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

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

That rule applies to wages and overtime, but not unemployment compensation. —Scott Bauer, Fortune, 27 Mar. 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.