A: Can I collect unemployment benefits? B: Are you still working? A: My employer cut back on my hours. B: If you got laid off or are working a lot fewer hours, you may qualify. A: Do I definitely get to collect unemployment? B: Not all jobs pay into unemployment insurance, so their employees cannot collect benefits. A: How do I check out my status to collect unemployment? B: You should have noticed unemployment insurance being deducted from your paycheck. Check your pay stubs. A: How much will my unemployment check be? B: The more money you made, the more you will earn on unemployment. They have a formula.