COVID-19: Changes in Unemployment Benefits During the Pandemic
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Updated January 15, 2021
If your job has been affected by COVID-19, apply for unemployment benefits right away. It’s probably faster to apply online.
There are some temporary changes to the rules for unemployment benefits. See our fact sheet Unemployment Benefits for information on the regular rules for unemployment benefits.
On December 27, 2020, a new law changed the unemployment rules:
- Most people getting unemployment get an extra $300 per week.
- If you were self-employed or an independent contractor, you get an extra 11 weeks of benefits.
- If you were a W-2 employee, a state law gives you an extra 13 weeks.