How To File For The United State Unemployment Insurance Benefits Claim

On this page, we have explained in detail for everyone to understand what is unemployment insurance (UI), how to qualify and check qualification status for unemployment, file for unemployment, and learn about the compensation plus other benefits that could as well be received.

United State Unemployment Insurance Benefits

What is Unemployment Insurance (UI)?

The Unemployment insurance program in the United State (also known as Unemployment, Unemployment benefits, unemployment payment, unemployment compensation) is a compensatory fee paid by the state to eligible unemployed workers who have lost their jobs due to layoffs or retrenchment. It aims to provide a source of income for jobless workers until they can find employment or something doing again.

A person has to be eligible to quality for the Unemployment insurance (UI).

Unlike Canada’s Employment Insurance (EI) program where workers paid premiums of 1.62% of insured earnings in return for benefits in case, they lose their jobs, here in the United State of American the program UI is funded by a compulsory governmental insurance system.

However, the state may either continuously provide partial income replacement for a defined length of time or until you find employment, whichever comes first depends on your qualification.

Unemployment Insurance Eligibility Check Before Applying

To be eligible for the unemployment benefits certain criteria must be met, which includes having worked for a minimum stipulated period and actively looking for employment.

There have been countless times that most beneficiaries are those who recently lost their job without fault of their own, such as being laid off or if the business closed. But each state sets its own unemployment insurance benefits eligibility guidelines. Generally can qualify if you:

  1. You were laid off from your job with no-fault triggered by you:
  2. Meet work duration and wage requirements: Because both the federal government and the individual states manage unemployment insurance in the U.S., the requirements will vary. In most states, it is usually the first four out of the last five completed calendar quarters before the time that your claim is filed. It is expected that your weekly benefit amount (WBA) ranges from $50 to $550.
  3. Meet any additional state requirements: Find more information about your own state’s program.

How to Apply For The United State Unemployment Insurance Program

You have to file your claim with the unemployment insurance program in the state where you worked to receive unemployment insurance benefits. Now, it depends on the state, claims may be filed in person, by telephone, or online, and this is the reason we have listed below the State Unemployment Insurance Offices, office phone numbers, and their official websites.

Steps to file your unemployment benefit claim

  • Use the state list below to find and 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.

COVID-19-Related Unemployment Programs

On March 27, 2020, President Trump signed into law a $2 trillion coronavirus emergency stimulus package called the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. Also, On March 11, 2021, President Joe Biden signed the American Rescue Plan, a stimulus package worth $1.9 trillion which provided additional benefits to Americans because of the COVID-19 pandemic. The bill extended unemployment benefits for those who lost their jobs as a result of the pandemic from March 14, 2021, to Sept. 6, 2021.

PROGRAMWHAT IT DOES
Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA)Extended benefits to the self-employed, freelancers, and independent contractors. 
Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation (FPUC)Provided a federal benefit of $600 a week up until July 25, 2020. The benefit is extended but reduced to $300 per week until March 14, 2021, beginning Jan. 2, 2021.
Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation (PEUC)Extended benefits for an extra 13 weeks after regular unemployment compensation benefits are exhausted with an additional 11 weeks having been added for a total of 24 weeks.

State Unemployment Insurance Offices and Their Websites

StateAgencyPhone Number(s)Website
AlabamaAlabama Department of Labor334-242-8025https://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 Security1-888-844-3577https://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 Commission1-800-555-1554https://oesc.ok.gov
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/
West VirginiaWorkforce West Virginia1-800-379-1032https://uc.workforcewv.org/consumer/
WisconsinWisconsin Department of Workforce Development1-844-910-3661https://dwd.wisconsin.gov/uiben/
WyomingWyoming Department of Workforce Services307-473-3789https://wyui.wyo.gov/benefits/home.do

One comment

  1. Thanks For The Great Content dear. I Will Also Share With My Friends And Once Again Thanks a Lot.

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