How To Get In Touch With The Unemployment Office

In a bid to help unemployed Americans during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, the U.S. government has paved the way for state governments to offer extended unemployment benefits.

These additional benefits include allowing self-employed workers and gig workers to receive unemployment welfare and all unemployed workers to receive an extra $600 a week for up to six months. Further, those who are unemployed can get an extra 13 weeks of benefits beyond the number their state currently provides.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the monthly unemployment rate in the U.S. is at its highest since its records began in 1948.

It is currently sitting at 14.7 percent (based on figures from April 2020), with the department attributing the increase to efforts to contain the COVID-19 outbreak. The announcement, made on May 8, 2020, says that heavy job losses were seen in the leisure and hospitality industries.

Ahead of this, the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act, also known as a stimulus package, was signed into law on March 27, 2020. Within the law, it outlines help for Americans and businesses that are affected by the pandemic.

Getty Images UI — Luis Mora stands in front of the closed offices of the New York State Department of Labor on May 7, 2020 in the Brooklyn borough in New York City. As of May 21, 39 million Americans have applied for unemployment benefits. Stephanie Keith/Getty Images

How to File a Claim for Unemployment Benefits

The main source of welfare for unemployed Americans is unemployment insurance (UI). These benefits pay money to people if they have lost their job through no fault of their own, according to the U.S. Gov website.

However, each State has its own eligibility requirements as well as its own application process, which are outlined below. However, the majority allow applications to be made online or on the phone.

Bear in mind that any unemployment benefits need to be declared as income on your tax return. More information can be found on the Internal Revenue Service's (IRS) website.

State Unemployment Contact and Application Information

Alabama

According to the Alabama Department of Labor's Secretary Fitzgerald Washington, more than $1 billion has been paid in COVID-19 related unemployment compensation benefits. These benefits have been claimed under the CARES Act: Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation (FPUC), Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA), and Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation (PEUC).

To file a UI claim online, visit Alabama's State government's website. For general information about its UI program, read more here.

If you wish to claim by telephone, call 1-866-234-5382 between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. local time, Monday through Friday.

Alaska

To file a UI claim in this State, visit https://my.alaska.gov/ or call:

Anchorage UI Claim Center: 1-907-269-4700
Juneau UI Claim Center: 1-907-465-5552
Fairbanks UI Claim Center: 1-907-451-2871

More information about eligibility and which benefits are on offer can be found on the State's Department of Labor's website.

Arizona

To file a new UI claim, visit the State's Department of Economic Security's website. You can also call 1-877-600-2722 to apply over the phone.

Arkansas

UI claims can be filed online and over the phone on 1-501-907-2590, Monday to Friday.

California

UI claims can be made online here and over the phone on 1-800-300-5616. If you prefer to use the self-service line, call 1-866-333-4606.

Colorado

Online UI claims can be made using the colorado.gov website. Claims specifically related to unemployment during the Pandemic can be made over the telephone by calling 303-536-5615.

Connecticut

UI claims need to be made online using the State government website. Telephone assistance is not available for unemployment claims.

Delaware

To file a claim online, visit Delaware Works' website. Paper claims can also be made—download the application here.

Florida

To make a claim via telephone, call 1-800-204-2418. If you want to make a claim online or by writing in, visit the Florida Jobs website.

Georgia

Claims can be made online and via telephone for unemployment benefits. Call 404-232-3180 for over the phone assistance and visit the State government's website for online claims.

Hawaii

To file a UI claim online, apply here. There are several contact centers for UI claims over the telephone, which you can find here.

Idaho

UI online claims can be made on the Idhio.gov website. Numbers for contact centers can be found here.

Illinois

UI claims can be made online by visiting the Illinois.gov website. Telephone claims can be made by calling the numbers listed here.

Indiana

If you want to make your claim over the phone, call 1-800-891-6499 if you're out of the state or 317-232-7560. Online claims can be made here.

Indiana has a schedule for people calling about UI, so please make sure you call on the day assigned to your first letter of their last name to assist with wait times. Here is the schedule:

Monday: Letters A-E
Tuesday: Letters F-I
Wednesday: Letters J-M
Thursday: Letters N-T
Friday: Letters U-Z
Friday: If You Missed Your Day

Iowa

Initial UI online claims can be made using the Iowa.gov website.

Kansas

To file a claim via the telephone, use the appropriate contact details listed on the Get Kansas Benefits website. Alternatively, use the website to make an online application.

Kentucky

Visit the Kentucky government website for make an online application for UI. Claimants who do not have access to the Internet or who speak Spanish can call 502-875-0442 Monday through Friday between 7:30 a.m. and 5:30 p.m., EST.

Louisiana

To file a UI claim online, visit Louisiana Works' website. To make a claim via the telephone, call 1-866-783-5567.

Maine

Online unemployment benefit claims can be made by visiting the Maine.gov website. Call 1-800-593-7660 to make applications over the phone.

Maryland

UI claims can be made online by using the Maryland State website. Telephone claims can be made by calling 410-949-0022 (Baltimore area or out of state) or 1-800-827-4839 (Outside of Baltimore but in Maryland).

Massachusetts

Online UI applications can be made using the State government website. Telephone applications can be made by calling 877-626-6800.

Michigan

To make a claim online, visit the Michigan.gov website. Telephone claims can be made by calling 1-866-500-0017.

Minnesota

Online applications for UI can be made here. Telephone claims can be made by calling:

Twin Cities area: 651-296-3644
Greater Minnesota: 1-877-898-9090

Mississippi

Online claims can be made by visiting the State government website here. For telephone claims, call 1-888-844-3577.

Missouri

UI online applications can be made by visiting the Missouri Department of Labor's website here. The contact numbers for telephone applications can be found here.

Montana

State UI claims can be made online via the Montana Works website. To file a claim via telephone, call 406-444-2545.

Nebraska

Visit the Nebraska Works website to apply for UI online. Telephone claims can be made using the contact numbers listed here.

Nevada

Use the Nevada UI website to make online applications. A list of contact numbers for telephone assistance can be found here.

New Hampshire

If people do not live in New Hampshire, assistance is available by phone at 1-800-266-2252, Option #4, Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. EST. UI claims can be made online.

New Jersey

Online UI claims can be made via the New Jersey state government website. Telephone numbers for claims can be accessed here.

New Mexico

To file a new claim, speak with a customer service representative or to make weekly certifications that might be done through the toll-free number 1-877-664-6984. Online claims can be made here.

New York

New Yorkers can file an online UI claim using the Labor.ny.gov website. Phone applications can be made calling 888-209-8124.

North Carolina

UI claims can be made online using the State's website. Telephone claims can be made using 1-888-737-0259.

North Dakota

To file a UI claim online, visit the State government's website. Call 701-328-4995 for telephone UI claims.

Ohio

UI claims can be made online using the Ohio.gov website. Telephone claims can be made by calling 1-877-644-6562.

Oklahoma

Online applications for UI claims can be done via iu.ok.gov. To file a claim via the phone, call 1-800-555-1554.

Oregon

To apply by phone, use the UI center lookup feature on the State government website to find your closest center.

Filing a claim online can be done on the State government website.

Pennsylvania

To file a claim online, visit the UI application portal on the State government's website. While there are options to speak to the UI claims team via the telephone, the website advises that emailing is a quicker way to get answers.

However, if speaking on the phone is the only way to deal with your claim, use the following:

UC Service Center Statewide Toll-Free Number	888-313-7284
TTY Services for Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing Toll-Free	888-334-4046
Videophone Service for ASL Users- Wednesdays, noon to 4:00 p.m. *Sign language is the only means of communication provided at this number.	717-704-8474

Rhode Island

Claims can be made online using the State's website. Contact the UI claims team over the phone at 401-415-6772 to file a new claim or refile your claim during normal business hours.

South Carolina

Residents can apply for unemployment benefits online by using the State government website. To File an out of state claim by phone, Americans should call the Interstate Unit at 1-800-529-8339.

South Dakota

Individuals can file claims online using the State's government website. To file a claim by telephone, call 605-626-3179 between 8:00 a.m. and 4:20 p.m. CT.

Tennessee

Online applications for UI can be made on the Tennessee government website. You can receive telephone support by calling 844-224-5818.

Texas

Unemployed Americans in this State can file a UI claim online using the Texas.gov website. If applications need to be made over the phone, call 800-939-6631.

Utah

To file a UI claim online, visit the Utah.gov website or you can file by telephone by calling:

Salt Lake and South Davis Counties 801-526-4400
Weber and North Davis Counties 801-612-0877
Utah County 801-375-4067
Remainder of State and Out of State 1-888-848-0688

Vermont

UI applicants can file a claim online using the Department of Labor's website for the State. For phone applications, call 1-877-214-3331.

Virginia

Online UI applications can be filed using the vec.virginia.gov website. For telephone claims, call 1-866-832-2363.

Washington

To file a UI claim online, visit secure.edsd.gov. Alternatively, you can file over the phone by calling 1-800-318-6022.

West Virginia

Initial claims can be made using the State's website. To speak to someone over the phone, call 800-252-5627.

Wisconsin

To file a UI claim online visit https://dwd.wisconsin.gov/uiben/. To file a claim over the phone, call 414-435-7069 or toll-free 844-910-3661 during business hours.

Wyoming

To file a UI claim online, visit the State's website. You can also claim by telephone, using the following numbers: