While we are not affiliated with the government in any way, our private company engaged writers to research the LIHEAP program and compiled a guide and the following answers to frequently asked questions. Our goal is to help you get the benefits that you need by providing useful information on the process.
Unemployment Insurance is a benefit program designed to replace part of the income of recently unemployed or underemployed workers. Unemployment Insurance is available to workers who are out of work through no fault of their own.
Learn more about Unemployment on Idaho’s Unemployment Program Overview page here.
Unemployment Insurance Benefits are weekly payments given to eligible workers who apply to and are accepted into the program. These payments are typically provided via direct deposits to the beneficiary’s bank account.
Learn more about how Unemployment Insurance payments work on page 9 of this guide.
To qualify for Unemployment Insurance in Idaho, you must:
Learn more about Idaho’s monetary requirements here and Idaho’s personal eligibility requirements here.
Apply for benefits on the Claimant Portal here during the week you are seeking payment, when your hours have been reduced or when you are no longer employed. Do NOT wait until the week is over.
Learn more information on when to apply for Unemployment Insurance here.
To apply for Unemployment Insurance in Idaho, complete the following three steps:
Learn what documents and information you need here.
The Idaho Unemployment Office does not accept claims over the telephone. To apply for Unemployment Insurance online, click here to access Idaho’s Unemployment claim portal. To apply for Unemployment Insurance in person, click here to find your nearest Idaho Unemployment Office location.
If you have questions about the application process or require assistance, contact the Idaho Department of Labor’s Main Office Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM MST at:
The amount of Unemployment Benefits you receive is based on your past reported earnings by employers that you have worked for in Idaho. To determine the amount you will receive each week, the Idaho Department of Labor takes the highest-earning quarter in the applicant’s base period and divides that amount by 21.
The maximum weekly benefit amount is 60% of the state’s current average wage.
Learn more about Idaho’s base period and how benefits are calculated here.
The week after you file your unemployment claim is called the Waiting Week. During the Waiting Week, you must file a Weekly Certification Application through the claimant portal and the Unemployment Office will make sure you are still unemployed or underemployed, and meet all other eligibility requirements. If approved, you will begin receiving your weekly benefits the following week. You are not paid for the Waiting Week, but you do receive a Waiting Week credit.
Learn more about the Waiting Week here. Learn more about the Weekly Certification Application here.
Keep track of your work-search contacts. You are required to make at least two contacts per week to receive payments and waiting week credit.
If you were discharged or quit your last job, expect a call (or email if that is your preferred contact method) to determine if you are eligible for unemployment insurance.
You can learn more about what to expect after applying here.
You must file a Weekly Certification Application every week you are receiving Unemployment Benefits until you are employed again. This weekly claim is like a follow-up application that certifies your continued eligibility for the program, and proves you are actively applying for new jobs.
Learn more about the Weekly Certification Application here. File your Weekly Certification Applications here.
It’s important to remember that you will stop receiving Unemployment Benefits and your Unemployment Claim will be canceled if you have not filed Weekly Certifications for two or more consecutive weeks. Or, if you file and have earnings over 1 1/2 times your weekly benefit amount for two consecutive weeks.
If your Unemployment Insurance application was denied, you have the right to file an appeal. You can submit an appeal to the Department of Labor by calling (208) 332-3570 or (800) 621-4938 (toll-free).
You may also obtain an appeal request form here, which you can submit in person, by mail or by fax to the Appeals Bureau.
If you have general questions about Idaho Unemployment Benefits, call the Idaho Department of Labor’s customer service center at (833) 410-1009.
If you would like to speak with a representative at the Idaho Department of Labor Main Office, call (208) 332-3570. You can also reach the office at:
1st Floor, East
317 W. Main St
Boise, ID 83735
Contact your local Unemployment Office or visit an office in person. Find your nearest Unemployment Office location and contact information here.
All Idaho Department of Labor phone lines are available Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM until 5:00 PM MST, except for observed holidays.
While we are not affiliated with the government in any way, our private company engaged writers to research the Unemployment Insurance program and compiled a guide and these answers to frequently asked questions. Our goal is to help you get the benefits that you need by providing useful information on the process.
Our free Unemployment Insurance Guide is filled with helpful information about how to apply, program eligibility requirements and how to get in touch with local offices. You can view our free guide here.
If you have general questions about Idaho Unemployment Benefits or an Unemployment Insurance claim, call the Idaho Department of Labor (DOL) customer service center at (833) 410-1009.
To speak with a representative at the Idaho DOL Main Office, call (208) 332-3570.
If you have questions about appeals, call the Unemployment Claim appeals line at (208) 332-3570, or call the toll-free number (800) 621-4938. Or, learn about the appeals process and access the appeals request form here.
All Idaho DOL phone lines are available Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM until 5:00 PM MST, except for observed holidays.
Idaho has 11 Unemployment Offices. Find your nearest local Unemployment Office’s location, hours of operation, and phone number. Or, go to the Idaho DOL Contact Us page here.
| Location | Address | Phone Number |
|---|---|---|
| Post Falls | 600 N. Thornton St. Post Falls, ID 83854 | (208) 457-8789 |
| Sandpoint | 613 Ridley Village Road, Ste. C Sandpoint, ID 83864 | (208) 263-7544 |
| Lewiston | 1158 Idaho St. Lewiston, ID 83501-1960 | (208) 799-5000 |
| Orofino | 416 Johnson Ave. Suite 12 Orofino, ID 83544 | (208) 476-5506 |
| Caldwell | 4514 Thomas Jefferson St. Caldwell, ID 83605 | (208) 364-7781 |
| *Boise | 1st Floor, East 317 W. Main St Boise, ID 83735 | (208) 332-3575 |
| Twin Falls | 420 Falls Ave. Twin Falls, ID 83301 | (208) 735-2500 |
| Burley | 127 W. 5th St. North Burley, ID 83318-3457 | (208) 678-5518 |
| Pocatello | 430 N. 5th Ave. P.O. Box 4087 Pocatello, ID 83205-4087 | (208) 236-6710 |
| Idaho Falls | 1515 E. Lincoln Road Idaho Falls, ID 83401-3653 | (208) 557-2500 |
| Salmon | 803 Monroe St., Suite 126A Salmon, ID 83467 | (208) 756-2234 |
*Idaho Department of Labor’s Main Office
Idaho has 13 mobile Unemployment Offices. These office locations change each day in their given areas. Call your nearest local mobile office to learn their upcoming location schedule. Or, go to the Idaho DOL Contact Us page here.
| Location | Phone Number |
|---|---|
| Bonners Ferry Area | (208) 457-8789 ext. 3828 or 3505 |
| St. Maries and Kellogg Area | (208) 457-8789 ext. 3873 or 3813 |
| Grangeville Area | (208) 799-5000 ext. 3789 or 4311 |
| Moscow Area | (208) 799-5000 ext. 3531 or 3853 |
| Emmett Area | (208) 364-7781 ext. 3044 or 3850 |
| McCall Area | (208) 364-7781 ext. 3090 or 3478 |
| Meridian Area | (208) 332-3575 ext. 4259 |
| Mountain Home Area | (208) 332-3570 ext. 3744 or 3745 |
| Payette Area | (208) 364-7781 ext. 3535 or 3629 |
| Hailey Area | (208) 735-2500 ext. 3711 or 3579 |
| Blackfoot Area | (208) 236-6710 ext. 3839, 3727, or 4314 |
| Soda Spring Area | (208) 236-6710 ext. 3839, 3413, or 4234 |
| Rexburg Area | (208) 557-2500 |
To find more information on Idaho Unemployment Benefits and Services, visit:
To file an Unemployment Insurance claim online:
To find more information about COVID-19’s impact on Idaho Unemployment Insurance, visit the Idaho Department of Labor (DOL) Covid-19 information page here.
If you have a question about Idaho Business Unemployment Insurance:
While we are not affiliated with the government in any way, our private company engaged writers to research the Unemployment Insurance program and compiled a guide and these answers to frequently asked questions. Our goal is to help you get the benefits that you need by providing useful information on the process.
Our free Unemployment Insurance Guide is filled with helpful information about how to apply, program eligibility requirements and how to get in touch with local offices. You can view our free guide here.
To apply for Unemployment Insurance in Idaho, complete the following three steps:
Learn what documents and information you need here.
The Idaho Unemployment Office does not accept claims over the telephone.
To apply for Unemployment Insurance online, click here to access Idaho’s Unemployment claim portal.
To apply for Unemployment Insurance in person, click here to find your nearest Idaho Unemployment Office location.
If you have questions about the application process or require assistance, contact the Idaho Department of Labor’s Main Office Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM MST:
If you have already applied for Unemployment Insurance online, you can check the status of your application by logging into your account through the Idaho Claimant Portal here.
You can also check the status of your application by calling the Idaho Department of Labor’s customer service line at 1-833-410-1009.
You will not begin receiving Unemployment Benefits immediately after submitting the application. By law, you must wait one week before finding out whether you will begin receiving benefits. This is called the Waiting Week.
The Waiting Week is the week after you file your unemployment claim. During the Waiting Week, you must file a Weekly Certification Application through the claimant portal and the Unemployment Office will make sure you are still unemployed or underemployed, and meet all other eligibility requirements. If approved, you will begin receiving your weekly benefits the following week. You are not paid for the Waiting Week, but you do receive a Waiting Week credit.
Learn more about the Waiting Week here.
Learn more about the Weekly Certification Application here.
If your Unemployment Insurance application was denied, you have the right to file an appeal. You can submit an appeal to the Department of Labor by calling (208) 332-3570 or (800) 621-4938 (toll-free).
You may also obtain an appeal request form here, which you can submit in person, by mail or by fax to the Appeals Bureau.
You may not file an appeal online.
For help with an Unemployment Insurance application, or for any further questions about your Unemployment Insurance claim, call the Idaho Department of Labor at 1-833-410-1009.
You can also visit or call a local Unemployment Office for further assistance. Find your nearest Unemployment Office location and contact information here.
The Idaho Department of Labor customer service telephone line and all local Unemployment Offices are available Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM until 5:00 PM MST, except for observed holidays.
While we are not affiliated with the government in any way, our private company engaged writers to research the Unemployment Insurance program and compiled a guide and these answers to frequently asked questions. Our goal is to help you get the benefits that you need by providing useful information on the process.
Our free Unemployment Insurance Guide is filled with helpful information about how to apply, program eligibility requirements and how to get in touch with local offices. You can view our free guide here.