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 Mississippi’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 or by debit card.
Learn more about how Unemployment Insurance payments work here.
To qualify for Unemployment Insurance in Mississippi, you must:
Learn more about Mississippi’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.
Learn more information on when to apply for Unemployment Insurance here.
To apply for Unemployment Insurance in Mississippi, complete the following three steps:
Learn what documents and information you need here.
To apply for Unemployment Insurance online, click here to access Mississippi’s Unemployment claim portal.
To apply for Unemployment Insurance by phone, call:
To apply for Unemployment Insurance in person, click here to find your local WIN Job Center.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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 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.
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:
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.
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:
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.
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 Mississippi Unemployment Benefits or an Unemployment Insurance claim, call the Mississippi Department of Employment Security (DES) customer service center at the following numbers:
You can also contact the Mississippi Department of Employment Security by email at the following addresses:
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.
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.
| Location | Address | Phone Number |
|---|---|---|
| Monroe County Amory WIN Job Center | 1619 Highland Drive Amory, MS 38821 | (662) 256-2618 |
| Attala County WIN Job Center | 254 Hwy 12 West Kosciusko, MS 39090 | (662) 289-2535 |
| Panola and Tallahatchie County Batesville WIN Job Center | 103 Woodland Road #16 Batesville, MS 38606 | (662) 563-7318 |
| Copiah, Franklin, Lawrence and Lincoln County Brookhaven WIN Job Center | 545 Brookway Boulevard Brookhaven, MS 39601 | (601) 833-3511 |
| Calhoun County WIN Job Center | 237 S. Murphree Street Pittsboro, MS 38951 | (662) 412-3170 |
| Carthage WIN Job Center | 202 C O Brooks St Carthage, MS 39051 | (601) 267-9282 |
| Choctaw WIN Job Center | 266 Industrial Road Choctaw, MS 39350 | (601) 663-7722 |
| Coahoma, Quitman and Tunica County Clarksdale WIN Job Center | 236 Sharkey Avenue Clarksdale, MS 38614 | (662) 624-9001 |
| Cleveland WIN Job Center | 119 Commerce Ave Cleveland, MS 38732 | (662) 843-2704 |
| Jefferson Davis and Marion County Columbia WIN Job Center | 1111 U.S. 98 Columbia, MS 39429 | (601) 736-2628 |
| Alcorn, Prentiss and Tippah County Corinth WIN Job Center | 2759 South Harper Road Corinth, MS 38834 | (662) 696-2336 |
| DeSoto County WIN Job Center | 5197 W. E. Ross Parkway Southaven, MS 38671 | (662) 280-6218 |
| Issaquena, Sharkey and Washington County Greenville WIN Job Center | 800 Mississippi 1 Greenville, MS 38703 | (662) 332-8101 |
| Carroll, Humphreys and Leflore County Greenwood WIN Job Center | 812 West Park Avenue Greenwood, MS 38930 | (662) 459-4600 |
| Granada and Montgomery County Grenada WIN Job Center | 1229 Sunset Drive Grenada, MS 38901 | (662) 226-2911 |
| Harrison and Stone County Gulfport WIN Job Center | 10162 Southpark Drive Gulfport, MS 39503 | (228) 897-6900 |
| Hancock County WIN Job Center | 856 Hwy 90 Suite D Bay St Louis, MS 39520 | (228) 466-5425 |
| Forrest, Lamar and Perry County Hattiesburg WIN Job Center | 1911 Arcadia Street Hattiesburg, MS 39401 | (601) 584-1202 |
| Houston WIN Job Center | 210 S Monroe St Houston, MS 38851 | (662) 407-1219 |
| Jackson WIN Job Center | 5959 I-55 Frontage Road Suite C Jackson, MS 39213 | (601) 446-3296 OR (601) 446-3549 |
| Covington, Greene, Jasper, Jones, Smith and Wayne County Laurel WIN Job Center | 2139 Mississippi 15 Laurel, MS 39440 | (601) 399-4000 |
| Lexington WIN Job Center | 303 Yazoo Street Lexington, MS 39095 | (662) 834-2426 |
| Madison and Yazoo County Madison County WIN Job Center | 152 Watford Parkway Drive, Suite B Canton, MS 39046 | (601) 859-7609 |
| Benton and Marshall County WIN Job Center | 227 Hwy 309 S Byhalia, MS 38611 | (662) 838-3805 |
| Choctaw, Lowndes, Oktibbeha, and Webster County Mayhew WIN Job Center | 8731 South Frontage Rd Mayhew, MS 39753 | (662) 243-1751 |
| Amite and Pike County McComb WIN Job Center | 1400-A Harrison Avenue McComb, MS 39648 | (601) 684-4421 |
| Clarke, Kemper and Lauderdale County Meridian WIN Job Center | 2000 Hwy 19 N Meridian, MS 39307 | (601) 553-9511 |
| Adams, Jefferson and Wilkinson County Natchez WIN Job Center | 107 John Pitchford Parkway Natchez, MS 39120 | (601) 442-0243 |
| Newton WIN Job Center | 107 Adams Street Newton, MS 39345 | (601) 683-2021 |
| Noxubee WIN Job Center | 198 Washington Street Macon, MS 39341 | (662) 726-5220 |
| Lafayette and Yalobusha County Oxford WIN Job Center | 1310 Belk Boulevard Oxford, MS 38655 | (662) 236-7201 |
| George and Jackson County Pascagoula WIN Job Center | 1604 Denny Avenue Pascagoula, MS 39567 | (228) 762-4713 |
| Pearl WIN Job Center | 212 Saint Paul Street Pearl, MS 39208 | (601) 321-5441 |
| Philadelphia WIN Job Center | 1016 Saxon Airport Road, Suite 104 Philadelphia, MS 39350 | (601) 389-3431 |
| Picayune WIN Job Center | 2005 Wildwood Rd Picayune, MS 39466 | (601) 798-3472 |
| Pontotoc WIN Job Center | 316 Coffee Street Pontotoc, MS 38863 | (662) 407-1226 |
| Itawamba and Lee County Tupelo WIN Job Center | 3200 Adams Farm Road Belden, MS 38826 | (662) 842-4371 OR (662) 407-1213 |
| Warren and Claiborne County Vicksburg WIN Job Center | 755 Hwy 27 S. Vicksburg, MS 39180 | (601) 619-2841 |
| West Point WIN Job Center | 1899 East TVA Rd West Point, MS 39773 | (662) 243-2647 |
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
To find more information on Mississippi Unemployment Benefits and Services, visit:
To file an Unemployment Insurance claim:
If you have a question about Mississippi 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 Mississippi, complete the following three steps:
Learn what documents and information you need here.
To apply for Unemployment Insurance online, click here to access Mississippi’s Unemployment claim portal.
To apply for Unemployment Insurance by phone, call:
To apply for Unemployment Insurance in person, click here to find your local WIN Job Center.
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.
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:
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 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.
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:
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.
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:
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.
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.