According to your location zipcode, you live in Florida, so this answer will provide information for Florida unemployment benefits.
First of all, the State of Florida's Agency for Workforce Innovation site says,"Unemployment insurance provides temporary wage replacement benefits to qualified individuals who are out of work through no fault of their own."
The FAQ (in a Word Doc) provides a great deal of information. I would go to the link for more, but to more briefly answer your questions:
Who qualifies?: "Any individual who has been employed in Florida in the last 18 months and is currently unemployed or partially unemployed can file a claim." There are more requirements, however, which you can check out on the FAQ page.
Fastest way to apply?: This would probably be through Internet or via phone - "A claim for unemployment compensation benefits can be filed using the Internet at www.fluidnow.com. The Internet is available 7 days a week, 24 hours a day. A claim may also be filed by telephone by calling toll free 1-800-204-2418. The telephone center is open to process claims Monday through Friday, 8:00am to 5:00pm" All of this and more information is also located on the FAQ page.
