In fact, you could have worked three jobs in several different states and you'd still qualify for benefits. Whatever jobs you held, the wages you earned during this time period determine your total benefits. During your base period, all states require that you must have earned a certain amount of wages or worked a certain number of hours, or both, to qualify for benefits. If you don't meet your state's requirements, you are ineligible for unemployment benefits. Methods of determining your base period Whether you are trying to figure out if you qualify for benefits or how much money you will receive, you need to understand how your state determines your base period.
Most states determine the base period in one of four different ways.
Every state's method for defining the base period relies on the date when you apply for benefits. From that date, the unemployment office reviews your employment history to learn what you earned and how long you worked. Many states use calendar quarters to define the parameters of the base period. You will see in the following description that the majority of states define their base period as the first four of the last five quarters. A quarter is three months long, so there are four calendar quarters in one year.