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 Montana’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 Montana, you must:
Learn more about Montana’s monetary requirements here, and Montana’s 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 Montana, complete the following three steps:
Learn what documents and information you need here.
To apply for Unemployment Insurance online, click here to access Montana’s Unemployment claim portal.
To apply for Unemployment insurance by phone, call (406) 444-2545.
If you need to reach a computer with internet access or assistance with your application, visit a Job Service Office. Find your nearest local office’s location, hours of operation, and phone number here.
You can also fax the Division at (406) 444-2699 or send an email to UIClaims@MT.gov. Include your name, phone number and ID number on any faxes or emails you send. Do not include your Social Security Number.
The Montana UID claims processing center is available Monday through Friday from 9:00 AM until 4:00 PM MT.
The amount of Unemployment Benefits you receive is based on your past reported earnings by employers that you worked for in Montana. To determine the amount you will receive each week, the Montana Unemployment Insurance Division takes the highest-earning quarter in your base period and divides that amount by 26, and then rounds the number down to the lowest whole dollar amount.
The minimum weekly benefit amount in Montana is $169. The maximum weekly benefit amount is $572.
To find out more about the base period and how benefits are calculated, click here. To estimate how much you will receive in Unemployment Benefits, use the calculator 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 on page 10.
Keep track of your work-search contacts. You are required to make at least one contact 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 on page 10.
File your Weekly Certification Application 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 for a redetermination within 10 days of receiving the notice of determination and provide new evidence to support your request.
You can file your redetermination request to the Unemployment Insurance Division online by logging into the claimant portal here.
If your request for redetermination is denied, you have the right to file an appeal. You must submit your appeal within 10 days of the date of the redetermination. You can file a request for an appeal through the claimant portal here or with the Office of Administrative Hearings here.
For help with an Unemployment Insurance application or for any further questions about your Unemployment Insurance claim, call the Montana Unemployment Insurance Division at (406) 444-2545.
The Montana UID claims processing center is available Monday through Friday from 9:00 AM until 4:00 PM MT.
You can also submit your questions by fax or email to the UID. Include your name, phone number and ID number on any faxes or emails you send, but do not include your Social Security Number.
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 Montana Unemployment Benefits or an Unemployment Insurance claim, call the Montana Unemployment Insurance Division (UID) claims processing center at (406) 444-2545.
The Montana UID claims processing center is available Monday through Friday from 9:00 AM until 4:00 PM MT.
You can also submit your questions by fax or email to the UID. Include your name, phone number and ID number on any faxes or emails you send, but do not include your Social Security Number.
If you have questions about the American Disabilities Act, Equal Opportunities guidelines or Unemployment Insurance Overpayments, call the Division at (406) 444-3783.
Montana has 17 Job Service offices, which you can contact for assistance with unemployment and your job search. Find your nearest local office’s location, hours of operation, and phone number below. Or, go to the Job Service Locations page here.
| Location | Address | Phone Number |
|---|---|---|
| Billings Job Service | 2121 Rosebud Drive Suite B Billings, MT 59102 | (406) 652-3080 |
| Bozeman Job Service | 121 North Willson Avenue Bozeman, MT 59715 | (406) 582-9200 |
| Butte Job Service | 2201 White Boulevard Butte, MT 59701 | (406) 494-0300 |
| Cut Bank Job Service | 2501 East Main Street Cut Bank, MT 59427 | (406) 873-2191 |
| Glendive Job Service | 211 South Kendrick Avenue Glendive, MT 59330 | (406) 377-3314 |
| Great Falls Job Service | 1018 7th Street South Great Falls, MT 59405 | (406) 791-5800 |
| Havre Job Service | 160 First Avenue Havre, MT 59501 | (406) 265-5847 |
| Helena Job Service | 715 Front Street Helena, MT 59620 | (406) 447-3200 |
| Kalispell Job Service | 427 First Avenue East Kalispell, MT 59901 | (406) 758-6200 |
| Lewistown Job Service | 773 Airport Drive Lewistown, MT 59457 | (406) 538-8701 |
| Libby Job Service | 417 Mineral Avenue Suite 4 Libby, MT 59923 | (406) 293-6282 |
| Miles City Job Service | 12 North 10th Street Miles City, MT 59301 | (406) 232-8340 |
| Missoula Job Service/Pathways | 539 South 3rd Street West Missoula, MT 59801 | (406) 728-7060 |
| Polson Job Service | 417B Main Street Polson, MT 59860 | (406) 883-7880 |
| Sidney Job Service | 211 North Central Sidney, MT 59270 | (406) 433-1204 |
| Thompson Falls Job Service | 2504 Tradewinds Way Suite #1 Thompson Falls, MT 59873 | (406) 382-3045 |
| Wolf Point Job Service | 201 Main Street Wolf Point, MT 59201 | (406) 653-1720 |
To find more information on Montana Unemployment Benefits and Services, visit:
To file an Unemployment Insurance claim:
If you have a question about Montana 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 Montana, complete the following three steps:
Learn what documents and information you need here.
To apply for Unemployment Insurance online, click here to access Montana’s Unemployment claim portal.
To apply for Unemployment insurance by phone, call (406) 444-2545.
If you need to reach a computer with internet access or assistance with your application, visit a Job Service Office. Find your nearest local office’s location, hours of operation, and phone number here.
You can also fax the Division at (406) 444-2699 or send an email to UIClaims@MT.gov. Include your name, phone number and ID number on any faxes or emails you send. Do not include your Social Security Number.
The Montana UID claims processing center is available Monday through Friday from 9:00 AM until 4:00 PM MT.
If you have already applied for Unemployment Insurance online, you can check the status of your application by logging into your account through the Montana claimant portal here.
You can also check the status of your application by calling the Montana Unemployment Insurance Division’s customer service line at (406) 444-2545.
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 on page 10.
If your Unemployment Insurance application was denied, you have the right to file for a redetermination within 10 days of receiving the notice of determination and provide new evidence to support your request.
You can file your redetermination request to the Unemployment Insurance Division online by logging into the claimant portal here.
If your request for redetermination is denied, you have the right to file an appeal. You must submit your appeal within 10 days of the date of the redetermination. You can file a request for an appeal through the claimant portal here or with the Office of Administrative Hearings here.
For help with an Unemployment Insurance application or for any further questions about your Unemployment Insurance claim, call the Montana Unemployment Insurance Division at (406) 444-2545.
The Montana UID claims processing center is available Monday through Friday from 9:00 AM until 4:00 PM MT.
You can also submit your questions by fax or email to the UID. Include your name, phone number and ID number on any faxes or emails you send, but do not include your Social Security Number.
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.