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.
You can learn more about Unemployment on Wisconsin’s Program Overview page here.
Unemployment Insurance 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.
To qualify for Unemployment Insurance in Wisconsin, you must:
Learn more about Wisconsin’s monetary requirements 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 Wisconsin, complete the following three steps:
Learn what documents and information you need here.
The Wisconsin Unemployment Office does not accept claims over the telephone.
To apply for Unemployment Insurance online, click here to access the state portal.
Click here for the Spanish site.
You can only file a new claim online during the following days/times:
If you have questions about the application process or require assistance, contact the Wisconsin DWD customer service line at 414-435-7069 or toll-free at 844-910-3661 during the same business hours listed above.
To determine how much an applicant will receive in Unemployment Benefits each week, the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development looks at the claimant’s paid wages during the base period. The weekly benefit amount will be 4 percent of the total wages from the claimant’s highest quarter.
The minimum weekly benefit amount in Wisconsin is $54. The maximum weekly benefit amount is $370.
To find out more about the base period and how benefits are calculated, click here.
The week after you file your unemployment claim is called the Waiting Week. During the Waiting Week, you must file a Weekly Claims Certification 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 Claims Certification here.
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.
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 Claims Certification 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 Claims Certification here. File your Weekly Certification Applications 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 an appeal. You can submit an appeal to the Department of Workforce Development through the online state portal here or by writing an appeal letter and mailing, faxing or submitting it in person to the hearing office listed on the other side of your denial letter.
Find out more information about the appeal process here.
If you need help with an application or have any further questions about your claim, you can call the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development customer service center at (608) 266-3131.
Due to recent high call volumes, the Department of Workforce Development recommends calling between 7:00 a.m. and 12:00pm if your last name begins with the letters “A” through “M,” and between 12:00 p.m. and 5:00 p.m. if it begins with the letters “N” through “Z.”
You can also call the main DWD office in Madison at (608) 266-3131, or visit the location in person at:
201 E. Washington Avenue
Madison, WI 53703
The Madison DWD office is open Monday through Friday from 7:45 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. except for the 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 our free guide here.
If you have general questions about the Unemployment Benefits provided in Wisconsin, you can contact the Department of Workforce Development by sending an email using the contact form here.
You can also call the Department of Workforce Development customer service center at (608) 266-3131. This line can assist with frequently asked questions regarding unemployment claims and help those with language barriers or disabilities.
Due to recent high call volumes, the Department of Workforce Development recommends calling between 7:00 am and 12:00 pm if your last name begins with the letters “A” through “M,” and between 12:00 pm and 5:00 pm if it begins with the letters “N” through “Z.”
These lines are available every day except for the observed holidays listed here.
If you need more information on the appeals process click here.
You can file a claim directly through the Wisconsin Unemployment claim system here.
The Department of Workforce Development has 1 central office in Madison, WI. Find its location, hours of operation, and phone number below. Or, go to the DWD Contact Us page here.
| Location | Address | Phone Number |
|---|---|---|
| Madison | 201 E. Washington Avenue Madison, WI 53703 | (608) 266-3131 |
To find more information on Wisconsin Unemployment Benefits and Services, visit:
To file an Unemployment Insurance claim online:
If you have a question about Wisconsin Business 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 Wisconsin, complete the following three steps:
Learn what documents and information you need here.
The Wisconsin Unemployment Office does not accept claims over the telephone.
To apply for Unemployment Insurance online, click here to access the state portal.
Click here for the Spanish site.
You can only file a new claim online during the following days/times:
If you have questions about the application process or require assistance, contact the Wisconsin DWD customer service line at 414-435-7069 or toll-free at 844-910-3661 during the same business hours listed above.
If you have already applied for Unemployment Insurance online, you can check the status of your application by logging in to the state portal here.
You can also check the status of your application by calling the Wisconsin Workforce Development customer service line at (608) 266-3131.
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 Claim Certificate 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 Claim Certification 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 Workforce Development through the online state portal here or by writing an appeal letter and mailing, faxing or submitting it in person to the hearing office listed on the other side of your denial letter.
Find out more information about the appeal process here.
If you need help with an application or have any further questions about your claim, you can call the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development customer service center at (608) 266-3131.
Due to recent high call volumes, the Department of Workforce Development recommends calling between 7:00 a.m. and 12:00pm if your last name begins with the letters “A” through “M,” and between 12:00 p.m. and 5:00 p.m. if it begins with the letters “N” through “Z.”
You can also call the main DWD office in Madison at (608) 266-3131, or visit the location in person at:
201 E. Washington Avenue
Madison, WI 53703
The Madison DWD office is open Monday through Friday from 7:45 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. except for the 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 our free guide here.