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Wisconsin Unemployment Insurance Benefits
Wisconsin’s unemployment insurance program provides temporary replacement of some income for Wisconsin residents who have lost employment through no fault of their own.
The program is jointly financed through federal and state employer payroll taxes, and administered by the Unemployment Insurance Division of the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development.
Wisconsin Unemployment Services
Website | https://dwd.wisconsin.gov/ui |
Private Website | Wisconsin Unemployment |
Phone | 844-910-3661 |
Contact Form | |
Apply Online | https://dwd.wisconsin.gov/uiben/apply |
Weekly Certification | https://dwd.wisconsin.gov/uiben/weeklyclaim |
Appeal a Denial | https://dwd.wisconsin.gov/uibola/appeal.htm |
Find a Local Office | Office Directory |
Report Fraud | https://dwd.wisconsin.gov/ui/fraud/report.htm |
Coronavirus Updates | https://dwd.wisconsin.gov/covid19 |
How To Qualify for Wisconsin Unemployment Benefits
If you have sufficient work history and your employment was terminated through no fault of your own, you may qualify for unemployment assistance in Wisconsin. Claimants also must be able and available to work if offered new employment, and you should be prepared to document your activities related to looking for a new job.
- You may apply for unemployment insurance benefits when any of the following are true:
- You are 100% unemployed,
- You are partially unemployed – your weekly hours and/or earnings have been reduced
- You expect to be unemployed within the next 13 weeks and would like to start your benefits period early
Please note that your claim begins the very first week you apply for UI benefit, so don’t wait. Make sure you apply for unemployment compensation during the first week you’re unemployed so that you avoid any loss of benefit payment.
Benefit Payments and Duration
Base Period | First 4 of the last 5 completed quarters |
Alt Base Period | Last 4 completed quarters |
Duration of Benefits | Weekly Payment | Maximum Benefits Amount (1 year) | |
Min | Max | ||
14-26 weeks | $54 | $370 | $9,620 |
How to Apply for Wisconsin Unemployment Benefits
Claimants are encouraged to submit their initial claim online at my.unemployment.wisconsin.gov. Once you’ve accepted the terms and conditions, you can set up your account, complete with username and password, and then complete and submit the online unemployment claim form.
Managing Your Unemployment Benefits
While you are collecting unemployment benefits, you need to submit a separate UI claim for each week you would like to receive benefits.
The UI claim will generally ask you to address the following questions:
- The reason you are no longer working
- Whether you are currently unemployed or working reduced hours
- Whether you are able and available for work
- Whether you have declined any job offers or referrals to a job
- Whether you are actively looking for work
- Whether you have received any pay or pension payment since your previous weekly claim
All questions apply only to the specific calendar week for which you are requesting a weekly benefit. You may receive your benefits either via direct deposit or via a prepaid Visa debit card.
Filing an Appeal
If your original claim is denied and you’d like to appeal that decision, you can do so either online or by mailing or faxing a statement outlining why you are appealing the decision. Either the employee or the employer may request an appeal.
Contact Information
UI Hearing Office
P.O. Box 7975
Madison, WI 53707
Fax: 608-327-6498
Reporting Fraud
If you suspect unemployment insurance fraud, the best way to report it is through the online form. It’s generally the fastest way to make your report. You also can call the fraud hotline at 800-909-9472, where specialists are available from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily. Another option is to mail a statement to the following address:
Unemployment Insurance
Attn: Program Integrity
P.O. Box 7905
Madison, WI 53707
Include all of the following information:
- Name of person allegedly committing fraud
- Their full address
- Their social security number
- Their phone number
- The specific nature of the fraud
- Date fraud began
- If the claimant is working – name of employer
- Employer’s address and phone number
- Your name, address, and phone number (optional)
Wisconsin Unemployment Office Locations
Adams County Unemployment Office | 401 North Main Street Adams, WI 53910 |
608-339-9559 |
Ashland Unemployment Office | 422 Third Street West Suite 200 Ashland, WI 54806 |
715-682-9141 |
Polk County Unemployment Office | 317 A Main Street PO Box 278 Balsam Lake, WI 54810 |
715-485-3115 |
Sauk County Unemployment Office | 505 Broadway Street Room 232 Baraboo, WI 53913 |
608-355-4810 |
Chippewa County Unemployment Office | 2829 County Hwy I Suite 2A Chippewa Falls, WI 54729 |
715-723-2248 |
Pepin County Unemployment Office | 403 – 3rd Avenue West Suite 200 Durand, WI 54736 |
715-672-8801 |
Eau Claire County Unemployment Office | 221 West Madison St Suite 140-A Eau Claire, WI 54703 |
715-836-3036 |
Walworth County Unemployment Office | 400 County Road H Gateway Technical College Elkhorn, WI 53121 |
262-741-5180 |
Southwest Wisconsin Unemployment Office | 1800 Bronson Blvd Fennimore, WI 53809 |
608-822-2334 |
Fond du Lac Area Job and Career Center | 349 North Peters Avenue Fond Du Lac, WI 54935 |
920-929-3900 |
Brown County Unemployment Office | 301 N. Adams St. Suite 130 Green Bay, WI 54301 |
920-448-6760 |
Hayward Unemployment Office | 15618 Windrose Lane Suite 106 Hayward, WI 54843 |
715-635-2175 |
Rock County Unemployment Office | 1900 Center Avenue Janesville, WI 53546 |
608-741-3400 |
Workforce Development Center | 874 Collins Road Jefferson, WI 53549 |
920-674-7500 |
Kenosha County Unemployment Office | 8600 Sheridan Road Kenosha, WI 53143 |
262-697-4500 |
Menominee County/Tribal Unemployment Office | North 172 State Hwy. 47/55 Keshena, WI 54135 |
715-799-5600 |
Western Wisconsin Workforce Development Center | 2615 East Avenue South Suite 101 La Crosse, WI 54601 |
608-789-5627 |
Ladysmith Unemployment Office | 1101 Lake Avenue W # 1 Ladysmith, WI 54848 |
715-661-1485 |
Dane County Unemployment Office | 1819 Aberg Avenue Madison, WI 53704 |
608-288-2459 |
Bay East | 3733 Dewey Street Manitowoc, WI 54220 |
920-683-2888 |
Marinette County Unemployment Office | 1605 University Avenue. Marinette,, WI 54143 |
715-732-7840 |
Marshfield Unemployment Office | 211 E. Second Street Suite 123 Marshfield, WI 54449 |
715-321-1011 |
Medford Unemployment Office | 1001 Progressive Avenue Medford, WI 54451 |
715-762-2477 |
Fox Cities Unemployment Office | 1802 Appleton Road Entrance #4 Menasha, WI 54952 |
920-997-3272 |
Dunn County Unemployment Office | 401 Technology Drive East Menomonie, WI 54751 |
715-232-7380 |
Unemployment Office | 4201 North 27th Street Suite 400 Milwaukee, WI 53216 |
414-203-8500 |
Milwaukee Unemployment Office | 4201 N. 27th Street Milwaukee, WI 53216 |
414-874-0318 |
Milwaukee Southeast Unemployment Office | 2701 S Chase Avenue Milwaukee, WI 53207 |
414-389-6607 |
Milwaukee Walker`s Square Unemployment Office | 816 W. National Ave. Suite 400 Milwaukee, WI 53204 |
414-302-2668 |
Southeast Wisconsin Unemployment Office | 1915 N. Dr. Martin Luther King Dr. Milwaukee, WI 53212 |
414-374-1800 |
Clark County Unemployment Office | 501 Hewett Street Neillsville, WI 54456 |
715-743-4631 |
Park Falls Unemployment Office | 400 South 4th Avenue City Hall Park Falls, WI 54552 |
715-762-2477 |
Phillips Unemployment Office | 1408 Pine Ridge Road Phillips, WI 54555 |
715-339-7255 |
Racine County Workforce Solutions | 1717 Taylor Avenue Racine, WI 53403 |
262-638-6481 |
Northern Advantage Unemployment Office | 51 A North Brown Street Rhinelander, WI 54501 |
715-365-1500 |
Barron County Unemployment Office | 331 South Main St Rice Lake, WI 54868 |
715-234-6302 |
St. Croix Valley Unemployment Office | 704-B North Main Street River Falls, WI 54022 |
715-426-0388 |
Shawano County Unemployment Office | 607 East Elizabeth Street Shawano, WI 54166 |
715-524-2511 |
Sheboygan County Unemployment Office | 3620 Wilgus Avenue Sheboygan, WI 53081 |
920-208-5856 |
Spooner Unemployment Office | 522 Service Road Spooner, WI 54801 |
715-635-2175 |
Door County Unemployment Office | 1300 Egg Harbor Road Suite 124 Sturgeon Bay, WI 54235 |
920-743-6915 |
Superior Unemployment Office | 1805 North 14th Street Suite 1 Superior, WI 54880 |
715-392-7800 |
Waukesha Comprehensive Center | 327 E Broadway Waukesha, WI 53186 |
262-695-8056 |
Marathon County Unemployment Office | 731 North 1st Street Suite 4000 Wausau, WI 54403 |
715-261-8700 |
Washington County Workforce Development Center | 2200 Green Tree Road West Bend, WI 53090 |
262-335-5300 |
Wisconsin Rapids Unemployment Office | 320 W Grand Ave Suite 102 Wisconsin Rapids, WI 54495 |
715-422-5000 |