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 Nebraska’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 Nebraska, you must:
Learn more about Nebraska’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 on page 5 of the Unemployment Insurance Handbook here.
To apply for Unemployment Insurance in Nebraska, complete the following three steps:
Learn what documents and information you need here on page 5.
To apply for benefits online, click here to access Nebraska’s Unemployment claim portal.
The Nebraska Unemployment Office does not accept claims in person, but you can obtain help at an Unemployment Office. Click here to find your nearest office location.
After you file your claim, you will receive a list of instructions for how to maintain eligibility, including meeting work search requirements.
If you have questions about the application process or require assistance, contact the Nebraska Department of Labor’s Unemployment Compensation line at:
Nebraska DOL phone lines are available Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM until 5:00 PM CT, except for the observed holidays listed here.
The amount of Unemployment Benefits you receive is based on your past reported earnings by employers that you worked for in Nebraska. To determine the amount you will receive each week, the Nebraska Department of Labor takes the highest quarter earnings in your base period and divides that amount by 13, then divides that amount by 2 and rounds it to the nearest lower dollar amount.
The minimum weekly benefit amount in Nebraska is $70. The maximum weekly benefit amount is $440.
Learn more about Nebraska’s base period and how benefits are calculated here on page 13.
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 on page 12 of the Nebraska Unemployment Handbook here.
Learn more about the Weekly Certification Application on page 11 of the Nebraska Unemployment Handbook here.
Keep track of your work-search contacts. You are required to make at least five 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 on page 10 of the Nebraska Unemployment Handbook 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 on page 11 of the Nebraska Unemployment Handbook here.
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 fail to file a claim for the week. You will also not receive Unemployment Benefits for the week if you earn wages equaling or exceeding your weekly benefits.
If your Unemployment Insurance application was denied, you have the right to send an appeal letter to the Department of Labor within 20 days of receiving your decision. You can submit an appeal in the following ways:
Nebraska Appeal Tribunal
Nebraska Department of Labor
P.O. Box 98941
Lincoln, NE 68509
If you submit an application in writing, you must include your reason for appealing, your signature, your Social Security Number and your employer’s name.
For help with an Unemployment Insurance application, or for any further questions about your Unemployment Insurance claim, call the Nebraska Department of Labor at (855) 995-8863 or send an email to NDOL.UnemploymentHelp@nebraska.gov.
Nebraska DOL phone lines are available Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM until 5:00 PM CT, except for the observed holidays listed here.
You can also visit one of the 15 Unemployment Insurance offices located throughout the state. Find your nearest local office’s location, hours of operation, and phone number 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 or download our free guide here.
If you have general questions about Nebraska Unemployment Benefits or an Unemployment Insurance claim, call the Nebraska Department of Labor (DOL) customer service center at (855) 995-8863. Or, you can send an email to NDOL.UmeploymentHelp@Nebraska.gov.
If you have questions about appeals, call the customer service line above. Or, learn about the appeals process here.
Nebraska DOL phone lines are available Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM until 5:00 PM CT, except for the observed holidays here.
Nebraska has 15 Unemployment Insurance Offices located throughout the state. After you file a claim online, you can visit the offices in person to seek further assistance with receiving and maintaining benefits. You should call ahead to confirm availability before visiting an office.
Find your nearest local office’s location, hours of operation, and phone number below. Or, go to the Nebraska DOL Contact Us page here.
| Location | Address | Phone Number | Hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alliance | 1750 Sweetwater Avenue Room 013 Alliance, NE 69301 | (308) 763-2935 | Monday - Thursday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM |
| Scottsbluff | 505A Broadway Ste. 300 Scottsbluff, NE 69361 | (308) 632-1420 | Monday - Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM |
| Sidney | 2246 Jackson Street Sidney, NE 69162 | (308) 254-4429 | Monday - Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM |
| North Platte | 600 East Francis Suite 9 North Platte, NE 69101 | (308) 535-8320 | Monday - Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM |
| McCook | 402 Norris Avenue Suite 304 McCook, NE 69001 | (308) 345-8470 | Monday, 9:30 AM to 2:00 PM or by appointment |
| Lexington | 1501 Plum Creek Parkway Ste. 3 Lexington, NE 68850 | (308) 324-2064 | Monday - Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM |
| Grand Island | 203 East Stolley Park Road Ste. A Grand Island, NE 68801 | (308) 385-6300 | Monday - Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM |
| Hastings | 2727 West 2nd Street Ste. 338 Hastings, NE 68901 | (402) 462-1867 | Monday - Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM |
| Norfolk | 105 East Norfolk Avenue Ste. 120 Norfolk, NE 68701 | (402) 370-3430 | Monday - Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM |
| Columbus | 3100 23rd Street Ste. 22 Columbus, NE 68601 | (402) 564-7160 | Monday - Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM |
| Fremont | 827 North D Street Fremont, NE 68025 | (402) 276-1019 | Monday - Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM |
| Omaha | 5752 Ames Ave Omaha, NE 68104 | (402) 444-4700 | Monday - Friday, 8:00 AM to 12:00 PM and 1:00 PM to 5:00 PM |
| Lincoln | 1111 O Street Suite 205 Lincoln, NE 68508 | (402) 413-9236 | Monday - Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM |
| Nebraska City | 917 Wildwood Lane Room 104 Nebraska City, NE 68410 | (402) 873-3384 | Tuesday to Wednesday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM Thursday, 8:00 AM to 12:00 PM |
| Beatrice | 5109 W. Scott Road Ste. 413 Beatrice, NE 68310 | (402) 223-6060 | Monday - Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM |
To find more information on Nebraska Unemployment Benefits and Services, visit:
To file an Unemployment Insurance claim, visit the Nebraska Unemployment Insurance claimant portal here.
If you have a question about Nebraska 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 or download our free guide here.
To apply for Unemployment Insurance in Nebraska, complete the following three steps:
Learn what documents and information you need here on page 5.
To apply for benefits online, click here to access Nebraska’s Unemployment claim portal.
The Nebraska Unemployment Office does not accept claims in person, but you can obtain help at an Unemployment Office. Click here to find your nearest office location.
After you file your claim, you will receive a list of instructions for how to maintain eligibility, including meeting work search requirements.
If you have questions about the application process or require assistance, contact the Nebraska Department of Labor’s Unemployment Compensation line at:
Nebraska DOL phone lines are available Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM until 5:00 PM CT, except for the observed holidays listed 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 Nebraska claimant portal here.
You can also check the status of your application by calling the Nebraska Department of Labor’s customer service line at (855) 995-8863.
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 on page 12.
Learn more about the Weekly Certification Application here on page 11.
If your Unemployment Insurance application was denied, you have the right to send an appeal letter to the Department of Labor within 20 days of receiving your decision. You can submit an appeal in the following ways:
Nebraska Appeal Tribunal
Nebraska Department of Labor
P.O. Box 98941
Lincoln, NE 68509
If you submit an application in writing, you must include your reason for appealing, your signature, your Social Security Number and your employer’s name.
For help with an Unemployment Insurance application, or for any further questions about your Unemployment Insurance claim, call the Nebraska Department of Labor at (855) 995-8863 or send an email to NDOL.UnemploymentHelp@nebraska.gov.
Nebraska DOL phone lines are available Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM until 5:00 PM CT, except for the observed holidays here.
You can also visit one of the 15 Unemployment Insurance offices located throughout the state. Find your nearest local office’s location, hours of operation, and phone number 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 or download our free guide here.