Idaho 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 $2340 in the base period in Idaho?

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 : Idaho

   Wages Earned:

   $

   $

   $

   $

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: (208) 332-3570 (24 hours per day, 7 days a week) to file an Unemployment Compensation Claim. For local offices the hours of operation is 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM Monday through Thursday, 9:00 AM to noon Friday and closed on holidays. In the Boise dialing area call 334-4700 and outside the Boise dialing area call your local office and enter Option 7.
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: Idaho (ID)
    Phone Number: (208) 332-3570 (24 hours per day, 7 days a week) to file an Unemployment Compensation Claim. For local offices the hours of operation is 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM Monday through Thursday, 9:00 AM to noon Friday and closed on holidays. In the Boise dialing area call 334-4700 and outside the Boise dialing area call your local office and enter Option 7.
    File Online: http://labor.idaho.gov/dnn/Default.aspx?tabid=681&AspxAutoDetectCookieSupport=1
    Major Towns: Boise City, Nampa, Meridian, Idaho Falls, Pocatello, Caldwell, Coeur d'Alene, Twin Falls, and Lewiston

    Current Unemploymnet Rate in Idaho

    What is the Eligibility Criteria in Idaho?

    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 Idaho?

    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
    If I need to apply for Idaho benefit claim then how should I file it?

      View all questions

    Idaho Unemployment Questions


    How do I file a claim?
    If you are unemployed and wish to file a claim you may:
    • Access the Internet at: labor.idaho.gov/iw
    • Report to your nearest local Idaho Department of Labor office.
    • Call your nearest local Idaho Department of Labor office. If you are filing a claim against Idaho, but live in another state, you may also file your claim online at labor.idaho.gov/iw or by calling (208) 332-3574.
    What must I do to be eligible for unemployment insurance benefits?
    • 1. You must be totally or partially unemployed through no fault of your own.
    • 2. Be a US citizen or legally authorized to work in the US.
    • 3. Establish monetary entitlement to benefits by having sufficient earnings in the base period: You must have worked and been paid wages for employment in at least two of the quarters in your base period1; AND You must have been paid at least $1,872 in wages in one of those quarters; AND The total wages paid in your base period must equal one and a quarter times your highest quarter wages.
    • 4. You must be available for full-time work.
    • 5. You must be able to perform full-time work.
    • 6. You must be willing to actively seek full-time work.
    When should I apply for benefits/file a claim?
    File your claim during your first week of total or partial unemployment—to delay may cost you benefits.

    What if I am not working, but being paid severance pay?
    If you are receiving pay for a specific period of time and being paid on your regularly scheduled pay periods, you must divide your severance pay by the number of weeks covered and report that amount each week you certify.

    What if I am not working, but continuing to be paid by my separating employer in compliance with WARN requirements?
    Claimants are not required to report Warn Act payments on their weekly certification.

    What information do I need to have with me when I file?
    • Your Social Security number.
    • Driver's License
    • If you are not a citizen of the United States, your Alien Registration number and card.
    • The business names, complete addresses including zip codes, and phone numbers of all employers for whom you worked during the last 2 years.
    • The dates your work started and ended for those employers.
    • Your total gross earnings from those employers.
    • The reason you are no longer working for those employers.
    • DD Form 214, Member 4, Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty, if you were a member of the Military Service in the past 2 years.
    • Your county of residence if you live outside the state of Idaho.
    How is my weekly benefit amount determined?
    The amount you receive for unemployment is based up your past earnings. We use the wages you earned in a period of time that we call your base period1. We use the highest quarterly amount from your base period and divide that amount by 26 to determine the maximum amount you may receive per week on unemployment. For example, if your highest base period quarter was $2600, we would divide that number by 26 and you would be eligible for a maximum of $100 per week. The current range for unemployment weekly benefits runs from $72.00 per week minimum to $334.00 per week maximum. We use the wages reported to us by employers that you have worked for in Idaho. We can use wages from other states, from work done as a federal employee, and if you were active duty in the military (with some restrictions). When you file for benefits, you will receive a form called a Monetary Determination. This form shows your base period, the employers who reported wages to us during the base period, and the amounts they reported. It will also show your weekly benefit amount, and the total amount you may draw during your benefit year. If you think that any of the information is wrong on your Monetary Determination, you must contact the Department of Labor within 14 days from the mailing date of the Monetary Determination. (Click here for a list of the Idaho Department of Labor locations in Idaho.) You should be prepared to show some kind of proof as to why the amounts shown are wrong, or proof that an employer you worked for does not show up on the Monetary Determination. We will investigate and possibly contact the employers you worked for to try and find out what the correct amounts are. You will receive a Monetary Re-Determination after we complete the investigation.

    How many weeks can I collect unemployment insurance benefits?
    The law has a formula for calculating how many weeks of unemployment insurance benefits that you may qualify for on your claim. The number of weeks of full entitlement you can receive will vary between 10 weeks at a minimum and 26 weeks at a maximum. The formula is a ratio of your total base period wages divided by your highest base period quarter. Basically, the person who earns a consistent wage in each quarter in the base period1 is awarded more weeks of unemployment. A person who has periods in the base period where they did not work as much, or earned much more than the other quarters will have their number of weeks reduced because of the ratio formula. In some instances, a person who earns substantially more in one quarter than in the three remaining quarters may not be eligible for unemployment insurance benefits. This situation is referred to as "high quarter." When you file a claim for unemployment, it is set up for a 52-week period. If you draw a full weekly benefit amount each week, you will run out of money in the number of weeks that you are entitled to. You can work and draw unemployment. (See question Can I work and still collect unemployment insurance benefits?) If you work part-time and are not able to find a full-time job, your unemployment benefits may last the entire 52 weeks. It just depends on what rate you draw those benefits out.

    What is a base period?
    The base period is the four quarters of earnings that are used to determine how much unemployment you qualify for. Idaho Department of Labor uses a regular base period of the first four of the last five completed calendar quarters. If you do not qualify using the regular base period, you may qualify using the alternate base period of the last four completed calendar quarters.


    Overpayments and Fraud

    Overpayments
    Benefits are paid to you based on the eligibility information available at the time you phone in your Tel-A-Claim report, submit your Internet Continued Claim report or turn in your Continued Claim report. An overpayment may occur if the Department receives additional or contradictory information relating to your eligibility after benefits have been paid to you.

    Fraud:
    Engaging in any of the following acts is a felony crime in Idaho:
    1. Making false statements while being interviewed regarding your claim.
    2. Knowingly making a false statement on any of the forms or pages you fill out in relation to your claim such as misstating the reason for separation from your employer.
    3. Failing to properly report any material fact or making a false statement when filing weekly via Tel-AClaim, Internet Continued Claim or bi-weekly using the Continued Claim Report form;
    4. Failing to notify the Department when you quit or are discharged from work or when you refuse work.
    5. Failing to look for work when required to do so, but telling Idaho Department of Labor you did look.
    Protests and Appeals
    You or a current or previous employer may protest any decision regarding your eligibility to receive unemployment insurance benefits. Your protest must be in writing and be signed. When a protest is filed and a new decision is reached, a written document will be issued telling you the reasons for the new decision. There are four decision-making levels. Decisions made at the first three levels may be protested by you or by an interested party.

    Miscellaneous Information
    Re-Employment Eligibility Assessment: You may be required to provide the Department with you work search contacts or participate in an in person interview with a Workforce Consultant from your local office. You may receive a letter instructing you to input your weekly contacts for a specific week of benefits via the internet at labor.idaho.gov/iw. Failure to provide this information when requested will result in your benefits being stopped. The contacts you list will be verified with the employers. You may also be required to participate in an in person interview with a Workforce Consultant at your local office. The interview is designed to help you return to work in the shortest time possible. The Consultant may assist you with labor market information, resumes, and innovative ideas for seeking work. Failure to participate will result in your benefits being stopped.
    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 Idaho is $72.

    The maximum benefits amount in Idaho is $343

    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


State Unemployment Guides
Alabama Unemployment Benefits Guide Alaska Unemployment Benefits Guide Arizona Unemployment Benefits Guide Arkansas Unemployment Benefits Guide California Unemployment – Claims Guide Colorado Unemployment Benefits Guide Connecticut Unemployment Benefits Guide Delaware Unemployment Benefits Guide Florida Unemployment Claims – Complete Guide Georgia Unemployment Benefits Guide Hawaii Unemployment Benefits Guide Idaho Unemployment Benefits Guide Illinois Unemployment Benefits Guide Indiana Unemployment Benefits Guide Iowa Unemployment Benefits Guide Kansas Unemployment Benefits Guide Kentucky Unemployment Benefits Guide Louisiana Unemployment Benefits Guide Maine Unemployment Benefits Guide Maryland Unemployment Benefits Guide Massachusetts Unemployment Benefits Guide Michigan Unemployment Claims – Complete Guide Minnesota Unemployment Benefits Guide Mississippi Unemployment Benefits Guide Missouri Unemployment Claims – Complete Guide Montana Unemployment Benefits Guide Nebraska Unemployment Benefits Guide Nevada Unemployment Benefits Guide New Hampshire Unemployment Benefits Guide New Mexico Unemployment Benefits Guide NH Unemployment Benefits Guide NJ Unemployment Claims – Complete Guide North Carolina Unemployment Benefits Guide North Dakota Unemployment Benefits Guide NY Unemployent Benefits – Claims Guide Ohio Unemployment Claims – Complete Guide Oklahoma Unemployment Benefits Guide Oregon Unemployment Claims – Complete Guide Pennsylvania (PA) Unemployment Benefits Guide Rhode Island Unemployment Benefits Guide South Carolina Unemployment Benefits Guide South Dakota Unemployment Benefits Guide Tennessee Unemployment Benefits Guide Texas Unemployment Benefits Guide Utah Unemployment Benefits Guide Vermont Unemployment Benefits Guide Virginia Unemployment Benefits Guide Washington DC Unemployment Benefits Guide Washington Unemployment Benefits Guide West Virginia Unemployment Benefits Guide Wisconsin Unemployment Claims – Reference Guide