How to Apply for Federal Unemployment Benefits?

Last Updated on April 21, 2023

How to Apply for Federal Unemployment Benefits

Have you lost your job? You may qualify for Unemployment Insurance (UI) Benefits, which is temporary income to support you while you look for a new one. Here’s a detailed guide on how to apply for federal unemployment benefits.

WHAT ARE UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE (UI) BENEFITS?

Unemployment Insurance is a joint state-federal program that provides cash benefits to eligible workers. Each state administers a separate UI program, but all states follow the same guidelines established by federal law.

Unemployment insurance payments (benefits) are intended to provide temporary financial assistance to unemployed workers who are unemployed through no fault of their own. Each state sets its own additional requirements for eligibility, benefit amounts, and length of time benefits can be paid.

Generally, benefits are based on a percentage of your earnings over a recent 52-week period, and each state sets a maximum amount. Benefits are subject to federal and most state income taxes and must be reported on your income tax return. You may choose to have the tax withheld from your payment.

WHO IS ELIGIBLE TO APPLY FOR UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS?

Each state sets its own guidelines for eligibility for UI benefits, but you usually qualify if you:

  • Are unemployed through no fault of your own. In most states, this means you have to have separated from your last job due to a lack of available work.
  •  Meet work and wage requirements. You must meet your state’s requirements for wages earned or time worked during an established period of time referred to as a “base period.” (In most states, this is usually the first four out of the last five completed calendar quarters prior to the time that your claim is filed.)

WHAT DO YOU NEED TO APPLY FOR UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS?

To apply for Unemployment Insurance (UI) benefits, you need to provide personal information including your Social Security number, birth date, home address, email address (optional), and phone number.

You also need information about your employment history from the last 15 months, including:

  • Names of all employers, plus addresses and phone numbers
  • Reasons for leaving those jobs
  • Work start and end dates
  • Recall date (if you were laid off but have a set date to return to work)

You may need additional information in certain situations:

  • If you are not a U.S. citizen — your Alien Registration number
  • If you have children — their birth dates and Social Security numbers
  • If you’re in a union — your union name and local number
  • If you were in the military — your DD-214 Member 4 form. If you don’t have it, you can request your DD-214 online.
  • If you worked for the federal government — your SF8 form (optional)

To receive payments by direct deposit, you’ll also need your bank name, account number, and routing number. Otherwise, the Department of Unemployment Assistance (DUA) will send you a debit card.

If you’re a non-U.S. citizen applying for UI benefits, DUA must verify that you are legally authorized to work in the United States.

HOW TO APPLY FOR FEDERAL UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS?

To receive unemployment insurance benefits, you need to file a claim with the unemployment insurance program in the state where you worked. Depending on the state, claims may be filed in person, by telephone, or online.

  • You should contact your state’s unemployment insurance program as soon as possible after becoming unemployed.
  • Generally, you should file your claim with the state where you worked. If you worked in a state other than the one where you now live or if you worked in multiple states, the state unemployment insurance agency where you now live can provide information about how to file your claim with other states.
  • When you file a claim, you will be asked for certain information, such as addresses and dates of your former employment. To make sure your claim is not delayed, be sure to give complete and correct information.
  • It generally takes two to three weeks after you file your claim to receive your first benefit check.

STATE UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE OFFICES

StateAgencyPhone Number(s)Website
AlabamaAlabama Department of Labor866-234-5382https://labor.alabama.gov/uc/ICCS/
AlaskaAlaska Department of Labor and Workforce Development907-269-4700https://my.alaska.gov/
ArizonaArizona Department of Economic Security1-877-600-2722https://des.az.gov/services/employment/unemployment-individual/apply-ui-benefits
ArkansasArkansas Department of Workforce Services501-682-2121https://www.ezarc.adws.arkansas.gov/
CaliforniaCalifornia Employment Development Department1-800-300-5616https://edd.ca.gov/Unemployment/Filing_a_Claim.htm
ColoradoColorado Department of Labor and Employment303-318-9000https://www.colorado.gov/cdle/unemployment
ConnecticutConnecticut Department of Labor1-800-956-3294http://www.ctdol.state.ct.us/UI-OnLine/
DelawareDelaware Department of LaborNew Castle County: 302-761-6576
Other Areas: 1-800-794-3032
https://uics.delawareworks.com/Forms/Form_WL1
District of ColumbiaDistrict of Columbia Department of Employment Services202-724-7000https://does.dcnetworks.org/InitialClaims/
FloridaFlorida Department of Economic Opportunity1-800-204-2418http://www.floridajobs.org/Reemployment-Assistance-Service-Center/reemployment-assistance/claimants/apply-for-benefits
GeorgiaGeorgia Department of Labor1-877-709-8185https://dol.georgia.gov/
HawaiiHawaii Department of Labor and Industrial RelationsOahu: 808-586-8970
Hilo: 808-974-4086
Kona: 808-322-4822
Maui: 808-984-8400
Kauai: 808-274-3043
https://huiclaims.hawaii.gov/
IdahoIdaho Department of Labor208-332-8942https://www2.labor.idaho.gov/ClaimantPortal/Login
IllinoisIllinois Department of Employment Security1-800-244-5631https://www2.illinois.gov/ides/individuals/UnemploymentInsurance/
IndianaIndiana Department of Workforce Development1-800-891-6499https://www.in.gov/dwd/2362.htm
IowaIowa Workforce Development1-866-239-0843https://uiclaims.iwd.iowa.gov/UIInitialClaim/
KansasKansas Department of Labor1-800-292-6333https://www.getkansasbenefits.gov/
KentuckyKentucky Career Center Office of Unemployment Insurance502-564-2900https://kcc.ky.gov
LouisianaLouisiana Workforce Commission1-866-783-5567https://www.louisianaworks.net/hire/vosnet/
MaineMaine Department of Labor1-800-593-7660https://reemployme.maine.gov/accessme/faces/login/login.xhtml
MarylandMaryland Department of Labor410-949-0022http://www.dllr.state.md.us/employment/unemployment.shtml
MassachusettsMassachusetts Department of Unemployment Assistance617-626-6338https://www.mass.gov/unemployment-insurance-ui-online
MichiganMichigan Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity1-866-500-0017https://www.michigan.gov/leo/0,5863,7-336-78421_97241—,00.html
MinnesotaMinnesota Department of Employment and Economic DevelopmentTwin Cities Area: 651-296-3644
Greater Minnesota: 1-877-898-9090
https://uimn.org/applicants/
MississippiMississippi Department of Employment Security601-493-9427https://www.mdes.ms.gov/unemployment-claims/claims-information/
MissouriMissouri Department of Labor and Industrial Relations1-800-320-2519https://uinteract.labor.mo.gov/benefits/home.do
MontanaMontana Department of Labor and Industry406-444-2545https://montanaworks.gov/Job-Seeker-UI-Claimant
NebraskaNebraska Department of Labor1-855-995-8863https://neworks.nebraska.gov/vosnet/
NevadaNevada Department of Employment Training and RehabilitationNorthern Nevada: 775-684-0350
Southern Nevada: 702-486-0350
Rural Areas and Out of State Callers: 1-888-890-8211
http://ui.nv.gov/css.html
New HampshireNew Hampshire Department of Employment Security1-800-852-3400https://nhuis.nh.gov/claimant/
New JerseyNew Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce DevelopmentNorth New Jersey: 201-601-4100
Central New Jersey: 732-761-2020
South New Jersey: 856-507-2340
Out-of-state claims: 1-888-795-6672
https://myunemployment.nj.gov/labor/myunemployment/before/about/howtoapply/
New MexicoNew Mexico Department of Workforce Solutions1-877-664-6984https://www.jobs.state.nm.us/vosnet/Default.aspx
New YorkNew York Department of Labor1-888-209-8124https://applications.labor.ny.gov/IndividualReg/
North CarolinaNorth Carolina Department of Commerce1-888-737-0259https://des.nc.gov/
North DakotaNorth Dakota Job Service701-328-4995https://www.jobsnd.com/unemployment-individuals/resources-unemployment-individuals
OhioOhio Department of Job and Family Services1-877-644-6562http://jfs.ohio.gov/ouio/index.stm
OklahomaOklahoma Employment Security Commission405-525-1500https://oklahoma.gov/oesc
OregonOregon Employment Department1-877-345-3484https://secure.emp.state.or.us/ocs4/
PennsylvaniaPennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry1-888-313-7284https://www.uc.pa.gov/unemployment-benefits/file/Pages/File%20an%20Initial%20Claim.aspx
Puerto RicoPuerto Rico Department of Labor and Human Resources787-625-7900https://www.trabajo.pr.gov/desempleo_en_linea.asp
Rhode IslandRhode Island Department of Labor and Training401-243-9100http://www.dlt.ri.gov/ui/
South CarolinaSouth Carolina Department of Employment and Workforce1-866-831-1724https://dew.sc.gov/individuals/apply-for-benefits/claims-process
South DakotaSouth Dakota Department of Labor and Regulation605-626-3179https://dlr.sd.gov/ra/individuals/file_claim.aspx
TennesseeTennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development1-877-813-0950https://www.tn.gov/workforce/unemployment.html
TexasTexas Workforce Commission1-800-939-6631https://www.twc.texas.gov/jobseekers/unemployment-benefits-services
U.S. Virgin IslandsU.S. Virgin Islands Department of Labor340-773-1994https://www.vidol.gov/how-and-where-to-apply/
UtahUtah Department of Workforce ServicesSalt Lake and South Davis Counties: 801-526-4400
Weber and North Davis Counties: 801-612-0877
Utah County: 801-375-4067
Other Counties and Out of State: 1-888-848-0688
https://jobs.utah.gov/ui/home/initialclaims
VermontVermont Department of Labor1-888-807-7072https://labor.vermont.gov/unemployment-insurance/ui-claimants/establishing-unemployment-claim
VirginiaVirginia Employment Commission1-866-832-2363http://www.vec.virginia.gov/unemployed/online-services/apply-for-unemployment-benefits
WashingtonWashington Employment Security Department1-800-318-6022https://secure.esd.wa.gov/home/
WisconsinWisconsin Department of Workforce Development1-844-910-3661https://dwd.wisconsin.gov/uiben/
West VirginiaWorkforce West Virginia1-800-379-1032https://uc.workforcewv.org/consumer/
WyomingWyoming Department of Workforce Services307-473-3789https://wyui.wyo.gov/benefits/home.do

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WHAT IF I AM DENIED UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS?

Each state UI Program makes its own decisions about workers’ eligibility for benefits.

There are many reasons for denying benefit payments; some of the most common are:  

  • Voluntarily leaving work without good cause. Benefit payments can be paid if you quit under certain} circumstances depending on your state’s laws.
  • Being discharged for misconduct connected with work. Misconduct is an intentional or controllable act} or failure to take action, which shows a deliberate disregard of the employer’s interests.
  • Not being able or available for work. You must be able, ready and willing to accept a suitable job.}  
  • Not actively seeking work.
  • Refusing an offer of suitable work.
  • Knowingly making false statements to obtain benefit payments.

If you are disqualified or denied benefits, you have the right to file an appeal. Your employer may also appeal a determination if he/she does not agree with the state’s determination regarding your eligibility. You must file your appeal within an established time frame.

HOW LONG DO UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS LAST?

In general, benefits are based on a percentage of an individual’s earnings over a recent 52-week period -up to a State maximum amount.

  • Benefits can be paid for a maximum of 26 weeks in most states.
  • Additional weeks of benefits called Extended Benefits may be available during times of high unemployment (Some States also provide additional benefits for specific purposes).
  • Benefits are subject to Federal income taxes and must be reported on the individual’s Federal income tax return. Or the individual may elect to have the tax withheld by the State Unemployment Insurance agency.

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