidents, and good faith errors in judgment or discretion were not considered ‘misconduct’ within the meaning of the statute.”

Can I draw unemployment if I am laid off?

To collect unemployment benefits, it can’t be your fault that you’re out of work. If you were laid off because the company wanted to save money or eliminate positions, you should be eligible for benefits.

When you get laid-off, it is not your fault. Getting laid-off doesn’t mean that you were fired or you did something wrong. It simply means that the company in which you worked doesn’t have enough work and could no longer afford to pay you for the job.

Once you get laid-off from your job, you should immediately apply for unemployment benefits.

What happens if I quit my job in Mississippi?

If you quit your job willingly, your claim will likely be denied unless you can demonstrate that the working conditions left you no choice.

Examples of “good cause” could include an unsafe workplace, discrimination, sexual harassment or a reduction in pay or hours that was so deep that you couldn’t afford to stay.

To continue receiving benefits, Mississippi expect you to be seeking work and to be available for suitable work. If you turn down job offers or skip job interviews, you may be denied benefits.

Note: Marital, filial, or domestic circumstances are not considered good cause for leaving employment in Mississippi.

If I accept odd jobs, or part-time work, can I still receive benefits?

Yes. But remember, you must report all wages when earned, not when paid. Your weekly claim form asks, “Did you do any work last week?” If you work, simply report the dates, name of the business you worked for, number of hours worked, and the gross amount you earned during that week.

What is an Eligibility Review?

Occasionally you will be scheduled to report in person for an Eligibility Review. You will receive a notification that will tell you the date and time to report. At this time, you will be asked to provide at least three places you have looked for work. If you fail to report as scheduled for your Eligibility Review, your claim may be affected.

More Questions?? —-> Read Eligibility Q & A Section

Want to know about how much you will receive?? —–>Calculate your benefits here