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 the District of Columbia’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 here.
To qualify for Unemployment Insurance in the District of Columbia, you must:
Learn more about the District of Columbia’s monetary and personal eligibility requirements here.
Apply for benefits online 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. When arriving at the page, click "File for Benefits" to start the process.
Learn more information on when to apply for Unemployment Insurance here.
To apply for Unemployment Insurance in the District of Columbia, complete the following three steps:
To apply for Unemployment insurance in person, go to:
4058 Minnesota Avenue, NE
Washington, DC 20019
If you have questions about the application process or require assistance, you can contact the main office at the following lines:
The District of Columbia DOES phone lines are available Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM until 4:30 PM ET, except for the observed holidays here.
The amount of Unemployment Benefits you receive is based on your past reported earnings by employers that you worked for in the District of Columbia. To determine the amount you will receive each week, the District of Columbia Department of Employment Services takes the highest-earning quarter in the applicant’s base period and divides that amount by 26.
The District of Columbia does not have a minimum weekly benefit amount, but the maximum weekly benefit amount is $444.
To find out more about the base period and how benefits are calculated, click 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 here 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 on page 18 of the handbook 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.
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 Application 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.
If your Unemployment Insurance application was denied, you have the right to file an appeal. You can submit an appeal letter to the Department of Employment Services by fax at (202) 442-9094 and by emailing OAH.Filing@DC.gov.
You may also obtain an appeal request form here, which you can submit in person, by mail or by fax to the Appeals Bureau. The fax number is (202) 442-4789.
Learn about the appeals process here.
For help with an Unemployment Insurance application, or for any further questions about your Unemployment Insurance claim, call the District of Columbia Department of Employment Services’ customer navigation center at (202) 724-7000 from Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM until 4:30 PM ET, except for the observed holidays listed here.
If you would like to speak with a representative at the main office, you can email does@dc.gov.
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 the District of Columbia Unemployment Benefits or an Unemployment Insurance claim, call the District of Columbia Department of Employment Services (DOES) customer navigation center at (202) 724-7000.
If you would like to speak with a representative at the main office, you can email does@dc.gov.
If you have questions about appeals, call the Unemployment Hearings and Appeals Division at (202) 442-9094. Or, learn about the appeals process here.
The District of Columbia DES phone lines are available Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM until 4:30 PM ET, except for the observed holidays here.
Below is the District of Columbia’s office location, hours of operation, and phone numbers. Or, go to the District of Columbia DOES Contact Us page here.
| Location | Address | Phone Number |
|---|---|---|
| Department of Employment Services | 4058 Minnesota Avenue, NE, Washington, DC 20019 | (202) 724-7000 (202) 673-6993 fax (202) 698-4817 TTY |
To find more information on the District of Columbia Unemployment Benefits and Services, visit:
To file an Unemployment Insurance claim:
If you have a question about District of Columbia Employer 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 the District of Columbia, complete the following three steps:
To apply for Unemployment Insurance online, click here to access the District of Columbia’s Unemployment claim portal.
To apply for Unemployment insurance in person, go to:
4058 Minnesota Avenue, NE
Washington, DC 20019
If you have questions about the application process or require assistance, you can contact the main office at the following lines:
The District of Columbia DOES phone lines are available Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM until 4:30 PM ET, except for the observed holidays here.
If you have already applied for Unemployment Insurance online, you can check the status of your application by logging into your account through the District of Columbia claimant portal here.
You can also check the status of your application by calling the District of Columbia Department of Employment Services’ customer service line at (202) 724-7000.
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 here 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 on page 18 of the handbook 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 letter to the Department of Employment Services by fax at (202) 442-9094 and by emailing OAH.Filing@DC.gov.
You may also obtain an appeal request form here, which you can submit in person, by mail or by fax to the Appeals Bureau. The fax number is (202) 442-4789.
Learn about the appeals process here.
For help with an Unemployment Insurance application, or for any further questions about your Unemployment Insurance claim, call the District of Columbia Department of Employment Services’ customer navigation center at (202) 724-7000 from Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM until 4:30 PM ET, except for the observed holidays here.
If you would like to speak with a representative at the main office, you can email does@dc.gov.
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.