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 New Hampshire’s Employment Security 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 New Hampshire, you must:
Learn more about New Hampshire’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.
To apply for Unemployment Insurance in New Hampshire, 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 or in person.
The New Hampshire Unemployment Office does not accept claims over the telephone.
To apply for Unemployment Insurance online, click here to access New Hampshire’s Unemployment claim portal.
To apply for Unemployment Insurance in person, click here to find your nearest New Hampshire Unemployment Office location.
3. Submit the Unemployment application, which is also known as filing a claim.
If you have questions about the application process or require assistance, contact the New Hampshire Department of Employment Security’s Monday through Tuesday from 8:00 AM to 8:00 PM and Wednesday through Friday from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM by:
The amount of Unemployment Benefits you receive is based on your past reported earnings by employers that you have worked for during the last 15 to 18 months in New Hampshire.
The minimum weekly benefit amount in New Hampshire is $32. The maximum weekly benefit amount is $427.
Learn more about New Hampshire’s base period and how benefits are calculated on page 6 of the NH Unemployment Compensation Quick Tips guide, found here.
1. Complete Your Weekly Certification
The week after you file your unemployment claim is called the Waiting Week. You are not paid for the Waiting Week, but you do receive a Waiting Week credit. However, unlike many states, New Hampshire does not have a waiting period after you file your claim to get paid. Instead, claimants will be eligible for benefits the day after they lost their job.
Your claim will be processed and it becomes effective on Sunday of the same week.
The following 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.
Learn more about the Weekly Certification Application here.
2. Start Looking for Work
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.
3. 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.
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.
It’s important to remember that your benefits could be delayed or denied if you fail to file your weekly claims.
If your Unemployment Insurance application was denied, you have the right to file an appeal. You can submit an appeal to the Department of Employment Security online or by mail within 14 calendar days from the date that your determination was issued.
You can begin the appeal process online by clicking here and completing the online form. Alternatively, you can print a traditional appeals form here, complete it, and mail your appeal to:
Appeal Tribunal
45 South Fruit Street
PO Box 2009
Concord, NH 03302-2009
If you have any questions regarding an appeal, contact the appeals department:
Requests for an appeal cannot be submitted over the phone in New Hampshire.
If you have general questions about New Hampshire Unemployment Benefits, call the New Hampshire Department of Employment Security’s customer service center at (603) 271-7700.
Contact your local Unemployment Office or visit an office in person. Find your nearest Unemployment Office location and contact information here.
The New Hampshire Department of Employment Security is available Monday through Tuesday from 8:00 AM to 8:00 PM and Wednesday through Friday from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM, except for observed holidays listed 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 New Hampshire Unemployment Benefits or an Unemployment Insurance claim, call the New Hampshire Department of Employment Security’s customer service center at (603) 271-7700. You can also submit your questions through an online form, found here.
If you have questions about appeals, call the Unemployment Claim appeals line at (603) 223-6140 or by email at appeals@nhes.nh.gov. Or, learn about the appeals process and access the appeals request form here.
The New Hampshire Department of Employment Security is available Monday through Tuesday from 8:00 AM to 8:00 PM and Wednesday through Friday from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM, except for observed holidays listed here.
New Hampshire has 14 Unemployment Offices. Find your nearest local Unemployment Office’s location, hours of operation, and phone number. Or, go to the New Hampshire Department of Employment Security locations page here.
| Location | Address | Phone Number | Hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| Berlin | 151 Pleasant Street Berlin, NH 03570 | (603) 752-5500 | 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. |
| Claremont Office | 404 Washington Street Claremont, NH 03743 | (603) 543-3111 | 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. |
| Colebrook | 118 Main Street Colebrook, NH 03576 | (603) 237-5859 | M-W 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. and 1 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. |
| Concord | 45 South Fruit Street Concord, NH 03301 | (603) 228-4100 | 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. |
| Conway | 518 White Mountain Highway Conway, NH 03818 | (603) 447-5924 | 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. |
| Keene | 149 Emerald Street, Suite Y Keene, NH 03431 | (603) 352-1904 | 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. |
| Laconia | 426 Union Avenue, Suite 3 Laconia, NH 03246 | (603) 524-3960 | 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. |
| Littleton | 646 Union Street, Suite 100 Littleton, NH 03561 | (603) 444-2971 | 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. |
| Manchester | 300 Hanover Street Manchester, NH 03104 | (603) 627-7841 | 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. |
| Nashua | 6 Townsend West Nashua, NH 03063 | (603) 882-5177 | 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. |
| Plymouth | 248 Highland Street Plymouth, NH 03264 | (603) 536-3720 | Wednesday 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. |
| Portsmouth | 2000 Lafayette Road Portsmouth, NH 03801 | (603) 436-3702 | 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. |
| Salem | 29 South Broadway Salem, NH 03079 | (603) 893-9185 | 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. |
| Somersworth | 6 Marsh Brook Drive Somersworth, NH 03878 | (603) 742-3600 | 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. |
To find more information on New Hampshire Unemployment Benefits and Services, visit:
To file an Unemployment Insurance claim online:
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 New Hampshire, 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 or in person.
The New Hampshire Unemployment Office does not accept claims over the telephone.
To apply for Unemployment Insurance online, click here to access New Hampshire’s Unemployment claim portal.
To apply for Unemployment Insurance in person, click here to find your nearest New Hampshire Unemployment Office location.
3. Submit the Unemployment application, which is also known as filing a claim.
If you have questions about the application process or require assistance, contact the New Hampshire Department of Employment Security’s Monday through Tuesday from 8:00 AM to 8:00 PM and Wednesday through Friday from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM by:
If you have already applied for Unemployment Insurance online, you can check the status of your application by logging into your account through the New Hampshire Claimant Portal here.
You can also check the status of your application by calling the New Hampshire Department of Employment Security’s customer service line at (602) 271-7700.
The week after you file your unemployment claim is called the Waiting Week. You are not paid for the Waiting Week, but you do receive a Waiting Week credit. However, unlike many states, New Hampshire does not have a waiting period after you file your claim to get paid. Instead, claimants will be eligible for benefits the day after they lost their job.
Your claim will be processed and it becomes effective on Sunday of the same week. Weekly certification applications must be filed every week to continue receiving unemployment benefits.
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 Department of Employment Security online or by mail within 14 calendar days from the date that your determination was issued.
You can begin the appeal process online by clicking here and completing the online form. Or you can print a traditional appeals form and mail it to:
Appeal Tribunal
45 South Fruit Street
PO Box 2009
Concord, NH 03302-2009
If you have any questions regarding an appeal, contact the appeals department:
Requests for an appeal cannot be submitted over the phone in New Hampshire.
For help with an Unemployment Insurance application, or for any further questions about your Unemployment Insurance claim, call the New Hampshire Department of Employment Security’s customer service line at (602) 271-7700.
You can also visit or call a local Unemployment Office for further assistance. Find your nearest Unemployment Office location and contact information here.
The New Hampshire Department of Employment Security is available Monday through Tuesday from 8:00 AM to 8:00 PM and Wednesday through Friday from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM, except for observed holidays listed 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.