State Unemployment Benefits (Unemployment)

Unemployment insurance is a joint federal-state program administered by each state's workforce or labor agency. When a person who was receiving unemployment benefits dies, any benefit amount payable for weeks the person was eligible before death may be owed. States set whether and how a surviving spouse, dependent, or the estate can claim that final payment, and the death should be reported so payments stop. The administering agency and the final-payment process are set by each state.

Death notification

A surviving family member or the estate representative should notify the state unemployment agency that the claimant has died so that benefit payments stop. Any payment issued for weeks after the date of death must be returned. If the claimant was eligible for benefits for weeks before death that were not yet paid, the state determines whether a surviving spouse, dependent, or the estate may claim that final amount.

Deadline: As soon as possible after death