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.

  1. What Is Unemployment Insurance?
  2. What Are Unemployment Insurance Benefits?
  3. How to Qualify for Unemployment Benefits
  4. When to Apply for Unemployment
  5. How to Apply for Kansas Unemployment Insurance
  6. How Unemployment Insurance Benefit Amounts Are Calculated
  7. I Just Applied for Unemployment Insurance. Now What?
  8. What Happens After You Are Approved for Unemployment Benefits?
  9. How to Appeal an Unemployment Insurance Denial
  10. Need More Help?
  11. View or Download Our Free Guide

What Is Unemployment Insurance?

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 Kansas’ Unemployment Program Overview page here.

What Are Unemployment Insurance Benefits?

Unemployment Insurance benefits are weekly payments that are given to eligible workers who apply to and are accepted into the program. These payments can be provided via a direct deposit to the beneficiary's bank account or through an unemployment debit card. 

You can learn more about how Unemployment Insurance payments work here.  

How to Qualify for Unemployment Benefits

To qualify for Unemployment Insurance in Kansas, you must:

  • Have lost your job due to no fault of your own.
  • Be able to work.
  • Be actively seeking work.
  • Meet Kansas’ monetary and personal eligibility requirements.

Learn more about Kansas’ eligibility requirements to qualify for Unemployment here.

When to Apply for Unemployment

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.

How to Apply for Kansas Unemployment

To apply for Unemployment Insurance in Kansas, complete the following three steps: 

  1. Gather the documentation related to your previous employment and information you will need for the application

Learn what documents and information you need here.

  1. Choose how you are going to apply, whether online or by phone. 

The Kansas Unemployment Office does not accept claims in person. 

To apply for Unemployment Insurance online, click here to access Kansas’ Unemployment claim portal. 

To apply for Unemployment Insurance by phone, call the Kansas Department of Labor’s customer service center at (800) 292-6333

You will be required to apply for benefits over the phone if: 

  • You worked in another state other than Kansas within the past 18 months
  • You filed for unemployment insurance in a state other than Kansas within the past 12 months 
  • You were a federal employee or in the military service within the past 18 months
  1. Submit the Unemployment application, which is also known as filing a claim. 

If you have questions about the application process or require assistance, contact the Kansas Department of Labor’s customer service center at (913) 596-3500.

How Unemployment Insurance Benefit Amounts Are Calculated

The amount of Unemployment Benefits you receive is based on your past reported earnings by employers that you have worked for in Kansas. To determine how much you will receive each week, the Kansas Department of Labor considers the amount of wages you earned during your base period. 

The minimum weekly benefit amount in Kansas is $147. The maximum weekly benefit amount is $589. 

To find out more about the base period and how benefits are calculated, click here. You can also estimate your weekly benefit amount by using the Department of Labor’s benefits calculator here

I Just Applied for Unemployment Insurance. Now What?

  1. Report Your Waiting Week

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 here. Learn more about the Weekly Certification Application here.  

  1. Start Looking for Work 

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.

  1. Discuss Possible Issues 

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.

What Happens After You Are Approved for Unemployment Benefits?

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 your Unemployment Benefits may be delayed or denied if you do not file your weekly claim

How to Appeal an Unemployment Insurance Denial

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’s Office of Appeals by fax to (785) 296-4065, by email to KDOL.Appeals@ks.gov, or by mail to:
Office of Appeals
401 SW Topeka Boulevard, 2nd floor
Topeka, KS 66603-3182

Your appeal request must be in the format of a letter, which includes the following information:  

  • Your name
  • The last four digits of your Social Security Number (SSN) 
  • Your contact address and phone number 
  • The determination that you are appealing 

Need More Help?

For help with an Unemployment Insurance application, or for any further questions about your Unemployment Insurance claim, call the Kansas Department of Labor at (800) 292-6333.  

You may also contact the customer service center locally: 

  • Kansas City: (913) 596-3500 
  • Topeka: (785) 575-1460 
  • Wichita: (316) 383-9947 

You can only reach a customer service representative by calling these phone lines Monday through Friday from 8 AM to 4:15 PM, except on the observed holidays noted here.

You can also send questions regarding an Unemployment Insurance claim in writing via fax to (785) 296-3249 or by mail to this address:
Kansas Unemployment Contact Center
P.O. Box 3539
Topeka, KS 66601-3539

To send your questions by fax or mail, you must include the following information: 

  • Your name
  • Your Social Security Number (SSN)
  • Your address
  • Your phone number
  • Your signature

View or Download Our Free Guide

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.

  1. Contact the Kansas Department of Labor Unemployment Agency
  2. Unemployment Offices in Kansas
  3. Need More Help?
  4. View or Download Our Free Guide

Contact the Kansas Department of Labor Unemployment Agency

If you have general questions about Kansas Unemployment Benefits or an Unemployment Insurance claim, call the Kansas Department of Labor (DOL) customer service center at (800) 292-6333

You can also contact the customer service center locally: 

  • Kansas City<: (913) 596-3500
  • Topeka: (785) 575-1460
  • Wichita: (316) 383-9947

You can only reach a customer service representative by calling these phone lines Monday through Friday from 8 AM to 4:15 PM, except on the observed holidays noted here.

You can also send questions regarding an Unemployment Insurance claim in writing via fax to (785) 296-3249 or by mail to this address:
Kansas Unemployment Contact Center
P.O. Box 3539
Topeka, KS 66601-3539

To send your questions by fax or mail, you must include the following information: 

  • Your name
  • Your Social Security Number (SSN)
  • Your address
  • Your phone number
  • Your signature

Unemployment Offices in Kansas

Kansas has 29 Unemployment Offices. Find your nearest local Unemployment Office’s location, hours of operation, and phone number. Or, go to the Kansas DOL Contact page here.

LocationAddressPhone #
ChanuteNeosho County Community College
800 W. 14th Street
Chanute, KS 66720
Phone: (620) 431-2820Fax: (620) 431-2375
ColbyKANSASWORKS Colby
350 South Range, Suite 5
Colby, KS 67701
Phone: (785) 462-2024
Dodge CityKANSASWORKS Dodge City
2308 First Avenue
Dodge City, KS 67801
Phone: (620) 227-2149Fax: (620) 227-9667
El DoradoButler Workforce Center
524 N. Main St.
El Dorado, KS 67042
Phone: (316) 321-2350Fax: (316) 321-7653
EmporiaKANSASWORKS Emporia
215 W. 6th Ave., Ste 107
Emporia, KS 66801
Phone: (620) 342-3355Fax: (620) 342-2806
Garden CityKANSASWORKS Garden City107 E. Spruce St.Garden City, KS 67846Phone: (620) 276-2339Fax: (620) 276-7306
GoodlandKANSASWORKS Goodland
204 West 11th
Goodland, KS 67735
Phone: (785) 890-2422
Great BendKANSASWORKS Great Bend
1025 Main St.
Great Bend, KS 67530
Phone: (620) 793-5445Fax: (620) 793-3188
HaysKANSASWORKS Hays
332 E. 8th Street
Hays, KS 67601
Phone: (785) 625-5654
Fax: (785) 625-0092
HaysKANSASWORKS Mobile Workforce Center
332 E. 8th Street
Hays, KS 67601-4145
Phone: (785) 625-5654
Fax: (785) 625-0092
HutchinsonKANSASWORKS Hutchinson
609 E. 14th Ave.
Hutchinson, KS 67501
Phone: (620) 665-3559
Fax: (620) 728-8161
Independence KANSASWORKS Independence
317 N. Pennsylvania Ave.
Independence, KS 67301
Phone: (620) 332-5904
Fax: (620) 331-0856
Junction CityJunction City Workforce Center
1012 W 6th Street, Suite A
Junction City, KS 66441
Phone: (785) 762-8870Fax: (785) 762-3078
Kansas CityWyandotte County Workforce Center
626 Minnesota Avenue
Kansas City, KS 66101
Phone: (913) 279-2600
Fax: (913) 342-9676
LawrenceLawrence Workforce Center
2920 Haskell Avenue, Ste 2
Lawrence, KS 66046
Phone: (785) 840-9675Fax: (785) 865-5465
LeavenworthLeavenworth County Workforce Center
515 Limit Street
Suite 200
Leavenworth, KS 66048
Phone: 913-651-1800
Fax: 913-682-1804
LeavenworthLeavenworth (Vet Outreach)
4101 South 4th Street
Leavenworth, KS 66048
Phone: 913-946-1537
Fax: 913-684-2598
LenexaJohnson County Workforce Center
8535 Bluejacket St
Lenexa, KS 66214
Phone: 913-577-5900
Fax: 913-642-726
LiberalKANSASWORKS Liberal
2215 N. Kansas Ave.
Liberal, KS 67901
Phone: 620-417-1958
ManhattanManhattan Vets Center
205 S. 4th Street, Suite 1B
Manhattan, KS 66502
Phone: (785) 350-4920Fax: (785) 539-4982
ManhattanManhattan Workforce Center
205 S. 4th Street, Suite K
Manhattan, KS 66502
Phone: (785) 539-5691Fax: (785) 539-5697
Newton Remote Access CenterKANSASWORKS Newton
203 E. Broadway
Newton, KS 67114
Phone: (316) 283-7000
Fax: 316-283-2016
PaolaKANSASWORKS Paola
1 S. Pearl, Suite A
Paola, KS 66071
Phone: 913-937-9462
Fax: 913-937-9463
PittsburgKANSASWORKS Pittsburg
216 North Broadway Suite K
Pittsburg, KS 66762
Phone: (620) 231-4250
Fax: (620) 231-6448
SalinaKANSASWORKS Salina
203 N. 10th Street
Salina, KS 67401
Phone: (785) 827-0385
Fax: (785) 827-2307
TopekaTopeka Workforce Center
1430 SW Topeka Blvd.
Topeka, KS 66612
Phone: (785) 235-5627
Fax: (785) 233-5899
Wellington Sumner County Workforce CenterSumner County Workforce Center
314 N. Washington Ave.
Wellington, KS 67152
Phone: (620) 326-2659
Fax: (620) 326-5225
WichitaWichita Workforce Center
2021 N Amidon, Suite 1100
Wichita, KS 67203
Phone: 316-771-6800
Fax: 316-771-6890
WinfieldCowley County Workforce Center
108 East 12th Avenue
Winfield, KS 67156
Phone: (620) 221-7790

Need More Help?

To find more information on Kansas Unemployment Benefits and Services, visit:  

  • The Kansas Department of Labor (DOL) website here
  • The Kansas DOL Frequently Asked Questions page here.

To file an Unemployment Insurance claim online or by phone: 

  • Visit the Kansas Unemployment Insurance claimant portal here.
  • Call (800) 292-6333.

View or Download Our Free Guide

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.

  1. How to Apply for Kansas Unemployment Insurance
  2. How to Check Your Application Status
  3. The Unemployment Benefits Waiting Week
  4. How to Appeal an Unemployment Insurance Denial
  5. Need More Help?
  6. View or Download Our Free Guide

How to Apply for Kansas Unemployment Insurance

To apply for Unemployment Insurance in Kansas, complete the following three steps: 

  1. Gather the documentation related to your previous employment and information you will need for the application

Learn what documents and information you need here.

  1. Choose how you are going to apply, whether online or by phone. 

The Kansas Unemployment Office does not accept claims in person. 

To apply for Unemployment Insurance online, click here to access Kansas’ Unemployment claim portal. 

To apply for Unemployment Insurance by phone, call the Kansas Department of Labor’s customer service center at (800) 292-6333

You will be required to apply for benefits over the phone if: 

  • You worked in another state other than Kansas within the past 18 months
  • You filed for unemployment insurance in a state other than Kansas within the past 12 months 
  • You were a federal employee or in the military service within the past 18 months
  1. Submit the Unemployment application, which is also known as filing a claim. 

If you have questions about the application process or require assistance, contact the Kansas Department of Labor’s customer service center at (913) 596-3500.

How to Check Your Application Status

If you have already applied for Unemployment Insurance online, you can check the status of your application by logging in to the portal here.

You can also check the status of your application by calling the Kansas Department of Labor’s customer service center at (800) 292-6333.

The Unemployment Benefits Waiting Week

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.

How to Appeal an Unemployment Insurance Denial

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’s Office of Appeals by fax to (785) 296-4065, by email to KDOL.Appeals@ks.gov, or by mail to:

Office of Appeals
401 SW Topeka Boulevard, 2nd floor
Topeka, KS 66603-3182

Your appeal request must be in the format of a letter, which includes the following information:  

  • Your name
  • The last four digits of your Social Security Number (SSN) 
  • Your contact address and phone number 
  • The determination that you are appealing 

Need More Help?

For help with an Unemployment Insurance application, or for any further questions about your Unemployment Insurance claim, call the Kansas Department of Labor at (800) 292-6333.  

You may also contact the customer service center locally: 

  • Kansas City: (913) 596-3500 
  • Topeka: (785) 575-1460 
  • Wichita: (316) 383-9947 

You can only reach a customer service representative by calling these phone lines Monday through Friday from 8 AM to 4:15 PM, except on the observed holidays noted here.

You can also send questions regarding an Unemployment Insurance claim in writing via fax to (785) 296-3249 or by mail to this address:
Kansas Unemployment Contact Center
P.O. Box 3539
Topeka, KS 66601-3539

To send your questions by fax or mail, you must include the following information: 

  • Your name
  • Your Social Security Number (SSN)
  • Your address
  • Your phone number
  • Your signature

View or Download Our Free Guide

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.