Unemployment Insurance

By Paul Wiseman WASHINGTON -- The number of Americans seeking unemployment benefits surged last week, although the figures may have been distorted by seasonal factors. The Labor Department says applications rose by 34,000 to a seasonally adjusted 386,000. The increase reversed a big drop the previous week. ...

Whether you're laid off or fired, the pain of getting let go from a job carries the same weight. But the unemployment relief you can receive afterward differs. The money used to fund unemployment benefits comes from a federal unemployment insurance tax that employers pay into. There are legal differences ...