Mississippi Unemployment FAQ Sheet

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 Mississippi 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 Mississippi’s Unemployment Program Overview page here.

What Are Unemployment Insurance Benefits?

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 or by debit card.

Learn more about how Unemployment Insurance payments work here.

How to Qualify for Unemployment Benefits

To qualify for Unemployment Insurance in Mississippi, you must:

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

Learn more about Mississippi’s monetary and personal eligibility requirements 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 Mississippi Unemployment Insurance

To apply for Unemployment Insurance in Mississippi, 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.

2. Choose how you are going to apply, whether online, by phone or in person.

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

To apply for Unemployment Insurance by phone, call:

• (601) 855-3133
• (888) 844-3577 or (888) 772-0061 (toll-free)

To apply for Unemployment Insurance in person, click here to find your local WIN Job Center.

3. Submit the Unemployment application, which is also known as filing a claim.
4. Report to your local WIN Job Center for a periodic eligibility review.

If you are unsure of when your eligibility review is scheduled, you can contact your local WIN Job Center for more information on the status of your application here.

If you have questions about the application process or require assistance, contact the Mississippi Department of Employment Security’s Unemployment Compensation customer service line every day from 7:00 AM until 10:00 PM CT, except for the observed holidays here.

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 worked for in Mississippi. To determine the amount you will receive each week, the Mississippi Department of Employment Security takes the highest-earning quarter in the applicant’s base period, divides that amount by 26 and then rounds the answer to the next lowest dollar.

The minimum weekly benefit amount in Mississippi is $30. The maximum weekly benefit amount is $235.

Learn more about Mississippi’s base period and how benefits are calculated on the FAQ page 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.

2. Contact to Your Local WIN Job Center

You must register at your local office and attend eligibility reviews throughout the period of time that you are collecting Unemployment Insurance benefits. Find your local WIN Job Center here.

3. Start Looking for Work

Keep track of your work-search contacts. You are required to make at least three contacts per week to receive payments and waiting week credit.

4. 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.

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 and about work search requirements here.

File your Weekly Certification Application here.

It’s important to remember that the state will deny or delay your Unemployment Insurance Benefits if you do not register for work with a WIN Job Center. Click here to find your local WIN Job Center.

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 letter to the Department of Employment Security by:

• Contacting your local WIN Job Center here.
• Calling the Appeals Department at (866) 633-1699.
• Faxing a letter indicating your desire to appeal to (877) 994-6329.
• Mailing a letter indicating your desire to appeal to:

Mississippi Department of Employment Security
Appeals Department
P.O. Box 1699
Jackson, MS 39215-1699

When you submit an appeal request by any method, you must provide your Social Security Number.

You can learn more about the appeals process here.

Need More Help?

For help with an Unemployment Insurance application, or for any further questions about your Unemployment Insurance claim, call the Mississippi Department of Employment Security at:

• (601) 855-3133
• (888) 844-3577 or (888) 772-0061 (toll-free)

All Mississippi DES phone lines are available every day from 7:00 AM until 10:00 PM CT, except for the observed holidays here.

You can also visit or call a local WIN Job Center for further assistance. Find your nearest office location and contact information here.

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 Mississippi Department of Employment Security
2. Unemployment Offices in Alabama
3. WIN Job Centers in Mississippi
4. Need More Help?
5. View or Download Our Free Guide

Contact the Mississippi Department of Employment Security

If you have general questions about Mississippi Unemployment Benefits or an Unemployment Insurance claim, call the Mississippi Department of Employment Security (DES) customer service center at the following numbers:

• General Line: (601) 321-6000
• Unemployment Insurance line: (601) 855-3133
  • Toll-free: (888) 844-3577 or (888) 772-0061 

You can also contact the Mississippi Department of Employment Security by email at the following addresses:

• For general questions: comments@mdes.ms.gov
• For Unemployment Benefits questions: benefitpay@mdes.me.gov
• For questions about Unemployment Benefits overpayment: bpc@mdes.ms.gov
• For questions about Unemployment taxes: tax@mdes.ms.gov

If you have questions about appeals, call the Unemployment Hearings and Appeals Division at (866) 633-7041. Or, email appeal questions to appeals@mdes.ms.gov. You can also learn about the appeals process here.

All Mississippi DES phone lines are available every day from 7:00 AM until 10:00 PM CT, except for the observed holidays here.

WIN Job Centers in Mississippi

There are 39 WIN Job Centers located throughout the state that can provide free assistance to Unemployment Insurance beneficiaries. Find your nearest local office’s location, hours of operation, and phone number below. Or, explore the map provided here.

You can also send mail directly to the Mississippi Department of Employment Security at:

Office of the Governor
1235 Echelon Parkway
PO Box 1699
Jackson, MS 39215

Need More Help?

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

• The Mississippi Department of Employment Security (DES) website here.
• The Mississippi DES Frequently Asked Questions page here.

To file an Unemployment Insurance claim:

• Visit the Mississippi Unemployment Insurance claimant portal here.
• Call (601) 855-3133 or (888) 844-3577 (toll-free).

If you have a question about Mississippi Employer Unemployment Insurance:

• Call (601) 321-6000.
• Visit the Mississippi Department of Employment Security Employer Registration page here.

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 Mississippi 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 Mississippi Unemployment Insurance

To apply for Unemployment Insurance in Mississippi, 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.

2. Choose how you are going to apply, whether online, by phone or in person.

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

To apply for Unemployment Insurance by phone, call:

• (601) 855-3133
• (888) 844-3577 or (888) 772-0061 (toll-free)

To apply for Unemployment Insurance in person, click here to find your local WIN Job Center.

3. Submit the Unemployment application, which is also known as filing a claim.
4. Report to your local WIN Job Center for a periodic eligibility review. 

If you are unsure of when your eligibility review is scheduled, you can contact your local WIN Job Center for more information on the status of your application here.

If you have questions about the application process or require assistance, contact the Mississippi Department of Employment Security’s Unemployment Compensation customer service line every day from 7:00 AM until 10:00 PM CT, except for the observed holidays here.

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 into your account through the Mississippi claimant portal here.

You can also check the status of your application by calling:

• The Mississippi Department of Employment Security’s customer service line at (601) 855-3133 or toll-free at (888) 844-3577 or (888) 772-0061.
• Your local WIN Job Center. Find contact information for local offices here.

All Mississippi DES phone lines are available every day from 7:00 AM until 10:00 PM CT, except for the observed holidays here.

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 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.

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 letter to the Department of Employment Security by:

• Contacting your local WIN Job Center here.
• Calling the Appeals Department at (866) 633-1699.
• Faxing a letter indicating your desire to appeal to (877) 994-6329.
• Mailing a letter indicating your desire to appeal to:

Mississippi Department of Employment Security
Appeals Department
P.O. Box 1699
Jackson, MS 39215-1699

When you submit an appeal request by any method, you must provide your Social Security Number.

You can learn more about the appeals process here.

Need More Help?

For help with an Unemployment Insurance application, or for any further questions about your Unemployment Insurance claim, call the Mississippi Department of Employment Security at:

• (601) 855-3133
• (888) 844-3577 or (888) 772-0061 (toll-free)

All Mississippi DES phone lines are available every day from 7:00 AM until 10:00 PM CT, except for the observed holidays here.

You can also visit or call a local WIN Job Center for further assistance. Find your nearest office location and contact information here.

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.

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