Who is included in the unemployment rate?
Only people who have actively looked for work in the past four weeks are included — regardless of whether they file for unemployment benefits. The Labor Department conducts a monthly population survey, asking simply if you’ve sought work in the past four weeks. 2. What is the difference between initial and continuing claims? The government’s initial claims number identifies those people filing for their first week of unemployment benefits. Continuing claims reflect those people filing each week after their initial claim, up to their 26th week. After that, they are no longer counted in that total. 3. How many weeks of unemployment do I get? A maximum of 26 weeks to start. (Well, except in Montana, which offers up to 28 weeks, and Massachusetts, which has a max of 30 weeks). Eligibility depends on how long you worked and how much you made prior to becoming unemployed. Not every filer receives the maximum number of weeks available. 4. What if I run out? You can get at least another 20 we
