Hawaii Unemployment

Hawaii Unemployment Insurance Benefits

In Hawaii, the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations administers unemployment insurance benefits and determines claimant eligibility on a case-by-case basis.

Unemployment insurance benefits help provide temporary financial support for eligible claimants who have lost their employment through no fault of their own – as long as they meet additional Hawaii eligibility requirements.

Hawaii Unemployment Services

How To Qualify for Hawaii Unemployment Benefits

To be eligible for Hawaii unemployment benefits, you must be a Hawaiian resident and meet all of the following criteria:

• The claimant must be unemployed through no fault of their own, as defined by Hawaii law.
• The claimant must have worked in Hawaii at some point over the past 12 months
• The claimant must have earned a minimum wage amount, as determined by Hawaii’s guidelines
• The claimant must actively be seeking a new job each week for which benefit payments are requested

If you are unsure whether you qualify for state unemployment benefits, the Hawaii Department of Labor and Industrial Relations encourages you to submit an unemployment claim as quickly as possible after losing a job so that you can get an official determination.

Benefit Payments and Duration

How To Apply for Hawaii Unemployment Benefits

The state of Hawaii asks that you submit your initial UI benefits claim online during the following times:

• Monday through Friday: 6:30 a.m. to 11 p.m.
• Weekends and Holidays: 9 a.m. to 11 p.m.

As part of the UI claim process, you must create a user account that you can then use for all activities related to your account, including filing your weekly benefits request.

How Do I Manage My Unemployment Benefits?

For each week that you request unemployment assistance, you will need to confirm your eligibility for Hawaii’s UI benefits program. This process includes answering questions about your job-search activities for the prior week, reporting any income you earned, and providing information about any job offers you received.

To file your weekly claim, simply log into the same account you used to file your initial claim and follow the step-by-step instructions within the portal.

How Do I Appeal a Decision?

Once your initial claim is reviewed, you will receive an official notice of determination. This letter will outline the state’s decision regarding whether you’re eligible for benefits, and if so, what amount you should expect in your weekly benefit payment.

If your claim is denied and you’d like to challenge the decision, both you and your employer have the option to file a request for appeal. This request should be submitted within 10 days to the Hawaii Employment Security Appeals Referee Office.

A hearing then will be conducted by phone, during which you will be able to present additional documentation, plus witness testimony that may help strengthen your claim. The referee then will issue an updated decision. Any appeal of this decision will need to be submitted to state court.

How Do I Report Fraud?

Unemployment insurance fraud is a serious crime that drives up unemployment insurance taxes for businesses while causing delays and frustration for law-abiding workers who need this essential assistance. Those who commit unemployment fraud in Hawaii are subject to penalties and criminal prosecution.

If you suspect someone is fraudulently collecting unemployment compensation, the state of Hawaii encourages you to call 808-586-8947. You will be asked a series of questions to help the state gather important information.

Hawaii Unemployment Office Locations