Missouri Unemployment Weekly Claims

Missouri Unemployment Benefits

After you apply for unemployment benefits in Missouri, you are required to certify each week and request payment. These weekly claims serve as proof of your ongoing eligibility for UI benefits, and are required before you can receive your weekly unemployment benefit.

In each weekly claim, you need to confirm your ongoing job search, report any income earned during that week, and notify the Missouri Department of Labor about any changes in your employment status. This process is crucial for maintaining your Missouri unemployment benefits and It’s important to submit your weekly claim accurately and on time to avoid delays or a denial of benefits.

How to file a weekly claim in Missouri

File your weekly unemployment claim each week, beginning as early as Sunday.

Log in at uinteract.mo.gov. The website is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Select “Weekly Request for Payment” and follow the prompts.

Information to have when requesting payment

When filing your weekly claim, be sure to have the following information ready:

  • Social Security number
  • PIN
  • Weekly earnings, if applicable
  • 3 new job contacts / work search activities
  • Any job offers that you refused, if applicable

When you’re preparing to file your Missouri unemployment weekly claim, make sure to have your Social Security Number and your Personal Identification Number (PIN) within easy reach.

You need to accurately report any earnings you made during the week, whether from work or as vacation or holiday pay. Record the gross amount, which is the total amount before any deductions. The Missouri Department of Employment Security will confirm these wages with your employer.

You can file your weekly request for payment online through uinteract.mo.gov, available 24/7. Just log into the claims filing system, answer the questions provided, and hit “Submit”. A confirmation page will indicate that your claim has been successfully filed.

Reporting wages

You must report all wages earned during the week, even if you haven’t received the payment yet. This includes any tips, commissions, bonuses, etc. You must also report any non-monetary compensation such as board or lodging. It’s important to be completely honest when answering questions. Intentionally providing false information is Missouri unemployment fraud, which can result in steep fines and penalties.

To remain eligible for Missouri unemployment benefits, you must be able and available to work full time each day. This means that no illness, injury, or personal circumstances should prevent you from working during the week claimed. Being eligible for Missouri unemployment benefits requires that you meet these conditions each week that you file a claim.

Work search requirements

One of the questions you will be asked during the certification process is about searching for work. To be eligible for Ui benefits, you must be actively searching for work each week. According to Missouri UI work search requirements, you must perform three work search activities each week. Approved activities include applying for jobs, updating your resume, and attending job fairs. Learn more.

Waiting Week

You don’t get paid for the first weekly claim, even though you are required to file. This is what’s known as the waiting week. It’s the first week you qualify for unemployment benefits. Even though you aren’t paid, you must file just as you would for any other week.

Receiving payment

During the initial application process, you were given a choice of how to receive payment. You can be paid via direct deposit or Money Network Visa debit card. If you chose debit card as your preferred payment method, a Money Network Visa debit card will be mailed to your address on file.

Keep in mind, your benefits won’t arrive on the same day every week, and the Missouri Department of Employment Security won’t mail you a notice when they process your benefits. It’s important to remember that your unemployment benefits are subject to both federal and state income taxes.

How to check the status of your Missouri unemployment claim

Your payment information will become available two business days after you file your weekly request for payment of benefits. If you would like to estimate your weekly benefit amount ahead of time, you can use the Missouri unemployment calculator.

To track your claim and benefits, you can click on My Account/Claim Status or call your regional claims center. Just say “Claim Inquiry” when asked why you’re calling. These resources are available 24/7 and will let you see if your unemployment benefits have been paid, when they were paid, and how they were paid.

If you’re trying to see if benefits have been loaded onto your debit card, check your UInteract account first. Benefits are typically available on your debit card after 5:30 pm on the day they are released.

For details about your benefits, you can check your debit card balance and see your full transaction history at www.mo-access.com, or by calling 888-775-3445. Your first call using the automated voice response system is free, but any additional calls will cost $.50 each. If you need to speak with a customer service representative, be aware that each call will cost $3.00. You are encouraged to use the website portal instead of calling since website access is always free.

Payment Delays

If there are any complications with your unemployment claim, your payment may be delayed by several weeks. This typically happens when an investigation needs to be carried out to confirm your eligibility for benefits.

Keep filing your weekly claim if this happens. If you are ultimately denied benefits, you can file an appeal. It’s important to keep filing weekly claims during the appeal process, otherwise you won’t collect any back pay if you win your appeal.

When to stop filing weekly claims

You can file weekly claims in Missouri for up to 20 weeks, sometimes longer if extended benefits are available – typically when the Missouri unemployment rate is too high. Previous extensions available during the COVID pandemic have expired, such as Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) and Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation (FPUC).

When you find a full time job, you can simply stop filing weekly claims. Your claim will be closed in 28 days.

  1. Ive filed on Sunday morning the last two weeks. On Monday it says processed with Mondays date as the processed date. Then on Monday night it changes the date to Tuesdays date. What’s up with that?

    • I fill initial claim on Thursday but I was busy through the Sunday,So I later Certified on Monday do you have idea when the payment will be issued

  2. My weekly request for payment says rejected. There is no info anywhere on what that means! I qualified for ui and it sent me a correspondence saying what my weekly amount is!

  3. I’m having a difficult time reaching anyone at the Claims Center. Is there a trick to actually getting someone on the phone? Can someone please call me so I can get some answers to my questions? I’m not sure why my claim has said, “Pending Issue/Denied” for three weeks straight. I am out of work and need money for my family. Thanks so much for your help!

    • I filed my weekly request for payment for last week and It said I wasn’t payable cause I was receiving a pension. I looked and I accidentally Hit yes I was and I’m not receiving one. Never have. Will I still get this weeks payment once I call them tomorrow and hopefully straighten it out.

    • Andrew,

      There is no trick really. There will be a delay due to the sheer volume of pending applications. Please consider the option of visiting an office in the vicinity.

        • Patricia,

          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.

  4. Filed for FPCU July 19th and actually got accepted for regular benefits(UC) I was not certain on what to do as everyone said From DES that I had to be denied to file an appeal… I was late on that appeal because of false information obtained by DES employers… I have since appealed the retroactive back pay and says i cant appeal because a determination has not been sent to claimant… Long story short, I was wrongfully fired 2 weeks before pandemic hit. So if the company didnt fight my UC for reg benefits? Then why am I getting denied or not approved for my much needed FPCU payments?

  5. My application is a combined wage claim with two states, i already need 10/11 weeks back pay, Ive been waiting a month and it just says “scheduled for processing” For 4 weeks in a row now. How much longer?! I call and no one can do anything which I think is probably untrue.

    • I applied for PUA unemployment never heard anything for months so I assumed I didn’t qualify. Found out I did qualify in May and recieved benefits. I am trying to get back pay for previous months owed and pending status says rejected what does that mean? I should qualify as I did in May and June

    • Yeah thanks for screwing me over or trying to at least! Make me renew my claim and then deny my PUA claim after already approving my PUA for 7 months and then request for me to send back all the money that you guys sent to me over the course of 7 months! That’s wrong!

      • My unemployment has said scheduled for processing now for 5 weeks and my husband’s now for 2 weeks, this is so frustrating, we are doing without at this point and I don’t know what to do!! Are we going to be paid for these weeks that say scheduled for processing.????

        • Amanda,

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

  6. I have not received any benefits yet. I can’t get a hold of a person to speak with. I’m not sure my first two weeks went through. I did not know I had to request payment each week. What can I do? I just got a notice that my third week of claims is a waiting week. Not sure what that means. Thank you.

    • 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.

    • That period is generally considered as a “Waiting Period”. Please call the Unemployment Office for more.

  7. Please can anyone explain what that mean ” System detected expired PUA Claim. Claimant has to file AIC” and what is next steps

    • It’s an overly fancy way of saying that your claim got f****d off somewhere along the lines so you have to go back and file AIC (additional initial claim)

  8. System detected expired PUA Claim. Claimant has to file AIC.
    What does this message mean? It displays when I click to see my PUA claim that I filed last week.

  9. I’m from Missouri and although I have a job they closed down due to the pandemic but they will open up once everything is situated, but I have to do a work search activity to be able to get help? Is that right?

  10. What does it mean ” payment pending due to protest period”?
    I have 2 inquiry’s that both say that and amount paid is Zero. How long will this take?

    • Jentry,

      The protest period is the time given to your employer to raise a dispute. Generally, that is around a week. Please wait for this time to expire.

  11. What does it mean ” payment pending due to protest period”?
    I have 2 inquiry’s that both say that and amount paid is 0 so I would really like to know what it means and I would like to know if I get paid for those two claims or not.

  12. i tried to claim wk 03/15/20- wk.03/21/20 but cant seem to get to the right place online. i also tried to call to claim weeks by phone and im being told the office is closed. when i opened my claim on 03/19/20 i was told to file my claims on sundays starting today. i will tr to contact someone on mon. 03/23/20 by phone. thank you.

  13. I have an “Issue on file”. Went to the appeals tab and have this “No appealable determination/decision was found”. What is the meaning?

  14. I did my weekly claim on 1/19/2020 and did another one on 1/27/2020 and they both say payment pending due to protest period how long does the protest period take.

      • Whats does pending claim detected mean. I file for weeks but i still havent gotten paid. Its just saying schedule for processing

        • Ahrica,

          Please be patient and keep checking regularly. There will be a delay owing to the number of pending applications.

    • Jim,

      It probably means the timeframe of 10 days given to your employer to lodge a protest if they think you should not qualify. Please reach out to the Unemployment Office for clarification.

    • Michael,

      It perhaps means your claim is ready to be processed after initial verification. Please call the Claims Center for details.

    • Betty,

      You need to login to the website to be able to report your work searches by filling the form. Please call the Claims Center for help.

  15. If my claim says issue on file and my employer didn’t file a protest will I still be denied? I was fired because they said I was rude to other employees. But I was not given a warning and I never knew I was rude to anyone

    • Christi,

      If you can prove you were not “Rude” and were well within the limits, please consider “Appealing” the decision.

    • Every Sunday I file my weekly request for payment as usual just like this week and on Monday’s after 6 it says payment and I get the payment the next day but today (monday) it still says waiting for processing instead of payment what’s going on with it.

    • Jashmin,

      Since this is your initial claim, you will be required to wait for about 10 days before its processed, approved and paid. After your initial claim, you can continue filing on a weekly basis on the basis of the determination made.

      • They said my request was pending because I filed a new claim. This was 2 weeks ago. What does this mean?

        • Jeremy,

          Please wait for a response. There will be thousands of applications for the office to be processed. Make sure to check the status at regular intervals.

  16. The website says that my payment was made today but it hasn’t been deposited into my bank account yet… Any suggestions

    • Deborah,

      It means the claim is under process. If you witness an unprecedented delay, please call the Claims Center for an update.

    • Joseph,

      It means your claim is still under process. Suggest you call the Claims Center to know more if there is a delay.

  17. I just noticed I put that I was in the VI instead of the USA on one of my weeks. It says issue on file, could that be the reason. Will it say that If an employer protest it?

    • Please call the Claims Center immediately to have it corrected. You can speak to a representative and request for detailed instructions.

        • Coleen,

          I am sure if they have an email ID where documents can be sent to. Please call the Claims Center to find out.

  18. I went applied for unemployment a few months ago. I put my waiting week and then I went back to work. I went to apply for unemployment the week of July 14th 2018 . I got on the phone at the office. The lady took all of my information and she told me that my waiting week was already in. Got letter stating my waiting week was the week of 7/14. That’s not right.

  19. My Claim status says :Payment Pending Due to Protest Period — how long is that ? Says “Benefit Year Beginning 11/26/2017” so if its 10 calendar days its well past the 10 days.

  20. My weekly claims status says issue on file. I have not been contacted in anyway to find out what that means. What does it mean and what should I do?

  21. I am a union member and when I filed it told me I needed to contact 3 people. Being union that is against union rules. the Hall is my contact person. Will I be denied because of this? It says “waiting for pending payment 10 day AIC” What is AIC?

      • How long will it say issue on file or payment issue denied if their going to denied my money just do it so i can take the next step instead of prolonging unfair

        • Unfortunately, nobody has the answer. Please continue following up at regular intervals.

    • Dana,

      The notice sent when an unemployment claim is filed provides an opportunity for the employer to submit a protest within 10 days of the claim notice- As per Department of Labor, MO.

  22. Okay i filed for unemployment on the 6th and it still says pending due to protest period. So how long can this last.

  23. I have the ten days AIC on my claim also . Ijust had to reopen my claim. I did call and the guy that was supposed to help me only said that it has to be resent for appeals and pretty much said if we needed answers or to talk to me they would Have sent a letter. But it said processed till the morning I was to get my money. Is this going to another month and a half be I get my benefits. My family and I will be starved and have no electricity by then . Guess it’s my fault for getting a job that didn’t work out.

    • Cathy,

      I can understand your situation. Please continue chasing the office at regular intervals. If need be, please ask for a supervisor.

  24. My request for payment is been on schedule for Processing for 2 days now it’s usually only on there for A-day and then I get my money today but I still have not got my money yet and it’s just says schedule for processing do you know what’s going on or can you help me

    • Please chase the Claims Center for payment status at regular intervals. You can speak to a representative to understand the reason for the delay.

  25. I’m just curious about something. My claim says “payment pending due to protest period”. Is that the protest period of 10 days for the employer(s) to protest against the claim?

  26. I am trying to file my weekly check-in I keep calling the number and keep going in circles can you please help me my number is 417 755 2485

    • Please call the Claims Center to find out why. We’re a private forum and do not have access to your claim information.

  27. I have filed claims since April and have been denied; I was told that I owe $900 once all paperwork is in order. I will have to pay back the $900 before I will start receiving my benefits. Well, they have deducted the $900 and now sent me a letter stating that I need to get all this information again. Now, they want me to go back to my old jobs and doctor office again and request the same paperwork as before. I don’t understand why?

    • Thomas,

      I understand your concern. Why don’t you speak the authorities and express your discontent in this regard? Perhaps, you can provide them proof of the previous submission.

  28. Did anyone ever get an answer to the question about what it means when it says payment pending due to 10 days AIC?

    • Harvey,

      It means that there is an unresolved issue on the claim. Please call the Claims Center for further details and to check if there is anything you can do to speed it up.

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