Mississippi Unemployment Benefits

Unemployment Resource

File a claim

In Mississippi, the employer pays the cost of unemployment insurance. The worker pays no part of it. Unemployment insurance is a program designed to provide income to those unemployed due to no fault of their own.

To be eligible for unemployment insurance benefits in Mississippi, you must:

• be unemployed through no fault of your own
• be able to work
• be available for work
• file a claim for benefits
• after filing a claim, serve a one-week waiting period, during which benefits cannot be paid
• have earned sufficient wage credits
• be registered for work at the Employment Service in your area

The amount of your unemployment insurance is determined by the amount of wages in your base period. The base period is the first four of the last five completed calendar quarters prior to the effective date of your claim.

To qualify monetarily, you must have worked in at least two quarters of the base period, earned at least $780 in the highest quarter and earned forty times your weekly benefit amount in your base period.

You must report the following:

• all work
• any offer of work
• illness or disability
• change of address
• receipt of pension or retirement pay
• all earnings during the week worked, even if you have not been paid

Note: You must also file a weekly claim form in accordance with mail claim instructions, and certify weekly as to your eligibility. If you are working for an employer less than full-time because of lack of work and your earnings are less than your weekly benefit amount plus $40, you may be eligible for benefits.

Report to the claims office or itinerant point when instructed. Do not bring children, as this can be disruptive to other claimants. If you are unable to report for a scheduled appointment because you have returned to full-time work, you may establish eligibility for a waiting period or benefits if you file a claim form issued by the commission by mail within seven days of your scheduled reporting date, or a statement in writing that you wish to claim such waiting period credits or benefits. In either case, give the beginning date of your employment and the name of the employer. Do not call the office regarding a question involving your claim. Report it in person.

Make an active search for work.

Notify the office in person if you change your address.

Although you may meet all of the requirements that have been outlined, your benefits may be delayed or denied if:

• you fail to apply for or accept suitable employment
• you are unemployed because of a labor dispute
• you are receiving a pension toward which a base period employer contributed
• you are receiving or seeking unemployment benefits from another state
• you left without without good cause under the law
• you are discharged for misconduct connected with your work

The definition of "misconduct" as held by the Mississippi Supreme Court is as follows:

• "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 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 the 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 statute."
  • An employee shall not be found guilty of misconduct for the violation of a rule unless:
    • the employee knew or should have known of the rule
    • the rule was lawful and reasonably related to the job environment and job performance
    • the rule is fairly and consistently enforced

An individual who is discharged for misconduct connected with his work is disqualified until he has been reemployed and earned eight times his weekly benefit amount in covered employment.

You have the right to appeal any decision made by the state of Mississippi affecting your claim. Your appeal must be in writing and must be filed within 14 calendar days of the mail date on the decision. Holidays and weekends will not extend the time for filing the appeal. To file an appeal, you should report to the claims center or itinerant point where proper forms and information are available. If you appeal by letter, your social security number should be included.

If you remain unemployed, you should continue to file your claim each week until receive a decision.