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 Louisiana’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.
You can learn more about how Unemployment Insurance payments work here. Navigate to the bottom of the page, find the tab labeled “Reemployment Services” and click the link that reads “Other Unemployment Services.”
To qualify for Unemployment Insurance in Idaho, you must:
You can learn more about Louisiana’s requirements to qualify for Unemployment here. Navigate to the bottom of the page, find the tab labeled “Reemployment Services” and click the link that reads “Other Unemployment Services.”
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 Louisiana, complete the following three steps:
Learn what documents and information you need here.
To apply for Unemployment Insurance online, click here to access Louisiana’s Unemployment claim portal. To apply for Unemployment Insurance over the phone, call 866-783-5567.
If you have questions about the application process or require assistance, contact the Louisiana's Workforce Commission at 866-783-5567 Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM. You must call within your designated time slot, which depends on your Social Security Number (SSN):
Note that Fridays are open to anyone interested in filing for Unemployment Insurance via phone.
If you are deaf, hard of hearing or have difficulty speaking, please contact Louisiana Relay at 711, 1 (800) 846-5277 (Teletext) or 1-800-947-5277 (Voice).
The amount of Unemployment Benefits you receive is based on your past reported earnings by employers that you have worked for in Louisiana. To determine how much an applicant will receive in Unemployment Benefits each week, the Louisiana Workforce Commission takes the average quarterly earnings in your base period and multiplies it by .04. Then, it multiplies the result by 1.05 and the new result by 1.15.
The minimum weekly benefit amount in Louisiana is $35. The maximum weekly benefit amount is $275.
You can find out more about the base period and how benefits are calculated on page 6 of this document.
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. You can find the Louisiana claimant portal here.
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 on page 2 of this document.
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 or by phone at (866) 783-5567.
If your Unemployment Insurance application was denied, you have the right to file an appeal. You can submit an appeal to the Louisiana Workforce Commission online, online or by mail within 15 days.
To file online, log into the HIRES portal here. You will use the same login credentials that you used during the application process.
To file an appeal by mail, send a letter explaining your disagreement to:
Louisiana Workforce Commission
Appeals Unit
O. Box 94094
Baton Rouge, LA 70804-9094
The letter must be postmarked within 15 days of when you received the denial notice. You must include this denial notice with your letter of appeal.
If you have general questions about Idaho Unemployment Benefits, call the Louisiana Workforce Commission at 1 (866) 783-5567.
You can find additional contact information by visiting the Louisiana Workforce Commission’s contact information page here.
Find answers to other topics related to Unemployment Insurance on the Louisiana Workforce Commission’s FAQs page here.
The Louisiana Workforce Commission is available Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM, except for observed holidays noted 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 Louisiana Unemployment Benefits or an Unemployment Insurance claim, call the Louisiana Workforce Commission at 1-866-783-5567.
If you need phone assistance, the Louisiana Workforce Commission has a designated call-in schedule based on your Social Security Number (SSN). You may only call for assistance during your allotted time slot, which is:
Note that Fridays are open to anyone in need of phone assistance.
Call center hours are Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM, except for the observed holidays listed here.
If you are deaf, hard of hearing or have difficulty speaking, please contact Louisiana Relay at 711, 1-800-846-5277 (Teletext) or 1-800-947-5277 (Voice).
You can also contact the Louisiana Workforce Commission via email at HiRE@lwc.la.gov. You must include your full name, phone number, email address and the last four digits of your Social Security Number (SSN) in order for your request to be processed.
You may need to contact your local Unemployment Insurance office for specific questions or application assistance. Find contact information for all Louisiana Unemployment Offices below. Or, visit the Louisiana Workforce Commission locations page here.
| Location | Address | Phone Number |
|---|---|---|
| Abbeville | 407 Charity Street, Abbeville, LA 70510 | (337) 893-1986 |
| Alexandria | 5610-B Coliseum Blvd, Alexandria, LA 71303 | (318) 767-6030 |
| Algiers | 3520 General DeGaulle Dr, Algiers, LA 70831 | (504) 658-4580 |
| Arcadia | 1119 South R R Ave, Arcadia , LA 71001 | (318) 263-8456 |
| Bastrop | 250 Holt Street, Bastrop, LA 71270 | (318) 283-0849 |
| Baton Rouge | 4523 Plank Road, Baton Rouge, LA 70805 | (225) 358-4561 |
| Belle Chasse | 1112 Engineers Road , Belle Chasse, LA 70037 | (504) 392-5803 |
| Bogalusa | 420 Avenue B, Bogalusa, LA 70427 | (985) 732-6630 |
| Bossier City | 4000 Viking Drive, Bossier City, LA 71111 | (318) 741-7360 |
| Chalmette | 201 W. Judge Perez Dr, Chalmette, LA 70043 | (504) 355-4439 |
| Colfax | 207 Main Street, Colfax, LA 71417 | (318) 627-5251 |
| Columbia | 404 Wall Street, Columbia, LA 71418 | (318) 649-5398 |
| Coushatta | 615 E. Carroll Street, Coushatta, LA 71019 | (318) 932-9570 |
| Crowley | 11 North Parkerson Avenue, Crowley, LA 70527 | (337) 788-7550 |
| Deridder | 1102 West First St, DeRidder, LA 70634 | (337) 462-5838 |
| Farmerville | 303-B E. Water St, Farmerville, LA 71241 | (318) 368-9606 |
| Ferriday | 105 North E. E. Wallace Blvd, Ferriday, LA 71334 | (318) 757-9213 |
| Franklin | 600 Main Street, Franklin, LA 70538 | (337) 828-0257 |
| Gonzales | 1721-D South Burnside Ave, Gonzales, LA 70707 | (225) 644-0335 |
| Gretna | 1900 Lafayette Street, Gretna, LA 70053 | (504) 227-1283 |
| Hammond | 1745 S.W. Railroad Avenue, Hammond, LA 70403 | (985) 902-4200 |
| Harrisonburg | 204 Sicily Street, Harrisonburg, LA 71340 | (318) 744-5445 |
| Homer | 3940 Hwy 79, Homer, LA 71040 | (318) 927-3338 |
| Houma | 807 Barrow Street, Houma, LA 70360 | (985) 876-8990 |
| Jena | 1050 Courthouse Street, Jena, LA 71342 | (318) 992-8264 |
| Jennings | 203 East Academy, Jennings, LA 70546 | (337) 824-2797 |
| Jonesboro | 182 Industrial Drive, Jonesboro, LA 71251 | (318) 259-3801 |
| Lafayette | 706 East Vermilion Street, Lafayette, LA 70501 | (337) 262-5601 |
| Lake Charles | 4250 Fifth Avenue, Lake Charles, LA 70697 | (337) 475-4900 |
| Lake Providence | 407 2nd Street, Lake Providence, LA 71254 | (318) 559-1618 |
| Laplace | 975 Cambridge Drive, LaPlace, LA 70068 | (985) 652-3471 |
| Luling | 737 Paul Maillard Road, Luling, LA 70057 | (985) 783-5030 |
| Lutcher | 2289 Texas Ave, Lutcher, LA 70071 | (225) 869-9773 |
| Mansfield | 142 Lake Road, Mansfield, LA 71052 | (318) 871-2391 |
| Many | 1125 West Mississippi Ave, Many, LA 71449 | (318) 256-2698 |
| Marksville | 320 Cottage Street, Marksville, LA 71351 | (318) 240-8820 |
| Metairie | 1801 Airline Drive, Metairie, LA 70001 | (504) 838-5678 |
| Minden | 310 Homer Road, Minden, LA 71058 | (318) 373024 |
| Monroe | 1162 Oliver Rd, Monroe, LA 71201 | (318) 362-3058 |
| Morgan City | 7710 Hwy 182 East, Morgan City, LA 70381 | (985) 380-2448 |
| Napoleonville | 4847A Highway 1, Suite C, Napoleonville, LA 70390 | (985) 369-1810 |
| New Orleans | 3400 Tulane Ave. 2nd Flr., New Orleans, LA 70119 | (504) 658-4500 |
| Natchitoches | 303 Bienville Street, Natchitoches, LA 71457 | (318) 357-3145 |
| New Iberia | 124 E. Main Street, New Iberia, LA 70560 | (337) 373-0010 |
| New Roads | 305 E. Main Street, New Roads, LA 70760 | (225) 638-6852 |
| Oak Grove | 310 Skinner Lane, Oak Grove, LA 71263 | (318) 428-8640 |
| Oberlin | 602 Court Street, Oberlin, LA 70655 | (337) 639-2175 |
| Opelousas | 1305 Diesi St, Opelousas, LA 70570 | (337) 948-1330 |
| Plaquemine | 23425 Railroad Avenue, Plaquemine, LA 70764 | (225) 687-0969 |
| Rayville | 146 Christian Drive, Rayville, LA 71269 | (318) 728-3348 |
| Ruston | 307 North Homer Street, Ruston, LA 71270 | (318) 254175 |
| Shreveport | 2900 Dowdell Street, Shreveport, LA 71133 | (318) 676-7788 |
| Slidell | 316 E. Howze Beach Lane, Slidell, LA 70461 | (985) 646-6410 |
| St. Francisville | 5681 Commerce Street, St. Francisville, LA 70775 | (225) 635-6635 |
| St. Joseph | 107 Arts Drive, St. Joseph, LA 71366 | (318) 766-3606 |
| St. Martinville | 215 Evangeline Blvd, St. Martinville, LA 70582 | (337) 394-2205 |
| Tallulah | 405 North Cedar St, Tallulah, LA 71284 | (318) 574-0140 |
| Thibodaux | 1711 Ridgefield Road, Thibodaux, LA 70301 | (985) 446-3016 |
| Ville Platte | 417 West Magnolia Street, Ville Platte, LA 70586 | (337) 363-6241 |
| Walker | 9384 Florida Blvd, Walker, LA 70785 | (225) 667-1874 |
| Winnfield | 201 North Bevill Street, Winnfield, LA 71483 | (318) 628-4641 |
| Winnsboro | 3290 Front Street, Winnsboro, LA 71295 | (318) 435-5687 |
To find more information on Louisiana Unemployment Benefits and Services, visit:
To file an Unemployment Insurance claim online or by phone:
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 Louisiana, complete the following three steps:
Learn what documents and information you need here.
To apply for Unemployment Insurance online, click here to access Louisiana’s Unemployment claim portal. To apply for Unemployment Insurance over the phone, call 866-783-5567.
If you have questions about the application process or require assistance, contact Louisiana's Workforce Commission at 866-783-5567 Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM. You must call within your designated time slot, which depends on your Social Security Number (SSN):
Note that Fridays are open to anyone interested in filing for Unemployment Insurance via phone.
If you are deaf, hard of hearing or have difficulty speaking, please contact Louisiana Relay at 711, 1-800-846-5277 (Teletext) or 1-800-947-5277 (Voice).
If you have already applied for Unemployment Insurance online, you can check the status of your claim by logging in to the Helping Individuals Reach Employment (HIRES) portal here.
You can also check the status of your application by calling the Louisiana Workforce Commission at 866-783-5567 Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM. You must call within your designated time slot, which depends on your Social Security Number (SSN):
Fridays are open to anyone in need of assistance.
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. Note that this waiting period may be waived during times of emergency.
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. You can find the Louisiana claimant portal here.
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 Louisiana Workforce Commission online, online or by mail within 15 days.
To file online, log into the HIRES portal here. You will use the same login credentials that you used during the application process.
To file an appeal by mail, send a letter explaining your disagreement to:
Louisiana Workforce Commission
Appeals Unit
O. Box 94094
Baton Rouge, LA 70804-9094
The letter must be postmarked within 15 days of when you received the denial notice. You must include this denial notice with your letter of appeal.
For help with an Unemployment Insurance application, or for any further questions about your Unemployment Insurance claim, call the Louisiana Workforce Commission at 1 (866) 783-5567.
You can find additional contact information by visiting the Louisiana Workforce Commission’s contact information page here.
Find answers to other topics related to Unemployment Insurance on the Louisiana Workforce Commission’s FAQs page here.
The Louisiana Workforce Commission is available Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM, 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.