To qualify for unemployment benefits, the general requirements across different regions (such as the US, Germany, and Canada) include the following key points:

• Employment History: You must have worked for a minimum period and earned enough wages during a specific base period. For example, in Germany, you typically need to have worked at least 12 months in the last 30 months with social security contributions

. In the US, many states require you to have earned a certain amount and worked consistently for the last 12-24 months

. In Canada, you need between 420 and 700 hours of insurable employment in the last 52 weeks

• Job Loss Circumstances: You must be unemployed through no fault of your own, meaning you lost your job due to reasons like layoffs, company downsizing, or business closure, not due to quitting without good cause or being fired for misconduct

• Availability and Willingness to Work: You must be physically able, available, and actively seeking work. This includes being ready to accept suitable employment immediately and often requires keeping a record of job search efforts

• Registration and Application: You need to register as unemployed with the relevant employment agency promptly-often before or immediately after job loss-and file a claim in the state or country where you worked

• Ongoing Certification: To continue receiving benefits, you typically must certify regularly (often every two weeks) that you remain unemployed, able to work, and actively seeking employment

Additional notes:

• In Germany, if you quit your job voluntarily, there is usually a three-month waiting period before benefits start

• In the US, unemployment insurance is managed at the state level, so specific rules and benefit amounts vary by state

• Some programs allow attending training or schooling while receiving benefits

In summary, qualifying for unemployment benefits generally requires having sufficient recent work history, losing your job involuntarily, being ready and actively looking for work, and filing a timely claim with the appropriate agency.