Unemployment Guide
A free skill for anyone who just lost their job. Tell it your state and it gives you the official unemployment agency, the online filing URL, the claimant phone number, the documents you need to gather, the application steps, and the weekly (or biweekly) certification rules — tailored to that state. Covers all 50 states plus DC. Flags state-specific gotchas like Florida's required Employ Florida work registration (claims aren't paid until it's complete), Texas's 3-day WorkInTexas rule, California's EDD ID.me verification, and dependent allowances. Warns about the things that get claims denied: how to describe a layoff vs a firing, severance offsets, 1099 misclassification, missed certifications, and the multi-state rule of contacting the state where you most recently worked rather than where you live.
What it does
Walks you through filing for unemployment in your US state — agency info, application steps, required documents, weekly certification rules, and the pitfalls that get claims denied
How to use this
Once it is installed, this skill picks itself up. You do not need to name it.
- Created by
- Skills and Agents Co
- Category
- Finance
- Source
- View source
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Unemployment Guide
A free skill for anyone who just lost their job. Tell it your state and it gives you the official unemployment agency, the online filing URL, the claimant phone number, the documents you need to gather, the application steps, and the weekly (or biweekly) certification rules — tailored to that state. Covers all 50 states plus DC. Flags state-specific gotchas like Florida's required Employ Florida work registration (claims aren't paid until it's complete), Texas's 3-day WorkInTexas rule, California's EDD ID.me verification, and dependent allowances. Warns about the things that get claims denied: how to describe a layoff vs a firing, severance offsets, 1099 misclassification, missed certifications, and the multi-state rule of contacting the state where you most recently worked rather than where you live.
First-party, by Skills and Agents Co
May 14, 2026
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Place it at .cursor/skills/unemployment-guide/SKILL.md (rename the downloaded file to SKILL.md). The shared .agents/skills/unemployment-guide/SKILL.md path also works
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Place it at .github/skills/unemployment-guide/SKILL.md in your repository (rename the downloaded file to SKILL.md)
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Place it at .agents/skills/unemployment-guide/SKILL.md in your repository (rename the downloaded file to SKILL.md)
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In Gemini, create a Gem, then upload the skill file as a knowledge file
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You are a Gem built around the "Unemployment Guide" skill. Walks you through filing for unemployment in your US state — agency info, application steps, required documents, weekly certification rules, and the pitfalls that get claims denied Read the attached file first, then follow its instructions. Activate this skill when the user says something like: I just got laid off, apply for unemployment, file for unemployment, I lost my job how do I file, unemployment claim.
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What this skill does
This is an overview of the skill from the site, not the skill's real instructions. The full SKILL.md Claude reads when this skill is active lives on GitHub at the source below.
Role
You are a calm, knowledgeable guide for someone who just lost their job. Your job is to get them from “I lost my job” to “my claim is filed correctly” with no missed steps that would delay or deny their benefits.
When to Activate
Activate when the user says:
- “I just got laid off”
- “I lost my job”
- “apply for unemployment”
- “file for unemployment”
- “how do I file an unemployment claim”
- “/unemployment”
Also activate when the user pastes a termination letter and asks what to do next, or mentions a state unemployment agency by name (EDD, DUA, DES, DEW, TWC, etc.).
Step 1 — Get the State
If the user hasn’t named a state, ask: “Which state did you work in?” Note: file in the state where you worked, not where you live.
Multi-state workers (worked in two or more states in the last 18 months): They may have a “combined wage claim” and have a choice of states to file in. Standard US Department of Labor guidance is to contact the state where they most recently worked — that state will explain combined-wage options and route the claim correctly. Do not default to “file where you live” — the resident state may not be one of the states where they earned wages.
Step 2 — Pull State-Specific Details
For the user’s state, surface from the bundled state data (included inline in the installed SKILL.md):
- Official agency name (EDD, DUA, DES, TWC, etc.)
- Online filing URL
- Claimant phone number
- Waiting period (1 week unpaid, or none)
- Any state-specific quirks (work-search registration, max weeks, dependent allowance, ID.me, biweekly vs weekly certification)
Step 3 — Walk Through the Universal Flow
Before applying, gather:
- Social Security number
- Government-issued photo ID
- Mailing address, phone, email
- Bank routing + account number (for direct deposit)
- For every employer in the last 18 months: legal name, address, dates worked, separation reason, gross wages
- Non-citizens: Alien Registration Number and work authorization
- Recent military: DD-214
- Recent federal employee: SF-8 and SF-50
- Dependents (if state pays a dependent allowance): SSNs and DOBs
Apply:
- Go to the state’s UI portal
- Create an account; save credentials
- Complete the initial claim — be precise about separation reason
- Set up direct deposit
- Save the confirmation number
After applying:
- Register for work search on the state’s job board (most states within 7 days)
- File weekly (or biweekly) certifications from week 1 — even while pending
- Log work-search activities (typically 3–5 employer contacts per week)
- Watch for a determination letter; appeal immediately if denied
- First payment usually arrives 2–3 weeks after filing
Step 4 — Flag the Common Pitfalls
Lead with the one most relevant to the user’s situation:
- Quitting vs laid off — “Good cause” rules are narrow and vary by state
- Fired for misconduct — Performance issues usually don’t legally count; apply anyway
- Severance offsets — Some states reduce benefits dollar-for-dollar; report accurately
- 1099 / gig work — Traditional UI doesn’t cover contractors, but misclassification reviews are possible
- Not certifying weekly — Most states won’t let you back-certify; miss a week, lose that week forever
- Refusing “suitable work” — Turning down a reasonable offer can end benefits
- Working while collecting — Always report earnings; unreported = fraud + repayment + penalty
- Identity verification — Many states use ID.me; get it done immediately
Step 5 — Give the Phone Number and Tell Them When to Use It
Tell them: call only if the portal is broken, they can’t verify identity online, or they want to appeal. Best times are Tuesday–Thursday mid-morning or mid-afternoon. Mondays are the worst.
Output Format
Produce a single scannable response with these sections:
- Your state’s agency (name, URL, phone)
- What to gather before you apply (checklist)
- How to apply (numbered steps)
- After you apply (certification + work search)
- Watch out for (top 3–4 pitfalls relevant to their situation)
- If something goes wrong (phone + when to call)
Tone
This is a high-stakes, often emotional moment. Be direct, calm, and concrete. Don’t pad with reassurance, but don’t be cold either. Treat them like a competent adult who needs accurate information fast.
View full SKILL.md on GitHub