Montana Unemployment Phone Numbers

Following numbers will help you with unemployment in Montana –

Unemployment Insurance Employer Registration 1-800-550-1513

Unemployment Insurance Contributions Bureau (406) 444-3834
FAX (406) 444-0629

TDD for deaf & hard of hearing (406) 444-0532

UI Benefit Charging Questions (406) 444-0399

Claims Processing Center – Billings (406) 247-1000
Claims Processing Center – Helena (406) 444-2545
Hours are 8:00 am to 4:30 pm, Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday.
Wednesday hours are from 10:00 am to 4:30 pm.

Biweekly claims using Interactive Voice Response System (IVR) at 444-9800.
Available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

UI Claims Investigation (406) 444-3783
FAX (406) 444-2699

Report Unemployment Fraud by fax at (406) 444-6651; or by phone at (406) 444-1709.

More information on how to contact and apply for unemployment compensation.

  1. I have spent the last 2 weeks calling everyday, right at 9 am and cannot get into cue. I had to leave my job due to having kids remote learning and having to take a summer remediation course to catch up to move on to the next grade. I had to resubmit a claim, since I am over 12 months, but nothing has changed, and it took over 4 months to approve my original claim. I was told Id be receiving paperwork by end of the week, that was 3 weeks ago. I have tried calling, emailing, faxing and zero response! This is getting ridiculous!

  2. I have a doctor’s note explaining I’m to quarantine due to covid 19 restrictions. My claim says voluntary quit. I didn’t volunteer to quit I was told to by doctor to quit due to being pregnant and immune compromised? I want and available to work ? It’s been sene January 2 nd I havnt received payment. Unemployment contacted me to keep filing but no answer how long? Are you guys so behind that it’s going to take you half of a year to pay me? Will I be forced to go back to work to contract covid and possible die or my infant due to exposure? People need answers we work our asses off for our employers to have these benefits when we need them in troubling times. Do you have our back will it take a year?no anwsers! Also to all questions about claims center and getting threw call inbetween 11 and 12 and use your cell phone. Just keep hanging up and pushing call button . After 30 to 40 min you will get in the que. Then wait time has been 30 min! Wensday threw Thursday is the best!

  3. I have mailed in two requests to reapply/get redetermination for unemployment as I was denied due to leaving the job prior to the one I filed against because they cut my hours to 16 hrs a week so I took a full time job that didn’t pan out. I have never received confirmation the request and copies of my check stubs were received. I have had zero notification on my dashboard. I cannot get through to the claims processing on the phone. Now I have received letters saying I have to pay back unemployment benefits I received while STILL working at the previous job when I had partial benefits. This is ridiculous! Please don’t tell me to keep chasing the office like you tell others. That’s absurd when the phone rings busy constantly. How about some real answers please?

  4. I made one mistake on unemployment questions and its been a month and a half and haven’t had any updates. I read a question wrong, I thought it was just asking if I ever got workers comp and I said yes. Which, come to find out it apparently asked if I got paid, which I haven’t, and so I havent got unemployment because of it.. I was laid off for 1 week and 1 day because my work didn’t want people bringing covid back after the holidays.. which has completely screwed me,, unable to pay all my bills and put me way behind. I emailed you guys easily over 20 times because I can never get through. Got 1 response and nothing happened, nothing changed and haven’t been able to contact anyone after that. You guys haven’t even tried to call me. It’s so ridiculous, its one dang week + a day. How does it take this long to try and fix a mistake? Probably because no one is trying to fix it. I have kids and this really hurts my family. Its so sad we can’t even rely on our state to help us with even missing 1 week :(. Someone help, pease!

  5. I received a letter stating that there was an error in my filing, and did not get paid. This was for week 9/26, 4 weeks ago. I have called everyday at least 50 times a day with just a busy signal. I also have not received any other payments in the interim. I have 2 kids and a wife dying of cancer, and need this money. This is preposterous, hire more call center people or allow disputes to be handled via website. We are starving over here!!!!!

    • Joe, that is terrible. I am so sorry to hear this. I am experiencing the same issue and it has been MONTHS! I am disappointed in our government, both local and federal.

      • For all those saying they just get a busy signal then disconnect – DON’T GIVE UP – if you get the busy signal hang up and call right back. Keep at it until you get through! I am here to tell you that I have done that and it took 196 times to get through, and even as much as 307 times to get through, but you will eventually get through. Now once you get through you may sit on hold for a hour or more, but once your on hold then you will get someone. Despite your frustration try and be kind, they are swamped, and everyone I have dealt with has been kind, and extremely helpful. Trust me I was laid off in November and know this is frustrating and a horrible time, but keep at it!

    • Joe,

      I can understand your situation. There will be a delay considering the number of applications that are being processed. Please continue chasing the office/check your status online at regular intervals.

      • My name is Darrell Anderson I have a claim with a hold on it. I just want the hold removed so I can have job service help me. I don’t want a old claim or new claim but job service can’t help me with the hold on. I was told to open a new claim I don’t want to can we get rid of the hold and old claim. Thank you. This is been going on long enough

  6. This is getting a bit out of hand. I have been waiting since the beginning of July for a pending status on my unemployment. I had stopped receiving benefits due to a “job refusal” I had sent in my doctors note explaining that I a immune comprised and a single mother and have yet to get any type of response. I understand you have thousands of new claims but people are being starved out due to how long these things are taking. I am deeper in debt then I have ever been. I have tried calling the claims hotline and no luck. The same issue just the busy tone and then it will disconnect. How much longer may this take?

    • Sarah,

      I can understand your situation. There will be a delay considering the number of applications that are being processed. Please continue chasing the office/check your status online at regular intervals until payments normalize.

    • Please call the fraud hotline at 406-444-0072 and they can assist. They will offer an ID Theft packet with information to assist you.

    • Crystal,

      There will be a mechanism to report “Fraud” on the Unemployment Office’s website. Please lookout of the link.

  7. I have been waiting Seven weeks for a decision on my unemployment. I have been calling and calling and calling and calling all I get is a busy signal. My claim status says decision pending and my weekly payments are non-payment due to an unresolved issue. I have been trying to get a hold of someone at the unemployment office to resolve the issue. I’ve also sent an email several weeks ago with no answer to that. I understand they are extremely busy but people have already gotten their answer two weeks after filing. Also after filing on April 4 I checked my claim status and I was locked out. Written in a red bar was, no further action is required or it’s pending. For four weeks I could not do anything with my claim.

        • Same here I applied for Benefits almost 3 months ago .and can’t seem to get anyone on the phone we really need these benifits

        • I have called over 100 times a day for over 2 weeks now and can not get through. My boss has approved my unemployment, it is directly related to covid symptoms and exposure. I have 5 kids at home to feed and take care of. I got a letter stating that it was bc of my eligibility to work. I was sent home from work bc of symptoms o had. Why am I not recieving anything yet?

        • Syleena,

          I can understand your situation. There will be a delay considering the number of applications that are being processed. Please continue chasing the office/check your status online at regular intervals until payments normalize.

    • Sharon,

      I can understand your situation. Please wait for an update from the office. There will be thousands of applications for the office to be processed. Make sure to check the status at regular intervals.

      • What is going on with this crap you guys always decide to try some new thing and it ends up not working. While you try to figure your problems out people aren’t getting paid because you are “working out the hiccups”. You guys have done it again I can’t receive my gd one time pass code for some bs reason when I chatted with someone last week about it they said ” we are receiving so many calls about the same thing” this is stupid you need to get stuff figured out.

        • Cameron,

          Please note this is a private forum and we do not have access to your claim file. You can try resetting the password online, on the department’s official website.

  8. I am finding it difficult to prove job attached status for my employees. The nature of the job is such that they are available full time, but there isn’t consistent hours available for work, it varies day by day, week by week. Is there someone I can talk to to try and simplify the process for my employees so that I don’t lose employees due to them being required to job search when the trip volume is down?

    • Theresa,

      You can speak to the Unemployment Office for details. Your state will have a dedicated team to address employer concerns regarding UI benefits.

  9. I am waiting to get paid for my unemployment and I would like to know the issues. I have called several times over the span of 2 days and the line is always busy. I don’t know what step to take if I cannot contact unemployment office.

  10. Can I file with alternate quarter?I earned less money current quarter.Amount each year is totally different?2017 is way below 2018.

      • Kevin,

        Unfortunately, Unemployment Insurance benefits are only offered to claimants who are able and available for work. Not sure if you qualify. Please call the Unemployment Office for more.

        • I have been calling for weeks and my claim was cancelled out of nowhere. Why am I not getting paid this is ridiculous?

        • Andrea,

          The Unemployment Office might be inundated with pending requests. Please visit the website to find the answers.

        • Im currently on maternity leave an my work from the glaicer peaks casino in Browning Montana doesn’t not help with any benefits so im not getting any help money wise will can i get unemployment??

        • Tiffany,

          Unfortunately, personal reasons such as maternity are not considered. Please call the Unemployment Office for more.

  11. I am still working 30 hours per week even though i receive ssi due to my age. if my hours are cut back to 20 hours per week can i file for unemployment?

  12. Hello, my name is Alex Voytek and this is for the claims processing center. I know it’s a busy time of year but I’ve been trying to call and am unable to get through. I was hoping I could check on the status of my benefits. Please email me or call me.

    • Hello Alex,

      Please note this is a private forum and we do not hold any association with the govt. authorities. Call them directly for update on your claim.

  13. The company I work for has sold to an out of state company and my position has been eliminated. I am to get a 3 months severance pay. Can I sign up for unemployment once I leave the company or do I wait for the 3 months that I will be receiving pay?

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

https://fileunemployment.org