District of Columbia 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 $1950 in the base period in District of Columbia?

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?

State Name : Dist of Columbia

   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: 1 (877) 319-7346 or (202) 724-7000 (8:30am - 5pm, Mon - Fri) to file unemployment claim. It is advised to call during non-peak hours—weekdays after 5pm, and all day Saturday—to reach our automated line.
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: District of Columbia (DC)
    Phone Number: 1 (877) 319-7346 or (202) 724-7000 (8:30am - 5pm, Mon - Fri) to file unemployment claim. It is advised to call during non-peak hours—weekdays after 5pm, and all day Saturday—to reach our automated line.
    File Online: http://www.does.dc.gov/
    Major Towns: Washington

    Current Unemploymnet Rate in District of Columbia

    What is the Eligibility Criteria in District of Columbia?

    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 District of Columbia?

    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

      View all questions

    District of Columbia Unemployment Questions


    Who is eligible for EUC?
    Unemployed claimants whose regular UI benefits expire before the week ending December 29, 2012 may be eligible for EUC. Claimants cannot be eligible for a new, regular unemployment compensation claim in the District of Columbia, another state, or Canada. Claimants who qualify for this federal program will be notified of their potential eligibility and next steps.

    If a claimant is currently filing for regular benefits, does the claimant have to file an application for EUC?
    Yes. An EUC application will be mailed after he or she has collected the maximum amount of regular benefits available. If the claimant is eligible for EUC and remains partially or totally unemployed, the claimant may continue to file weekly certifications as he or she did for regular benefits.

    When does the EUC Program expire?
    On February 22, 2012, President Obama signed legislation extending the Emergency Unemployment Compensation (EUC) program. While the legislation did not add any new benefits, it did extend the deadline by which claimants can apply for and receive extended benefits. The last payable week of EUC benefits was extended to December 29, 2012.

    What is the difference between the federal Emergency Unemployment Compensation (EUC) Program and the federal Extended Benefits (EB) Program?
    The Emergency Unemployment Compensation (EUC) Program is a federally funded program that provides payments to unemployed individuals who have exhausted their regular unemployment benefits. The Extended Benefits (EB) Program provides benefits to claimants who have exhausted regular UI benefits and all EUC benefits. According to the federal government, the District of Columbia is in a High Unemployment Period (HUP), which allows eligible claimants to receive additional weeks of benefits. Claimants who qualify for these programs will be automatically notified.

    What are the eligibility requirements for EB?
    Claimants must meet the following criteria in order to receive EB:
    • Claimants must have exhausted all regular UI benefits and all EUC benefits before the week ending January 5, 2013.
    • Claimants cannot be eligible for unemployment benefits on a new, regular claim in DC, another state, or Canada.
    • Claimants MUST submit Work Search information each week. Work Search information can be supplied online or it may be submitted by mailing in a completed weekly claim form.


    What if I have received EB in the past?
    For those eligible claimants who have remaining weeks of Extended Benefits, an EB notification order will be sent in the mail when EUC Tier 4 is exhausted. This pay order will show the claimant’s EB balance.

    What if I have never received EB?
    For those claimants who qualify, but have never claimed EB, a monetary determination and an EB pay order will be sent in the mail.

    What if a claimant has benefit weeks remaining under the local Additional Benefits (AB) Program?
    The local Additional Benefits program expired on November 6, 2009, when President Obama signed an extension for EUC08. AB program benefits are no longer available.


    WAGE REQUIREMENTS
    To be eligible for unemployment insurance benefits, you must meet certain wage requirements within a 12-month period called the base period. The base period is determined by the date you file your initial claim for benefits.

    AMOUNT OF BENEFITS
    Your weekly benefit amount is determined by the amount of wages in the quarter of the base period in which your earnings were the highest. Your maximum benefit amount is the lesser of twenty six (26) times your weekly benefit amount or one half of your total base period wages.

    Child Support Obligation
    If you owe child support, a deduction of at least twenty five (25) percent of your weekly benefit amount may be made. The amount deducted will be applied to your child support obligation.

    OVERPAYMENTS
    If you receive benefits to which you are not entitled, you have been overpaid. You will receive a written determination which will explain the amount overpaid and the reason for the overpayment.

    FILING WEEKLY BENEFITS
    You may file your weekly claim for benefits over the Internet at www.jobs.dc.gov. You may also file your weekly claim over the telephone at 202-724-7000. In either case, you will need to use the password that you created or that we mailed to you when you filed your initial claim. If you do not know your password, you may contact the Department’s Call Center at 202-724-7000. Filing your weekly claim form over the internet or over the phone is the fastest and most efficient way to certify for benefits. If you are unable to file over the internet or over the telephone, you may file your weekly claim by mail. Shortly after you file your initial claim application, you should receive in the mail your first claim form. If you do not receive this form within seven (7) days of the date you submitted your claim application, you should report to your DC Works! Career Center or contact the Call Center. The earliest you can file your weekly claim is the Sunday following the week ending date on the form. 15 To assure prompt payment, you are advised to file your weekly claim on either the Sunday or the Monday following the week ending date on the claim form. The latest you should file your claim is seven (7) calendar days after the week ending date on the form.

    WAITING PERIOD
    Under District law there is a one week waiting period before benefits are paid. The waiting period is the first week for which you would otherwise be eligible. Generally, this is the first week of your claim. No payment is made for the waiting period.
    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 District of Columbia is $50.

    The maximum benefits amount in District of Columbia is $359

    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

2 Responses to “District of Columbia Unemployment Benefits”

  1. Lourdes Bautista says:
    September 23, 2012 at 9:29 am

    This is first time receiving unemployment. I noticed that profile lists 26 weeks for maximum benefits. Does this mean that benefits run out in 6 months? I am worried that I will not have secured a job then. I also had the understanding that UB run for 99 weeks. Will the 26 weeks automatically change to 99 weeks as I continue to claim weekly benefits?

    Reply
    • neha says:
      September 26, 2012 at 6:32 am

      States make unemployment decisions based on federal rules. The states pay basic unemployment benefits that are normally 26 weeks.

      Extensions for benefits depend on whether you are eligible and whether your state qualifies. You must finish up 26 weeks of state benefits before you can claim extended benefits. You should also continue to qualify and accept suitable employment if offered or your unemployment benefits may end.

      As you reside in District of Columbia, you could get benefits for up to 99 weeks. (EUC 53 weeks + EB 20 weeks = 99 weeks)

      Reply

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