FILING FOR UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE BENEFITS

All Unemployment Insurance (UI) benefit services are provided by an automated telephone system through the State Department of Workforce Development (DWD). You may file your initial claim application on-line or by phone.

Prior to filing your initial claim, whether it is by phone or Internet, you should be prepared with the following information:

• Your social security number to verify your identity and gather wage information.
• A Personal Identification Number (PIN) to protect your claim information from others.
• Your WI driver's license number, if you have one.
• For each employer for whom you worked in the past 18 months, you will need:
  • Name
  • Address (including zip)
  • Telephone number
  • The reason you are no longer working there and your first and last dates of work.
• Your alien registration number, if you are not a U.S. citizen.
• Your union name and local number, if you are a union member.
• Your retirement benefits, if you are receiving any.

To file an initial claim application for a new claim or to re-open an existing claim, call:

Madison Area (608) 232-0678
Milwaukee Area. (414) 438-7700
Toll Free Number 1-800- UC CLAIM (1-800-822-5246)
TTY (toll free) 1-888- 393-8914

Automated Telephone Initial Claim System is available:

Sunday 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Monday-Friday 6:00 AM - 7:00 PM
Saturday 9:00 AM - 2:30 PM

Claim Specialists are available: Monday-Friday 7:45 AM - 4:30 PM

WHEN TO APPLY FOR YOUR INITIAL CLAIM

You must file in the first week for which you want to receive an unemployment check. If you wait to file your claim, you could lose benefits. Your claim does not start until the week that you apply and benefits will not be paid for earlier weeks.

AFTER YOU FILE YOUR NEW CLAIM APPLICATION

• You will receive a claim confirmation form and a UI Handbook in the mail.
• If you qualify for unemployment benefits, the DWD will send you a notice telling you the amount of benefits you can receive.
• If you do not qualify for unemployment benefits, the DWD will send you a notice that tells you why.

HOW BENEFITS ARE CALCULATED

Computation of benefits is based on your UI-covered wages paid during calendar year quarters:

1st Qtr: January 1 - March 31
2nd Qtr: April 1 - June 30
3rd Qtr: July 1 - September 30
4th Qtr: October 1 - December 31

The quarter in which you file your claim is not counted, but the first four of the last five completed quarter wages determine your base period. The base period quarter during which you were paid the highest amount of wages from covered employment is considered your "high quarter".

If you earned high quarter wages of $1,225 and receive no wages at present, you are eligible for the minimum weekly benefit rate (WBR) of $49 per week; high quarter earnings of $8,225, with no wages at present, you are eligible for the maximum WBR of $329.

If you satisfy other requirements, you can calculate your weekly benefit by multiplying your high quarter wages by 4%. For other factors affecting your benefit computation and eligibility, refer to Part 8 and 9 of the UI Handbook.

MAXIMUM BENEFIT AMOUNT PAYABLE

The maximum amount of unemployment benefits that you will be paid is the lesser of 26 times your weekly benefit rate or 40% of your total base period wages from all covered employment.

WHEN TO EXPECT YOUR FIRST CHECK

The first check for most claims is paid within 2 weeks of the week you apply.

CALLING IN THE WEEKLY CLAIM

Using a touch-tone telephone,you must file a weekly claim certification within 14 days of the end of the calendar week (starts on Sunday and ends on Saturday). You cannot call in your claim until after the week has ended. For telephone numbers and times to call, refer to your UI Handbook.

Return to University of Wisconsin System Staff Benefits - Unemployment Insurance

This document was last revised on March 3, 2011