If you work one week, do you still file for unemployment?

Question

I worked a temp job for only a week, do I still file for unemployment and enter how much I made that work or choose the no option for filing and file the next week when I don't have work again?

Answer 1

In order to qualify for unemployment, you must have worked for a certain number of weeks.  One week is not enough.

Answer 2

It just depends.

If you were receiving unemployment benefits before you took this job and you only worked one week, then you just call and file your weekly claim as usual and enter the amount of hours you worked and the amount you made. You probably wont get a check, or maybe a reduced check, but you wont' have to reopen a claim afterwords.

If you were not receiving benefits, wait until the monday after your last day worked to open a new file.

But unemployment goes off the previous quarter( I think) work earnings to determine how much you will get. If you haven't worked in a while you probably won't be entitled to any benefits.

Answer 3

In my state, California, your benefits are based on the four quarters of earnings for the period ended two full quarters ago so you could file a claim now and your benefits would be based on your earnings in 2007.  If you earned zero in 2007, you will get about 55% of that.