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 Hawaii’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 Hawaii, you must:
Learn more about Hawaii’s monetary requirements and personal eligibility requirements on page 2 of this handbook 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.
Learn more information on when to apply for Unemployment Insurance here.
To apply for Unemployment Insurance in Hawaii, complete the following three steps:
Watch a video about how to file for Unemployment Insurance here.
The Hawaii Unemployment Office does not accept claims over the telephone.
To apply for Unemployment Insurance online, click here to access Hawaii’s Unemployment claim portal.
To apply for Unemployment Insurance in person, click here to find your nearest Hawaii Unemployment Office location.
If you have questions about the application process or require assistance, contact the Hawaii Department of Labor and Industrial Relations’ Main Office Monday through Friday from 7:45 AM until 4:30 PM HST:
The amount of Unemployment Benefits you receive is based on your past reported earnings by employers that you have worked for in Hawaii. To determine the amount you will receive each week, the Hawaii Department of Labor and Industrial Relations takes the highest-earning quarter in the applicant’s base period and divides that amount by 21.
The maximum weekly benefit amount is $796.
Learn more about Hawaii’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 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 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 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.
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 and Industrial Relations by calling (808) 586-8930, or by sending an email to dlir.esaro@hawaii.gov.
You may also obtain an appeal request form here, which you can submit in person or by mail to the Employment Security Appeals Referee's Office (ESARO) at:
830 Punchbowl St., Room 429
Honolulu, HI 96813
You may not file an appeal online.
If you have general questions about Hawaii Unemployment Benefits, call the Hawaii Department of Labor and Industrial Relations’ customer service center at (833) 901-2275.
If you would like to speak with a representative at the local offices, then call the following numbers:
You can also contact your local Unemployment Office or visit an office in person. Find your nearest Unemployment Office location and contact information here.
All Hawaii DLIR phone lines are available Monday through Friday from 7:45 AM until 4:30 PM HST, except for the observed holidays here.
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 Hawaii Unemployment Benefits or an Unemployment Insurance claim, call the Hawaii Department of Labor and Industrial Relations (DLIR) customer service center at (833) 901-2275, or email dlir.unemployment@hawaii.gov.
To speak with a representative at the Hawaii DLIR Main Office, call (808) 586-8844.
If you have questions about appeals, call the Unemployment Claim appeals line at (808) 586-8930, or send an email to dlir.esaro@hawaii.gov. Or, learn about the appeals process here and access the appeal form here.
All Hawaii DLIR phone lines are available Monday through Friday from 7:45 AM until 4:30 PM HST, except for the observed holidays here.
Hawaii has five Unemployment Offices. Find your nearest local Unemployment Office’s location, hours of operation, and phone number. Or, go to the Hawaii DLIR Contact Us page here.
| Location | Address | Phone Number |
|---|---|---|
| Oahu* | Oahu Claims Office 830 Punchbowl St., Rm 110 Honolulu, HI 96813 | (808) 586-8970 (808) 586-8980 fax dlir.ui.oahu@hawaii.gov |
| Hilo | Hilo Claims and Benefits 1990 Kinoole St., Ste 101 Hilo, HI 96720-5293 | <>(808) 974-4086 (808) 974-4085 fax dlir.ui.hilo@hawaii.gov |
| Kona | Kona Claims and Benefits 81-990 Halekii St., Rm 2090 Kealakekua, HI 96750 | (808) 322-4822 (808) 322-4828 fax dlir.ui.kona@hawaii.gov |
| Maui | Maui Claims and Benefits 54 South High St., Rm 201 Wailuku, HI 96793 | (808) 984-8400 (808) 984-8444 fax dlir.ui.maui@hawaii.gov |
| Kauai | Kauai Claims and Benefits 4370 Kukui Grove St., Ste 3-214 Lihue, HI 96766 | (808) 274-3043 (808) 274-3046 fax dlir.ui.kauai@hawaii.gov |
*Hawaii Department of Labor and Industrial Relations’ Main Office
To find more information on Hawaii Unemployment Benefits and Services, visit:
To file an Unemployment Insurance claim online, visit the Hawaii Unemployment Insurance claimant portal here.
To file an Unemployment Insurance claim by phone, call the following numbers:
If you have a question about Hawaii 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 Hawaii, complete the following three steps:
Watch a video on filing for Unemployment Insurance here.
The Hawaii Unemployment Office does not accept claims over the telephone.
To apply for Unemployment Insurance online, click here to access Hawaii’s Unemployment claim portal.
To apply for Unemployment Insurance in person, click here to find your nearest Hawaii Unemployment Office location.
If you have questions about the application process or require assistance, contact the Hawaii Department of Labor and Industrial Relations’ Main Office Monday through Friday from 7:45 AM until 4:30 PM HST:
If you have already applied for Unemployment Insurance online, you can check the status of your application by logging into your account through the Hawaii Claimant Portal here.
You can also check the status of your application by calling the Hawaii Department of Labor and Industrial Relations’ customer service line at (833) 901-2275.
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 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 and Industrial Relations by calling (808) 586-8930, or sending an email to dlir.esaro@hawaii.gov.
You may also obtain an appeal request form here, which you can submit in person or by mail to the Employment Security Appeals Referee's Office (ESARO) at:
830 Punchbowl St., Room 429
Honolulu, HI 96813
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 Hawaii Department of Labor and Industrial Relations at (833) 901-2275.
You can also visit or call a local Unemployment Office for further assistance. Find your nearest Unemployment Office location and contact information here.
All Hawaii Department of Labor and Industrial Relations phone lines are available Monday through Friday from 7:45 AM until 4:30 PM HST.
The local Unemployment Offices are open Monday through Friday from 9:00 AM until 5:00 PM HST, except for the observed holidays here.
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.