Louisiana 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 $1200 in the base period in Louisiana?

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 : Louisiana

   Wages Earned:

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   $

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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: 1-866-783-5567 to file an Unemployment Compensation Claim.
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: Louisiana (LA)
    Phone Number: 1-866-783-5567 to file an Unemployment Compensation Claim.
    File Online: http://www.laworks.net/UnemploymentInsurance/UI_Claimants.asp
    Major Towns: New Orleans, Baton Rouge, Shreveport, Metairie, Lafayette, Lake Charles, Kenner, Bossier City, Monroe, and Alexandria

    Current Unemploymnet Rate in Louisiana

    What is the Eligibility Criteria in Louisiana?

    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 Louisiana?

    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
    I worked for yrs in Louisiana My spouse is transferring to Texas which state benefit amount do I get til I find a job
    What are minimum and maximum benefits you can expect from Louisiana Unemployment Compensation?

      View all questions

    Louisiana Unemployment Questions


    How do I file an appeal?
    If you have received a Notice of Claim Determination or a Notice of Overpayment with which you disagree, you may appeal that determination within 15 days of the mailing date of the document. By doing so, you are requesting a hearing before an Administrative Law Judge. There are three methods of filing an appeal: on-line @ www.LAWORKS.net, by mail addressed to: Louisiana Workforce Commission, Appeals Unit, P. O. Box 94094, Baton Rouge, LA 70804-9094 or fax to (225) 342-3112. If mailed, the letter must be postmarked no more than 15 days from the date of the determination and must be signed by the person filing the appeal. If you file the appeal by mail, enclose a copy of the determination with your letter of appeal. If you appeal as a claimant, you should continue to file weekly claims until a final decision is rendered or until you return to work.

    What happens after the appeal is filed?
    When an appeal is filed, you will be mailed a letter acknowledging receipt of your appeal. If you do not receive an acknowledgement letter within ten days of the date you filed the appeal, contact the U.I. Call Center at 1-866-783-5567 for assistance. When the acknowledgement letter is generated, the appeal is sent to the Appeals Section where an Administrative Law Judge reviews it and then schedules it for a hearing.

    Where will the appeal hearing be held?
    Most hearings are conducted at the office where the claim was filed or at some other hearing location that is within 50 miles of both parties. If both parties are not within 50 miles of a common hearing location, the hearing would be conducted by telephone.

    How will I be notified of the appeal hearing?
    A hearing notice will be mailed to the parties. The rules require that the notice be mailed at least ten days before the date of the hearing.

    What will be included in the appeal hearing notice?
    The hearing notice will indicate the date, time, and location of the hearing. It will also describe the issues that will be discussed at the hearing. If the hearing is to be done by telephone, the notice will include instructions on how to call in for the hearing.

    How do I file for Unemployment Benefits?
    To file a claim for unemployment insurance, you may contact the UI Call Center @ 1-866-783-5567 or you may file online. Before filing a claim, you will need the following information:
    • Your social security number.
    • Names, addresses, job-site locations and telephone numbers of any employers for whom you worked during the last 18 months.
    • Name and local number of union hall (if applicable).
    • Alien registration number (if applicable).
    • The member-4 copy of your DD214 (if you served in the military during the last 18 months).
    • Your SF-8 and SF-50 (if you worked for a federal employer during the last 18 months). However, do not delay filing if you cannot locate your federal documents.
    How should I file if I worked in another state or more than one state?
    No matter in which state you may have worked, or in which state you may now live, you can file your UI claim in the Job Center closest to your current place of residence. Personnel in that office will assist you in determining against which state you should file. There is a Job Center or a State Employment Office in nearly every large town in the United States. Click here to find an office near you.

    What are the minimum and maximum amounts of UI benefits?
    The minimum weekly benefit amount of UI in Louisiana is $10.00. The maximum is currently $247. Your weekly benefit amount could be anywhere in this range, depending upon the total amount of wages paid to you during your base period. The total amount of unemployment insurance benefits payable to you would be equal to 26 times your weekly benefit amount.

    How do I file for weekly benefits?
    You should file your weekly claims by calling the Interactive Voice Response System, Easy Call.


    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 Louisiana is $10.

    The maximum benefits amount in Louisiana is $247

    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

6 Responses to “Louisiana Unemployment Benefits”

  1. Molly says:
    January 19, 2013 at 10:19 am

    I have only been working at my job for 6 months, do i qualify for unemployment

    Reply
  2. melonie davis says:
    January 31, 2013 at 10:44 am

    Hi, I’m melonie Davis I been faulty accused in my resistantmadeaint available I been trying to fill out my letter but the computer down were I stay in oak grove been down I been trying to call y’all you can reach me at1318 559 8185thanks.

    Reply
  3. MARY GRACIANETTE says:
    May 14, 2013 at 1:09 pm

    The restrant that I have work for two years has lost their liquor liscens and he did not pay us for a month. I AM NO LONGER EMPLOYED DO I GUALAFIE.

    Reply
    • Baggie says:
      May 15, 2013 at 5:25 am

      Hey Mary,

      You may qualify for benefits as you are not receiving what you were promised. Please note that you should have earned wages under covered employment (This is the type of environment where the employer has played employment taxes to the state government). Also note that there are other requirements to qualify for unemployment benefits.

      Reply
  4. Joseph Melancon says:
    May 20, 2013 at 6:10 am

    I filed back in 2010 but lost my card. How can I retrieve funds on card? Or far that matter, check if the card was ever loaded…

    Reply
    • Baggie says:
      May 21, 2013 at 1:57 am

      Hi Joseph,

      If you got a debit card from unemployment office because of a prior claim, you will have to use that card. To replace your lost or expired card, contact Chase Bank at (866) 795-5926.
      Your debit card will remain current for three years after it is issued. Please note the expiration date printed on the front of the card. If you have problems with the debit card, again contact Chase Bank at 1-866-795-5926.

      Reply

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