New Mexico Unemployment Eligibility Calculator
How to qualify for New Mexico unemployment benefits
In order to receive compensation through the New Mexico unemployment insurance program, you have to meet the state’s eligibility guidelines. This includes:
- Earning enough income during your base period
- Being unemployed through no fault of your own
- Be able and available to work
- Registering for work with New Mexico Workforce Connection
- Meeting the work search requirements
- Accepting any offers for suitable work
Monetary eligibility requirements
When you apply for unemployment benefits, the amount you receive each week is determined by the wages you earned during a specific time frame called the base period. The base period usually covers the first four of the last five calendar quarters before you applied for UI benefits.
Your weekly benefit amount is based on your earnings. You must have earned at least $2,089.72 during your base period, and have earnings in at least two of the four periods.
The state of New Mexico calculates your weekly benefit amount by taking 53.5% of your average weekly earnings in the highest quarter of your base period, along with a $25 dependent allowance, for a maximum benefit amount of $565 per week.
The New Mexico Department of Workforce Solutions will send you a Monetary Determination letter outlining your base period earnings and how much you qualify for after you submit an initial application.
If you do not qualify for UI benefits under the traditional base period, the state may allow you to use an alternate base period to qualify. This is typically the last four calendar quarters that you worked before applying for benefits. You do not have to ask the department to calculate benefits using an alternate base period—they will do it automatically if you are eligible.
You can estimate your weekly benefit amount by using our New Mexico Unemployment Calculator.
Wage Credits
A wage credit refers to any compensation or income earned from an employer that is paid into the state’s unemployment tax pool. In the context of New Mexico unemployment benefits, a wage credit is important because it is used to determine your eligibility and the amount of benefits you receive.
Non-monetary UI benefit eligibility requirements
Unemployment insurance benefits are for workers who are without a job because of circumstances beyond their control. To qualify, you must be able and willing to look for full-time work and accept any suitable job offers.
You also must register for work with a New Mexico Workforce Connection Center, either online at jobs.state.nm.us or in person at your local office.
How many weeks of New Mexico unemployment do I qualify for?
If you were working in New Mexico and lost your job through no fault of your own, you are eligible for up to 26 weeks of financial assistance per benefit year. Your benefit year starts the week that you apply for benefits.
Maintaining eligibility
Once you apply for unemployment benefits, you’ll need to file a claim every week to receive payment. This includes reporting any work you performed or money you earned during the week.
You will also need to show how you met the state’s job search requirements by providing the contact information of each employer you reached out to for a new job. You must contact at least two employers each week.
If you forget to file your weekly claim, you might not receive your unemployment payment on time.
What is considered “suitable work?”
Suitable work refers to a job that matches a person’s skills, experience, and qualifications. It is also a job that provides comparable pay and benefits to what others in the same role receive.
If you decline an offer of suitable work, you risk losing your unemployment insurance eligibility. However, you can decline any job offer if:
- The job puts you physically at risk or goes against your morals
- You do not have the physical or mental abilities to perform the job
- The workplace is too far away from your home
- The job pays much less or has worse hours and conditions than similar jobs in the area
- The job is open because of a strike or lockout
- You’re required to join a company’s union to get the job or will be forced to quit a union you are already part of
Can I work part time and receive benefits?
Yes, though how much you work and how much you earn can affect your weekly benefit amount. You also must be willing to apply for and accept a full-time position.
You can earn up to 20% of your weekly benefit amount without affecting your unemployment compensation. If you earn more than 20%, however, your benefit payment will decrease by the dollar amount you earned above the limit until you no longer qualify for benefits.
Do I qualify for unemployment if I am self-employed?
No, income from self-employment, freelancing, commissions, and gig work does not qualify for unemployment benefits. This is because these wages are not paid by an employer who pays into the unemployment tax pool.
Any money earned from self-employment activities while receiving unemployment benefits will make you ineligible for benefits.
What would disqualify me from the New Mexico UI benefit program?
There are many reasons you may not qualify for New Mexico unemployment insurance benefits. This includes:
- Voluntarily quitting a job without a good cause
- Being fired for misconduct
- Not meeting the income requirements
- Refusing offers for suitable work
- Failing to report earnings
- Being unavailable for work
- Failing to participate in job search activities
- Committing New Mexico unemployment fraud
If you were denied benefits but believe the decision was made in error, you can appeal the decision before an administrative law judge.
What can affect my claim for benefits?
Anything that affects your ability to accept a full-time job could impact your unemployment claim. This includes being sick, traveling, losing child care, or experiencing transportation issues. You will need to let the New Mexico Department of Workforce Solutions know if any of these circumstances apply to you.
When do I no longer qualify for New Mexico unemployment benefits?
If you return to work full-time or start earning your weekly benefit amount plus 20%, you are no longer eligible to continue receiving unemployment benefits. When this happens, you no longer need to file a weekly certification anymore. The unemployment division will assume that you’ve started working full-time, and they’ll stop making benefit payments automatically.
Furthermore, claimants are no longer eligible for New Mexico unemployment insurance once they’ve received benefits for 26 weeks – unless there are Extended Benefits programs available.
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