Apply for Unemployment Insurance

Apply for Unemployment Insurance

Apply for Unemployment Insurance Benefits in the State of Louisiana Online using this service. 

Unemployment insurance (UI) is a program designed to provide temporary financial assistance to workers who are unemployed through no fault of their own and who meet the requirements of the Louisiana Employment Security Law. UI benefits are paid as a matter of past employment and legal entitlement, and not on the basis of need.

FAQs

How do I qualify for unemployment insurance benefits in Louisiana?

Louisiana State law sets qualifying requirements in three main areas: your past wages, your job separation, and ongoing availability and work search requirements.

You must meet all of the following qualifying requirements in order to receive benefits:

  • Past Wages: You must have earned enough wages in your base period. The base period is the first four of the last five completed calendar quarters before you filed your claim.
  • Reason for separation from your last workYou must be unemployed or partially unemployed through no fault of your own in order to receive benefits.
  • Ongoing availability and work searchYou must be physically able and available to work. You must also be actively seeking work. If you are temporarily laid off and have a definite return-to-work date, your work search requirements may be waived.

How do I file for Unemployment Benefits in Louisiana?

To file a claim for unemployment insurance in Louisiana, you may contact the UI Call Center @ 1-866-783-5567 or you may file online by clicking the FILE NOW option above. 

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.

What are the minimum and maximum amounts of UI benefits in Louisiana?

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.

Please note that these amounts are subject to change from time to time. You should be able to find the latest amounts by contacting the Louisiana Workforce Commission. 

Are UI benefits taxable in Louisiana?

Any UI benefits you receive in Louisiana are taxable income.

You will be issued Form 1099G at the end of January showing the amount of benefits paid to you, as well as any federal income tax withheld at the time the benefits were paid. The amount on the 1099G is not reduced by any repayments you may have made for overpaid benefits. Therefore, if you repaid any benefits, you must maintain your record of payment, such as reimbursement receipts or canceled check notices to make adjustments to your taxable income and as documentation for the federal Internal Revenue Service and State Tax Office when you file your tax returns.

Community Q&A

You can ask any questions related to this service here. We will try to answer them soon!

Service Reminders

We will notify you at the right time so that you never miss a due date again!

Apply for Unemployment Insurance

Apply for Unemployment Insurance

Apply for Unemployment Insurance Benefits in the State of Louisiana Online using this service. 

Unemployment insurance (UI) is a program designed to provide temporary financial assistance to workers who are unemployed through no fault of their own and who meet the requirements of the Louisiana Employment Security Law. UI benefits are paid as a matter of past employment and legal entitlement, and not on the basis of need.

FAQs

How do I qualify for unemployment insurance benefits in Louisiana?

Louisiana State law sets qualifying requirements in three main areas: your past wages, your job separation, and ongoing availability and work search requirements.

You must meet all of the following qualifying requirements in order to receive benefits:

  • Past Wages: You must have earned enough wages in your base period. The base period is the first four of the last five completed calendar quarters before you filed your claim.
  • Reason for separation from your last workYou must be unemployed or partially unemployed through no fault of your own in order to receive benefits.
  • Ongoing availability and work searchYou must be physically able and available to work. You must also be actively seeking work. If you are temporarily laid off and have a definite return-to-work date, your work search requirements may be waived.

How do I file for Unemployment Benefits in Louisiana?

To file a claim for unemployment insurance in Louisiana, you may contact the UI Call Center @ 1-866-783-5567 or you may file online by clicking the FILE NOW option above. 

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.

What are the minimum and maximum amounts of UI benefits in Louisiana?

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.

Please note that these amounts are subject to change from time to time. You should be able to find the latest amounts by contacting the Louisiana Workforce Commission. 

Are UI benefits taxable in Louisiana?

Any UI benefits you receive in Louisiana are taxable income.

You will be issued Form 1099G at the end of January showing the amount of benefits paid to you, as well as any federal income tax withheld at the time the benefits were paid. The amount on the 1099G is not reduced by any repayments you may have made for overpaid benefits. Therefore, if you repaid any benefits, you must maintain your record of payment, such as reimbursement receipts or canceled check notices to make adjustments to your taxable income and as documentation for the federal Internal Revenue Service and State Tax Office when you file your tax returns.

Community Q&A

You can ask any questions related to this service here. We will try to answer them soon!

Service Reminders

We will notify you at the right time so that you never miss a due date again!

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