Filing an Unemployment Claim

If you lost your job or had your hours reduced, you may be eligible for unemployment.

The following information will help guide you through the claim filing process.

Types of Benefits

Get Your Information in Order

A little preparation goes a long way!

Review this checklist (PDF) to collect and have accurate and up-to-date information ready when you file an unemployment insurance claim.

At a glance, prepare to collect the following:

Last Employer

Last employer information including company name, supervisor’s name, address (mailing and physical location) and phone number. If you are self-employed, a business owner, or an independent contractor, list yourself as your last employer.

Last date worked and the reason you are no longer working.

Total gross earnings in the last week you worked, beginning with Sunday and ending with your last day of work. If you are self-employed or an independent contractor, you will need your net income (total after taxes).

Employment History

Information on all employers you worked for during the past 18 months, including name, address (mailing and physical location), the dates of employment, gross wages earned, hours worked per week, hourly rate of pay, and the reason you are no longer working.

If you are self-employed or an independent contractor, you will need your net income (total after taxes).

Notice to Federal Employees About Unemployment Insurance, Standard Form 8 (former federal employees only).

DD 214 Member 4 copy (ex-military only).

Citizenship

Citizenship status, and, if you are not a US citizen, information from your employment authorization document.

Prepare to Apply

File for unemployment in the first week that you lose your job or have your hours reduced. Your claim begins on the Sunday of the week you became unemployed.

If you filed for unemployment within the last 52 weeks (12 months) and have not exhausted your benefits, you must reopen your claim to restart your benefits.

COVID-19 Temporary Exceptions Due to the impact of COVID-19, we made the following temporary exceptions for all unemployment claims until further notice: Waiting Period – The 7-day waiting period is waived for claims beginning on or after January 19, 2020. After you submit your first two-week continued certification, you will be paid for the first week of your claim.

Work Search – You are not required to look for work each week to be eligible for benefits.

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Next Steps

You will receive important documents from us generally within two weeks after you file for unemployment. Take the necessary steps to make sure your unemployment benefits are not delayed or denied. Be sure to read and respond to all requests to avoid payment delays.

Review these Important Next Steps – After You File a Claim for more information.

Last Revised: 09/02/2020