How To Apply For An Unemployment Check (In All 50 States)

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What Is The Unemployment Customer Service Number In My State? (All 50 States)

In this resource guide, you will find the unemployment customer service number for your state’s labor department. This is who you would call if you were laid off from your job and you need to apply for unemployment benefits.

Filing for unemployment insurance benefits can seem daunting, but it’s important to take the first step and contact your state’s labor department.

If you are unsure who manages unemployment benefits in your state, simply keep reading. We’ve compiled a list of all the unemployment customer service numbers (and websites) by state so that you can easily find the right number to call.

What Is Unemployment Insurance And Who Is Eligible For Benefits?

Unemployment insurance is a government-provided financial assistance program that helps workers who have lost their jobs due to no fault of their own. The program provides temporary financial assistance to help individuals while they are looking for new employment.

You may be eligible for unemployment benefits if you meet the requirements set by your state.

Generally, you need to have worked a certain number of hours or earned a certain amount of money during the base period, which is usually the first four out of the last five completed calendar quarters.

You also need to have lost your job through no fault of your own, such as a lack of available work. In some states, you may need to meet additional eligibility requirements.

You can typically find out more information on your state’s website or by contacting your state’s unemployment office. In the next section, you will find the phone number and website of your state’s unemployment benefits department.

What Is My State’s Unemployment Customer Service Number?

Each state has a different unemployment number. You can find the number (and unemployment website) for your state by viewing the table below.

StateAgencyPhone Number(s)Website
AlabamaAlabama Department of Labor866-234-5382Website
AlaskaAlaska Department of Labor and Workforce Development907-269-4700Website
ArizonaArizona Department of Economic Security1-877-600-2722Website
ArkansasArkansas Department of Workforce Services501-682-2121Website
CaliforniaCalifornia Employment Development Department1-800-300-5616Website
ColoradoColorado Department of Labor and Employment303-318-9000Website
ConnecticutConnecticut Department of Labor1-800-956-3294Website
DelawareDelaware Department of LaborNew Castle County: 302-761-6576 Other Areas: 1-800-794-3032Website
District of ColumbiaDistrict of Columbia Department of Employment Services202-724-7000Website
FloridaFlorida Department of Economic Opportunity1-800-204-2418Website
GeorgiaGeorgia Department of Labor1-877-709-8185Website
HawaiiHawaii Department of Labor and Industrial RelationsOahu: 808-586-8970 Hilo: 808-974-4086 Kona: 808-322-4822 Maui: 808-984-8400 Kauai: 808-274-3043Website
IdahoIdaho Department of Labor208-332-8942Website
IllinoisIllinois Department of Employment Security1-800-244-5631Website
IndianaIndiana Department of Workforce Development1-800-891-6499Website
IowaIowa Workforce Development1-866-239-0843Website
KansasKansas Department of Labor1-800-292-6333Website
KentuckyKentucky Career Center Office of Unemployment Insurance502-564-2900Website
LouisianaLouisiana Workforce Commission1-866-783-5567Website
MaineMaine Department of Labor1-800-593-7660Website
MarylandMaryland Department of Labor410-949-0022Website
MassachusettsMassachusetts Department of Unemployment Assistance617-626-6338Website
MichiganMichigan Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity1-866-500-0017Website
MinnesotaMinnesota Department ofEmployment and Economic DevelopmentTwin Cities Area: 651-296-3644 Greater Minnesota: 1-877-898-9090Website
MississippiMississippi Department of Employment Security601-493-9427Website
MissouriMissouri Department of Labor and Industrial Relations1-800-320-2519Website
MontanaMontana Department of Labor and Industry406-444-2545Website
NebraskaNebraska Department of Labor1-855-995-8863Website
NevadaNevada Department of Employment Training and RehabilitationNorthern Nevada: 775-684-0350 Southern Nevada: 702-486-0350 Rural Areas and Out of State Callers: 1-888-890-8211Website
New HampshireNew Hampshire Department of Employment Security1-800-852-3400Website
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: 1-888-795-6672Website
New MexicoNew Mexico Department of Workforce Solutions1-877-664-6984Website
New YorkNew York Department of Labor1-888-209-8124Website
North CarolinaNorth Carolina Department of Commerce1-888-737-0259Website
North DakotaNorth Dakota Job Service701-328-4995Website
OhioOhio Department of Job and Family Services1-877-644-6562Website
OklahomaOklahoma Employment Security Commission1-800-555-1554Website
OregonOregon Employment Department1-877-345-3484Website
PennsylvaniaPennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry1-888-313-7284Website
Puerto RicoPuerto Rico Department of Labor and Human Resources787-625-7900Website
Rhode IslandRhode Island Department of Labor and Training401-243-9100Website
South CarolinaSouth Carolina Department of Employment and Workforce1-866-831-1724Website
South DakotaSouth Dakota Department of Labor and Regulation605-626-3179Website
TennesseeTennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development1-877-813-0950Website
TexasTexas Workforce Commission1-800-939-6631Website
U.S. Virgin IslandsU.S. Virgin Islands Department of Labor340-773-1994Website
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: 1-888-848-0688Website
VermontVermont Department of Labor1-888-807-7072Website
VirginiaVirginia Employment Commission1-866-832-2363Website
WashingtonWashington Employment Security Department1-800-318-6022Website
West VirginiaWorkforce West Virginia1-800-379-1032Website
WisconsinWisconsin Department of Workforce Development1-844-910-3661Website
WyomingWyoming Department of Workforce Services307-473-3789Website

When calling the unemployment contact center in your state, the customer service representative can answer questions related to:

  • Find the unemployment office locations near you.
  • Helping you estimate what your weekly benefit will be.
  • Topics surrounding a recent payment you receive from unemployment or issues you may be having with direct deposit.
  • A concern or question about your work search requirement to continue receiving UI Benefits (unemployment insurance).
  • Online services that your state’s workforce services website offers.

How To Apply For Unemployment Benefits (In All 50 States)

To apply for unemployment benefits, individuals must contact their state’s unemployment office. Each state has different procedures for applying for benefits. Some states allow individuals to apply online, while others require an application to be submitted by mail or in person.

Once an individual has filed a claim, you will need to continue to file weekly or bi-weekly claims and meet certain eligibility requirements like completing weekly job search tasks in order to continue receiving benefits. These requirements vary from state to state, so be sure to contact your state’s labor department for more information.

What Is The Best Time To Call The Customer Service Number For Unemployment?

The best time to call the customer service number for unemployment is typically on Fridays at 7 am. There are a lot fewer people calling during this time.

When you call the unemployment customer service number after the weekend, you will likely have to wait on hold longer. One reason could be related to HR experts encouraging management that it’s best to lay someone off on a Tuesday. These early week layoffs can lead to more people filing for unemployment on Mondays and Tuesdays.

For this reason, your best chance at filing an unemployment claim quickly is to call your local unemployment office on a Friday at 7 am or whenever they open.

What Information Will I Need To Apply For Unemployment Benefits?

When applying for unemployment benefits, you will need to provide personal information such as your Social Security number, date of birth, and contact information. You will also need to provide information about your employment history, including the names, phone numbers, and addresses of your previous employers. Your salary information will also be required.

It is important to have this information readily available when you call the customer service number for unemployment benefits, as you will likely need to provide it during the application process.

I Lost My Job And I’m Not Sure If I’m Eligible For Unemployment Benefits. Who can I contact for more information?

If you have questions about your eligibility for unemployment benefits, you can contact your state’s unemployment office.

Your state should have an unemployment calculator that will allow you to see if you are eligible for an unemployment check.

Conclusion

If you have lost your job through no fault of your own, it is important to call your state’s customer service number for unemployment and file a claim as soon as possible. You will find the telephone number and website of the labor department in your state in a previous section of this article.

Once you find your state’s unemployment benefits phone number, you may be wondering when the best time to call and file for unemployment is? The best time to call the unemployment customer service number is typically on Fridays at 7 am.

Again if you were recently laid off and want to apply for an unemployment check, it’s best to call your state’s labor department as soon as you can. 

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