Hawaii Unemployment Benefits

Are you physically able to work?

Are you willing to actively look for a job?

Did your employer pay unemployment taxes ("Covered Employment")?

Did you earn at least $130 in the base period in Hawaii?

Base period is the first four of the last five completed calendar quarters. If you are filing today, base period is Jan 2012 - Mar 2012 to Oct 2012 - Dec 2012

How did you lose your job?

Did you quit your last job due to unsafe working conditions, not being paid, discrimination and / or health and safety risks?

Were you fired for no fault of your own?

Were you laid off for no fault of your own?

Your State : Hawaii

   Wages Earned:

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Apply Online:
Applying online is the easiest and fastest way to claim benefits. Check for more specific details such as timings and requirements to claim benefits in your state.
CALL: (808)643-5555 to file an Unemployment Compensation Claim anywhere in Hawaii. 1-877-215-5793 to file claim if you are outside the State of Hawaii(Sunday through Thursday 6:30 a.m. to 12 midnight, and Friday 6:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m)
Visit UC Center:
You can’t seem to find assistance on call? No worries. Visit one of the UC center and let the specialist help you out. Please note that wait times can be longer but assistance is guaranteed.

you are not eligible

Disclaimer: The estimates are given in good faith and accuracy is not guaranteed. We are not liable for loss or damage caused by the tools on our website.

    State: Hawaii (HI)
    Phone Number: (808)643-5555 to file an Unemployment Compensation Claim anywhere in Hawaii. 1-877-215-5793 to file claim if you are outside the State of Hawaii(Sunday through Thursday 6:30 a.m. to 12 midnight, and Friday 6:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m)
    File Online: http://hawaii.gov/labor/ui
    Major Towns: Ewa Gentry, Hilo, Honolulu, Kahului, Kailua , Kaneohe, Kapolei, Kihei, Makakilo, Mililani Mauka, Mililani Town, Pearl City, Schofield Barracks, Wahiawa, Wailuku, and Waipahu

    Current Unemploymnet Rate in Hawaii

    What is the Eligibility Criteria in Hawaii?

    There are some basic rules for eligibility. Even if you meet some of these rules partially, you should still apply for unemployment because state offices make a reasonable attempt to process your claim, as long as you provide a good justification.

    1. Must have lost job with no fault of his theirs
    2. Must be totally or partially unemployed.
    3. Must have received enough wages during the base period to establish a claim
    4. Must be physically able to work, available for work, and actively seeking suitable work.
    5. Meet eligibility requirements each week benefits are claimed.

    To learn more check unemployment eligibility article

    A "base period" is four consecutive calendar quarters that fall within the 18 month period before establishing a new benefit year.

    Claim your benefits

    How to File Your Initial Claim in Hawaii?

    1. If you have been separated from work, you can file your initial claim during your first week of total or partial unemployment.
    2. You can file your first claim in one of the two ways: by calling the TeleClaim Center or visiting a One-Stop Career Center close to you. Unluckily, you cannot file an initial claim online at this time.
    3. Have your entire information ready before filing your claim.
    4. If you have received severance pay upon your separation from work, you may still be eligible for unemployment benefits, so it is still important to call to file your initial claim during your first week of total or partial unemployment.
    5. If eligible for unemployment benefits, you can expect to receive your first payment in 3-4 weeks if there are no issues with your claim.
    6. In general, it takes approximately 3 weeks to process a claim; however, you will still need to claim benefits every week.

    Information needed is as follows:

    1. Your Social Security Number
    2. The year you were born
    3. Your home address and telephone number
    4. Whether you have filed an unemployment insurance claim in your state or in any other state during the past 12 months
    5. Your last day of employment
    6. The names and addresses of all of the employers you have worked for during the 15 months prior to filing your claim and the dates you worked for each of these employers. If you are reopening a claim, be ready with the same information for the past 8 weeks
    7. The reason that you are no longer working or that your hours have been reduced The names, dates of birth and social security numbers for any dependent children, if you are going to apply for dependency allowance
    8. Your alien registration number if you are not a U.S. citizen

    If You Are Not a United States Citizen

    You must give verification that you were legally eligible to work in your state and that you are presently eligible to begin a new job.

    How to File Your Weekly Claim?

    After you file your application for unemployment benefits, you must start filing your weekly claims. You require filing each week, even though you are:

    1. Waiting for a verdict about benefits,
    2. Waiting for your claim to become valid, or
    3. Appealing a denial of benefits

    You can file your weekly claim:

    1. Through the Internet - You can file your weekly claim online. You must have a User ID and PIN in order to file your weekly claim online.
    2. By phone – You must call the number given to you during the registration process.

    File every week that you want to claim benefits and keep on filing until you go back to work, run out of benefits or stop seeking work. You should claim at least one week before we can make a decision on your eligibility.

    How to Claim for an Extension?

    If you are presently filing weekly claims for unemployment benefits; carry on filing your weekly claim if you are jobless or working reduced hours. You will be informed by mail of your eligibility for the added benefits.

    In case you have been filing weekly claims and are still laid off or working reduced hours, you will have to file an application for these extra benefits online or by telephone. You will be alerted by mail of your eligibility for the additional benefits.

    To be eligible for EUC (Emergency Unemployment Compensation) benefits you must:

    1. Have an unemployment claim that began on or after May 07, 2006
    2. Have base period wages in the base period of this claim that is equal to at least 40 times your usual benefit rate
    3. Tired your usual benefits or your benefit year has ended and not be eligible for a new claim in any state
    4. Be unemployed or working reduced hours
    5. Be able and available for work and looking for work

    To be eligible for EB benefits you must:

    1. Qualify for EUC and then
    2. Exhaust all customary UI benefits and all available EUC Tiers
    3. Be out of a job or working reduced hours
    4. Be seeking work and submitting evidence of work search to DWD
    Recent Questions
    Explain the State Hawaii’s Unemployment Insurance

      View all questions

    Hawaii Unemployment Questions


    What is Unemployment Insurance?
    Unemployment insurance is a program administered by the Unemployment Insurance Division of the State Department of Labor and Industrial Relations. The purpose of this program is to provide temporary financial assistance to workers who are unemployed through no fault of their own and who meet the requirements of the Hawaii Employment Security Law. Unemployment insurance benefits are paid as a matter of legal entitlement and past employment, and not on the basis of need.

    Who Pays for Unemployment Insurance?
    In Hawaii, employers pay all the costs of unemployment insurance through a payroll tax or reimbursable basis. Employees do not pay any part of their wages to finance the program.

    Who qualifies for Unemployment Insurance?
    You must first establish a valid unemployment claim by meeting the following two monetary qualifications:
    1. you must have been paid wages in two or more calendar quarters of your base period and,
    2. you must also have been paid wages totaling 26 times your weekly benefit amount in your base period

    The standard base period is the first 4 of the last 5 completed calendar quarters immediately preceding the effective date of your claim. The effective date of your claim is the Sunday of the week in which you first apply. If you do not qualify using the standard base period, an alternate based period can be used. The alternate base period is the last 4 completed calendar quarters.

    For example, if you file your claim on January 5, 2009, then the effective date of your claim is Sunday, January 4, 2009, and your standard base period is the first 4 completed quarters from October 1, 2007 to September 30, 2008. If the wages in the highest quarter of your base period is $8,400, then your weekly benefit amount would be $400 per week. You must have wages in at least two quarters of your base period and paid total wages of at least $10,400 in your base period.

    If you worked in other states besides Hawaii (including the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, or the Virgin Islands) in the base period of your claim, you may be able to combine the wages to meet the necessary monetary qualifications or to increase your weekly benefit amount.

    How much do I qualify for and how long can I collect?

    Your weekly benefit amount is calculated by dividing the wages in the highest quarter of your base period by 21. However, your weekly benefit amount (WBA) cannot be more than the maximum weekly benefit amount, which is determined each year by law.

    For example, the maximum weekly benefit amount for claims effective on or after January 4, 2009 is $545 a week. The maximum amount that you can be paid on your claim is 26 times your weekly benefit amount. If your weekly benefit amount is $545, then the most you can be paid on your claim is $14,170. The minimum weekly benefit amount is set by law at $5 a week. Your claim is good for one year from the effective date of the claim; however, you can be paid for only 26 weeks of total unemployment during the one-year period that your claim is effective.

    How do I register for work with the State Workforce Development Division?
    You must register for work with the State Workforce Development Division (WDD) within seven calendar days after applying for benefits. To register for work, you must post your resume online at www.hirenethawaii.com, the internet job matching system used by WDD. You must post your resume on the website by making it available to employers online and in the virtual one-stop format. Internet computers are available at the One-Stop centers or at pubic libraries. If you need help in completing your registration, call or visit a One-Stop center. The addresses and phone numbers are in the back of the Handbook on Unemployment Benefits or go to http://hawaii.gov/labor/wdd.

    What is Partial Unemployment?
    You can earn up to $150 a week and still receive your full unemployment check. If you are still employed and working and earning less than your weekly benefit amount, you may qualify for the difference between your earnings over $150 and your weekly benefit amount. For example, if you earn $200 during a week and your weekly benefit amount is $300, you can still receive $250. However, if your earnings during the week equal or exceed your weekly benefit amount, you will not be entitled to benefits.If you are still employed by an employer in the above situation, the following rules apply:
    • You need to have your employer complete a "Weekly Report of Low Earnings" to verify your earnings for the week. These forms are available from your local claims office.
    • You must not refuse any suitable available work during the week in question.
    Am I eligible for benefits during a labor dispute?
    Your eligibility will be determined by whether a work stoppage existed at the establishment where you were last employed. Information will be obtained from your employer and from your union representatives to make this determination. If no work stoppage exists and you meet all other requirements, benefits will be allowed. A Notice of Decision on Unemployment Insurance Claim covering the weeks you filed for will be sent to you. Other decisions may also be made to determine your eligibility. Information which you should report include: strike pay, sick pay, vacation pay, social security, pensions, disability or illnesses, schooling, trips, and self-employment. If more information is needed, you will be contacted by a claims examiner to make this determination.


    calculator

    How Benefits are calculated?

    To calculate your weekly benefits amount click here

    1. Work out your base period for calculating unemployment.
    2. Take a look at the base period where you received the highest pay.
    3. Calculate the highest quarter earnings with a calculator.
    4. Calculate what your weekly benefits would be if you have another job.
    5. Calculate your unemployment benefits for every week if the partial gross income is different.

    The minimum benefits amount in Hawaii is $5.

    The maximum benefits amount in Hawaii is $523

    A "base period" is four consecutive calendar quarters that fall within the 18 month period before establishing a new benefit year.

    To learn more Unemployment benefits article

Questions & Answers


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