unemployment compensation

noun

: compensation paid at regular intervals (as by a government agency) to an unemployed worker and especially one who has been laid off

called also unemployment benefit

Examples of unemployment compensation in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

That can come through employment at a company, self-employment, unemployment compensation, returns on investment, money from rental income, gifts, and anything else classified as income. —Erik Sherman, Forbes, 19 Dec. 2024

The program is open to those with W-2 income, Social Security income, as well as unemployment compensation and some other sources of income. —Susan Tompor, Detroit Free Press, 3 Oct. 2024

Eddie Taveras-Cruz, 40, was charged Tuesday with one count each of first-degree larceny by defrauding a public community and unemployment compensation fraud, according to the state Division of Criminal Justice. —Justin Muszynski, Hartford Courant, 3 Feb. 2024

The number of unemployed rose 16.1% versus one year ago to 28,900 while new unemployment compensation claims fell 2.8%, to 3,024. —Ricardo Torres, Journal Sentinel, 13 May 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1935, in the meaning defined above

Legal Definition

unemployment compensation

noun

un·​em·​ploy·​ment compensation

: compensation paid at regular intervals (as by a state agency) to an unemployed worker and especially one who has been laid off

called also unemployment benefit

Note: Unemployment compensation is usually a fixed percentage of the former wages of an unemployed worker.