Who can collect benefits?

The requirements for filing a successful claim will vary depending on your state of residence, but it generally comes down to these three questions:

1) Did you lose your job through no fault of your own?
2) Did you hold your last job for longer than six months (in many states, it's up to a year)?
3) Are you currently working, even part-time?

If you answered yes, yes, and no, the answer is probably yes: You are likely eligible to collect benefits in your time of need. Again, it varies by state. In some states you can collect even if you are working part time. In some states you can collect even if you did lose your job through some fault of your own. Contact your state office for details. (See below.)

If you believe you may be entitled to receive such benefits, you should absolutely file a claim. You and your former employer have been paying into this fund. Now you need it. Take it! If you paid into health insurance you'd file a claim if you got sick, right? Same thing here. Unemployment benefits are not welfare, they are insurance, and you should not feel the least bit guilty about collecting if you are legitimately entitled.

Here's a page that has links to unemployment offices (departments of labor) in all 50 states. (Scroll down after following the link. In many states you can even file for unemployment online so get on it!)

You paid for unemployment benefits. If you're unemployed and you need them, collect them!