As soon as you become unemployed you can apply for unemployment benefits through your state unemployment insurance office in the state where you work. Depending on your state you can apply online, over the phone, or in person. You were also able to apply for expanded unemployment under the CARES Act called the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA), which gave you additional unemployment benefits until July 31, 2020 through your state unemployment insurance office provided your state had a PUA process in place.
Under the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act of 2021, the second relief plan to expand unemployment, unemployment benefits were extended by issuing $300 a week for 11 weeks until March 14, 2021.
Under the American Rescue Plan signed into law on March 11, 2021, unemployment payments increased by $300 per week and the benefits were extended through September 6, 2021.