Wyoming Unemployment Benefits

The Wyoming Unemployment Insurance Program is for Wyoming workers who have lost their job through no fault of their own. Continue reading to find out more on the Wyoming Unemployment Insurance policy, and all the information that you will need to know while you apply for benefits.

Wyoming UI Benefits Calculator

The Wyoming unemployment calculator will help you figure out how much money you could qualify for if you are an unemployed Wyoming resident.

Wyoming Unemployment Calculator

Eligibility To Apply for UI Benefits in Wyoming

Wyoming has rules to figure out who can get money from unemployment. To be eligible, a claimant needs to meet three requirements:

1. You need to have made enough money during a certain time period (called the “base period”).
2. You need to have lost your job through no fault of your own.
3. You have to keep showing that you’re ready and looking for work every week you ask for payment.

Monetary Eligibility

When you first apply for unemployment, you’ll receive a form called “Results of the Unemployment Claim You Filed.” This form will show how much money you made in the past and how much you might receive in benefits. Read it carefully to make sure it’s correct, and tell the Department of Workforce Services Unemployment Insurance Division if there are any errors.

To calculate your Wyoming UI benefits, the agency will look at how much you earned in the past. This is called your base period. The base period is the first four of the past five quarters before you apply for benefits. You have to have earned enough money during that time period to qualify for benefits.

Find out more about eligibility requirements

Maintaining Eligibility

In order to keep getting Wyoming unemployment benefits, you must file a weekly claim to certify that you are able to work, willing to work, and actively looking for a job. This means you have to contact two or more employers each week and be able to start work right away if offered a job.

The Wyoming Department of Workforce Services requires you to:

• Report all information truthfully and accurately
• File for compensation every week you’re eligible
• Look for work and write down your work search activities in a work search log
• Be mentally and physically able to work
• Be willing and able to accept job offers
• Be available to start work right away if you are offered a job
• Report any money you earned throughout the week, including tips
• Fill out and return any papers you get for an audit, even if you have gone back to work or stopped asking for benefits.

Failure to respond to an audit may affect your chances of qualifying for benefits in the future.

Learn more about job search requirements

How to Apply for Unemployment Benefits in Wyoming

There are two ways to apply for unemployment: online or by phone.

Online

To file online, go to dws.wyo.gov and log in with your WYUI username and password. Protect this information at all costs, otherwise, you could be subject to fraud if someone uses your login information to file for benefits.

If you do not have a WYUI account, you can easily register for one. You will need the following information:

• Social Security Number
• Name
• Date of birth
• Requested PIN

By phone

To file by phone, call the Wyoming Claims Center at (307) 473-3789. English and Spanish options are available using the Interactive Voice Response system. You will need to use your four-digit PIN to file. Do not give this PIN out to anybody. Make sure you answer all questions truthfully and file your claim on time, even if your claim is not eligible or you’re going through the appeals process.

How to create a PIN

If you do not have a PIN, you can create your own online or the agency will create one for you. You will need this PIN to file claims online or by phone and to access funds on your prepaid debit card. Keep these PINs safe and remember them, because you will need them in the future.

Wyoming Unemployment Office Locations and Phone Numbers

If you require assistance with filing your unemployment insurance claim, you can call the Wyoming Unemployment Insurance Claim Center.

If you would like to schedule an in-person meeting with an unemployment benefits agent, or are interested in receiving more information about job search programs and career training, get in touch with your local Wyoming unemployment office.

Frequently Asked Questions about Wyoming Unemployment Insurance

Q. What happens if I go on vacation or am sick for one or more weeks during my unemployment claim?

If you’re unable to work on certain days, you won’t be able to receive unemployment compensation. Once you are able to work again and want to receive benefits, file a “reopened claim.”  You can do this either by calling the Unemployment Insurance Claim Center or logging into the WYUI portal.

Q. Do I have to pay federal taxes on my unemployment benefits?

The money you receive from unemployment benefits is considered income by the federal government, and you have to pay taxes on it. You will receive IRS Form 1099G at the end of January which shows how much you earned from unemployment benefits in the previous year.

Q. Am I eligible for Unemployment Insurance benefits if I have been receiving payments from Workers Compensation?

You can’t get both Unemployment Insurance benefits and Temporary Total Disability payments from Workers’ Compensation at the same time. But, if you were sick or hurt for a long time and received Temporary Total Disability payments, you may be able to get unemployment benefits based on the money you made before you got sick or hurt. To do this, you have to ask for a “wage credit freeze.”

A worker who was injured must apply for Unemployment Insurance within 60 days after they receive a notice that they are ineligible for Workers’ Compensation benefits. This must happen within 36 months of the injury.

Q. Can I file for unemployment benefits in another state while living in Wyoming?

If you live in Wyoming but worked in another state, you can apply for unemployment benefits from that state so long as you earned most of your money there during your “base period.” If you worked in more than one state, including D.C., Puerto Rico, or the Virgin Islands, you can ask to combine your wages from each state and file for benefits in the state where you currently live.

Q. What should I do if I forget my PIN?

If you forget or need to reset your pin, you will need to email dwscspui.benefits@wyo.gov. Be prepared to provide your name, phone number, and the last four digits of your Social Security Number.

Q. What is the maximum benefit amount and the minimum benefit amount given in Wyoming?

As of July 3, 2022, the most you can get in one week is $560. The least you can get is $40. But these amounts change every year based on Wyoming law.

Q. What is crossmatch?

A crossmatch is when the Wyoming Department of Workforce Services matches the information you gave them with the information your previous employers provide. If you said you made more or less than you actually did, the agency will say you received too much money and you will have to pay it back.

Q. What does it mean to be disqualified for unemployment?

If you are a Wyoming resident, there are rules about getting unemployment benefits. You might not be able to get these benefits if:

1. You quit your job without a good reason
2. You were fired for breaking rules at work
3. You didn’t look for or accept a job you were able to do
4. After receiving unemployment benefits for four weeks, you didn’t look for or take a job that pays at least half of what you used to make, even if it’s not in the same field as your last job.
5. You received benefits by lying or being dishonest.