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.

  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 South Dakota 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 a Denial of Unemployment Benefits
  10. Need More Help?
  11. View or Download Our Free Guide

What Is Unemployment Insurance?

Unemployment Insurance, or Reemployment Assistance as it is known in South Dakota, is a benefit program designed to replace part of the income of recently unemployed or underemployed workers. The program is funded by taxes that are paid by employers.

You can learn more about Unemployment in the program overview here.

What Are Unemployment Insurance Benefits?

Reemployment Assistance benefits are weekly payments that are given to eligible workers who apply to and are accepted into the program. These payments can be provided via a direct deposit to their bank account.

You can learn more about how Unemployment Insurance payments work here.

How to Qualify for Unemployment Benefits

To qualify for Unemployment Insurance in South Dakota, you must:

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

If you want more information on eligibility, click 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 South Dakota Unemployment Insurance

To apply for Unemployment Insurance in South Dakota, 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.

  1. Choose how you are going to apply, whether online or by phone.

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

To apply for Unemployment Insurance by phone, call the Claims Call Center at (605) 626-3179. 

If you require TTY services to file your claim, dial 711 or (800) 877-1113.

  1. Submit the Unemployment application, which is also known as filing a claim.

If you have questions about the application process or require assistance, you can contact the main office at the following lines Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM to 4:20 PM:

  • Phone: (605) 626-2452
  • Fax: (605) 626-3172
  • TTY: 711

How Unemployment Insurance Benefit Amounts Are Calculated

To determine how much an applicant will receive in Unemployment Benefits each week, the South Dakota Reemployment Division takes the highest-earning quarter in the applicant’s base period and divides that amount by 26.

The maximum weekly benefit amount is $514.

To find out more about the base period and how benefits are calculated, call the Reemployment Division’s customer service line at (605) 626-2452.

You can also click here to review how benefits are calculated on the South Dakota DLR site.

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 and the Weekly Certification Application here.

  1. 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.

  1.     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.

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.  File your Weekly Certification Applications here.

You can also file your weekly claim by phone using the Claims Call Center, which can be reached by calling (605) 626-3179.

If you need further assistance in filing your weekly claim, the Reemployment Division provides helpful video tutorials about how to apply. These videos and more helpful information can be found 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. Or, if you file and have earnings over 1 1/2 times your weekly benefit amount for two consecutive weeks.

How to Appeal a Denial of Unemployment Benefits

If your Unemployment Insurance application was denied, you have the right to file an appeal. You must file an appeal with the South Dakota Reemployment Division within 15 days of receiving your benefits determination letter. If you do not file within the allotted time frame, your appeal will be denied, and your determination will be final.

To appeal your benefit determination, you will need to write a letter to the Appeals section of the South Dakota Reemployment Division. This letter must include:

  • Your name
  • The reason you are filing an appeal
  • Your Social Security Number (SSN)

Once you have written your letter, you must mail the appeal to the following address:

Appeals Section
Reemployment Assistance Division
SD Department of Labor and Regulation
PO Box 4730
Aberdeen, SD 57402-4730

You can also fax your appeal letter to (605) 626-2322. Or, you can hand-deliver your appeal letter to your local Job Service Office, which you can find with the locator here.

Remember to continue filing weekly claims even if your claim is being appealed to receive benefits for the weeks while you are waiting for your new determination.

Need More Help?

If you need help with an application or you have any further questions about your claim, you can call the South Dakota Reemployment Division’s customer service line at (605) 626-2452.

You can reach the South Dakota Department of Labor and Regulation Main Office by mail at:

Reemployment Assistance Division — Benefits
South Dakota Department of Labor and Regulation
P.O. Box 4730
Aberdeen, SD  57402-4730

You can also visit or call your nearest local office for further assistance. You can find the location nearest you and its contact information here.

The Department of Labor customer service line is available Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM until 4:20 PM CST, except for the observed holidays noted 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 South Dakota Unemployment Insurance
  2. How to Check Your Application Status
  3. The Unemployment Benefits Waiting Week
  4. How to Appeal a Denial of Unemployment Benefits
  5. Need More Help?
  6. View or Download Our Free Guide

How to Apply for South Dakota Unemployment Insurance

To apply for Unemployment Insurance in South Dakota, 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.

  1. Choose how you are going to apply, whether online or by phone.

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

To apply for Unemployment Insurance by phone, call the Claims Call Center at (605) 626-3179. 

If you require TTY services to file your claim, dial 711 or (800) 877-1113.

  1. Submit the Unemployment application, which is also known as filing a claim.

If you have questions about the application process or require assistance, you can contact the main office at the following lines Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM to 4:20 PM:

  • Phone: (605) 626-2452
  • Fax: (605) 626-3172
  • TTY: 711

How to Check Your Application Status

If you have already applied for Reemployment Assistance online, you can check the status of your application by logging in to the state portal here.

If you are confused as to what the status of your application means once you have logged in, look over the claim status table created by the South Dakota Reemployment Division here.

You can also check the status of your application by calling the South Dakota Claims Call Center at (605) 626-3179 or the TTY line at 711.

About the Unemployment Benefits Waiting Period

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 and the Weekly Certification Application here.

How to Appeal a Denial of Unemployment Benefits

If your Unemployment Insurance application was denied, you have the right to file an appeal. You must file an appeal with the South Dakota Reemployment Division within 15 days of receiving your benefits determination letter. If you do not file within the allotted time frame, your appeal will be denied, and your determination will be final.

To appeal your benefit determination, you will need to write a letter to the Appeals section of the South Dakota Reemployment Division. This letter must include:

  • Your name
  • The reason you are filing an appeal
  • Your Social Security Number (SSN)

Once you have written your letter, you must mail the appeal to the following address:

Appeals Section
Reemployment Assistance Division
SD Department of Labor and Regulation
PO Box 4730
Aberdeen, SD 57402-4730

You can also fax your appeal letter to (605) 626-2322. Or, you can hand-deliver your appeal letter to your local Job Service Office, which you can find with the locator here.

Remember to continue filing weekly claims even if your claim is being appealed to receive benefits for the weeks while you are waiting for your new determination.

Need More Help?

If you need help with an application or you have any further questions about your claim, you can call the South Dakota Reemployment Division’s customer service line at (605) 626-2452.

You can also visit or call your nearest local office for further assistance. You can find the location nearest you and its contact information here.

The Department of Labor customer service line is available Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM until 4:20 PM CST, except for the observed holidays noted here. Most offices are available Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM until 5:00 PM CST.

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 South Dakota Department of Labor and Regulation
  2. Unemployment Offices in South Dakota
  3. Need More Help?
  4. View or Download Our Free Guide

How to Contact the South Dakota Department of Labor and Regulation

If you have general questions about the Unemployment Benefits provided in South Dakota, you can call the South Dakota Department of Labor and Regulation’s (DLR) customer service line at (605) 626-2452. This line can assist with frequently asked questions regarding claims.

If you have questions about the appeals process, you can reach the appeals line at (605) 626-2310.

If you would like to speak with a representative at the main office, call (605) 626-2301.

The phone lines for the Department of Labor and Regulation are available Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM until 4:20 PM CST, except for the observed holidays noted here.

Unemployment Offices in South Dakota

South Dakota has 16 Unemployment Offices. Find your nearest local Unemployment Office’s location, hours of operation, and phone number. Or, go to the DLR Contact Us page here.

LocationAddressPhone Number
Aberdeen420 S. Roosevelt Street
Aberdeen, SD 57401
Phone: (605) 626-2340
Fax: (605) 626-2228
Email
Brookings1310 Main Ave. S.,
Suite 103
Brookings, SD 57006-3893
Phone: (605) 688-4350
Fax: (605) 688-6761
Email
Huron2361 Dakota Ave. S.
Huron, SD 57350-4334
Phone: (605) 353-7155
Fax: (605) 353-7305
Email
Lake Andes140 W. Highway 50
Lake Andes, SD 57356
Phone: (605) 487-7607 ext. 1700207
Fax: (605) 487-7429
Email
Madison223 S. Van Eps Ave.,
Suite 101
Madison, SD 57042-2886
Phone: (605) 256-5300
Fax: (605) 256-5306
Email
Mitchell1321 N. Main Street
Mitchell, SD 57301-1354
Phone: (605) 995-8060
Fax: (605) 995-8070
Email
North SiouxCity Hall
504 River Drive
North Sioux City, SD 57049
Phone: (605) 242-5445
Fax: (605) 242-5448
Email
Pierre116 W. Missouri Avenue
Pierre, SD 57501-4506
Phone: (605) 773-3372
Fax: (605) 773-6680
Email
Rapid City2330 N. Maple Ave., Suite 1
Rapid City, SD 57701-7898
Phone: (605) 394-2296
Fax: (605) 394-1824
Email
Sioux Falls811 East 10th St., Department 41
Sioux Falls, SD 57103-1650
Phone: (605) 367-5300
Fax: (605) 367-5308
Email
Sisseton10 E. Hickory St., Suite 3
Sisseton, SD 57262-1526
Phone: (605) 698-3964
Fax: (605) 698-3449
Email
Spearfish1300 North Ave.
Spearfish, SD 57783-1525
Phone: (605) 642-6900
Fax: (605) 642-6907
Email
Vermillion904 E. Cherry Street
Vermillion, SD 57069-1742
Phone: (605) 677-6900
Fax: (605) 677-6909
Email
Watertown2001 9th Ave. S.W.,
Suite 200
Watertown, SD 57201-4029
Phone: (605) 882-5131
Fax: (605) 882-5152
Email
Winner325 S. Monroe St.,
Room 117
Winner, SD 57580
Phone: (605) 842-0474
Fax: (605) 842-0165
Email
Yankton3113 Spruce,
Suite 124
Yankton, SD 57078-5320
Phone: (605) 668-2900
Fax: (605) 668-2916
Email

Need More Help?

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

  •  The South Dakota Department of Labor and Regulation (DLR) website here.
  • The South Dakota DLR Frequently Asked Questions page here.

To file an Unemployment Insurance claim:

  • Visit the South Carolina Unemployment Insurance claimant portal here.
  • Call the Claims Call Center at (605) 626-3179.

If you have a question about South Dakota Business Unemployment Insurance, visit the South Dakota DLR 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.