How To Apply For Unemployment In Louisiana
by Christy Bieber | Updated July 17, 2021 – First published on March 30, 2020
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Unemployment benefits can provide much-needed income if you’re laid off or your hours are cut.
Unemployment benefits can provide much-needed income if you’re laid off or your hours are cut.
Throughout the United States, millions of Americans are being let go from their jobs or are having their hours cut because of the economic shutdown necessitated by the novel coronavirus. If you’re one of them, you may be worried about how to keep money coming into your bank account.
If your income has been affected, unemployment benefits could help. This guide will help you understand how to apply in Louisiana as well as explain the eligibility rules and how benefits are calculated.
Are You Out Of Work Through No Fault Of Your Own
In Louisiana, as in other states, you must be out of work through no fault of your own to qualify for unemployment benefits.
Collecting Unemployment After a Layoff
If you were laid off, lost your job in a reduction-in-force , or got “downsized” for economic reasons, you will meet this requirement.
Collecting Unemployment After Being Fired
If you were fired because you lacked the skills to perform the job or simply weren’t a good fit, you won’t necessarily be barred from receiving benefits. However, if you were fired for misconduct relating to your job, you may be disqualified from receiving benefits. For example, if you were fired because you intentionally violated workplace rules, willfully disregarded your employer’s interests, or willfully disregarded the standards of behavior an employer has the right to expect from an employee, you may be disqualified from receiving benefits. If you are fired for aggravated misconduct , you won’t receive benefits and none of the work you did or the wages you earned from that employer will count towards your unemployment claim.
Collecting Unemployment After Quitting
Here Is Some General Information About Louisiana Unemployment Insurance Benefits
What if the Board of Review decides against me – what are my rights then?
You may file papers in the state district court for the parish in which you live. You have to file the right petition in the right court within 15 calendar days of the Board of Review’s decision. Some courts have a form you can fill out, but most do not. If you can’t finish the papers yourself, a lawyer may help. This LibGuide also has a computer program to help you fill out your Petition for Judicial Review online — see the tabs on the left side of this page.
Filing in court is FREE. It is illegal in an Unemployment Benefits case for the court or sheriff to charge you, or to refuse to let you file without paying. You can find this law in Louisiana Revised Statutes, Title 23 . If this happens, talking with a court supervisor may fix the problem. If you need more help, contact your nearest free legal services office right away. You can only be charged with court costs and fees if the court, at the end of your case, holds a hearing and finds you filed a claim with no legal basis at all. This would be very very rare.
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About Unemployment In Louisiana
Creation of the unemployment insurance program occurred during the Great Depression under the Roosevelt administration when the nation saw the worst economic downturn in history. The Louisiana unemployment program is a joint effort between the federal and state governments. When it comes to eligibility for unemployment compensation, each state has the right to create its own set of laws and the qualifications in Louisiana may differ from surrounding states. For instance, the minimum wages a UI claimant must have earned will be differ. Individuals who work in Louisiana but live out-of-state will need to understand the LA laws pertaining filing an UI claim rather than their state of residence.
Workers who intend to file for Louisiana EDD unemployment benefits, can continue reading through the following sections to find out more about the states UI program. Residents who reside in Louisiana but work out-of-state can find more information about the UI requirements of other states in other areas of this website.
How Do I Apply For Unemployment Benefits
You can file for unemployment benefits by calling 866-783-5567. You also have the option to file online. In order to file, you’ll need:
- Your Social Security number
- Details about past employment over the last 18 months including the name, address, location of the job site, and employer telephone numbers
- The name and address of your union hall if you’re a union member
- Your Alien Registration Number if you’re not a U.S. citizen
- The member copy of your DD214 if you served in the military over the past 18 months
- Your SF-8 and SF-50 if you were a federal employee during the last 18 months
Once you’ve filed you’ll need to request your benefit payment every week. You can do this online or by phone, beginning the first Sunday after you apply — whether or not your application has been approved.
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Do I Qualify For Unemployment Benefits
Employees in Louisiana affected by the COVID-19 outbreak may be eligible for benefits if their work hours have been reduced, their workplace has temporarily closed and they aren’t compensated, or they’ve been instructed not to go to work and aren’t being paid while at home.
Normally, to qualify for unemployment benefits in Louisiana, you must meet the following requirements:
- You must be fully or partially unemployed through no fault of your own.
- You must be physically able and available to work.
- You must be actively looking for work unless you have a definite date when you’ll return to your job.
- You must have earned at least $1,200 during your base period. Your base period is the first four of the past five full quarters before you applied for benefits. For example, if you apply in March 2020, your base period would be Oct. 1, 2019 to Sep. 30, 2019.
- Your wages during your base period must add up to no less than 1.5 times the wages earned in the quarter of your base period when earnings were highest.
What If I Am Denied Benefits How Can I Appeal A Denial Of My Claim
If youre denied benefits either for monetary or nonmonetary reasons, you have the right to request an appeal. To file your claim, you have 15 calendar days from the mailing date of the determination letter that is sent to you. If you file an appeal late, youll need to provide an explanation. Full instructions for filing an appeal are included in the decision.
You have four different ways you can file an appeal:
Since you cannot be paid for weeks in which you do not file a claim, you should continue to file your weekly claims until a final decision has been issued.
After LWC receives your appeal, you will be notified of a date and time that the hearing will be conducted.
With few exceptions, appeal hearings are usually conducted by telephone. When you file your appeal, it is critical that you provide LWC with a telephone number to reach you at least one day before the hearing. Youre asked for a phone number on your initial application, but you may update your phone number at any time through HiRE or by calling the Claim Center at 1-866-783-5567.
There is no charge for an appeal to the Appeals Tribunal or the Board of Review.
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How Can I Sign Up For Unemployment In Louisiana
Applicants can file for unemployment in Louisiana either online or over the phone. If you want to know how to apply for unemployment online, just visit the HiRE portal on the Louisiana Workforce Commission website and follow the prompts to file an online unemployment application. Once your request for unemployment benefits is granted, you can use the same application method on a weekly basis. You can also file for an unemployment claim over the phone, utilizing a touch-tone keypad. Throughout the over-the-phone application process, you will be provided with the opportunity to input and correct information, but if you hang up before completing a claim, you will need to start over again. When you first file a claim over the phone, the state will issue you a PIN number, which you will use to access your information.
The Following Information Is From The Louisiana Workforce Commission:
BATON ROUGE, La. – The Louisiana Workforce Commissions Mobile Workforce Center is travelling to parishes recovering from Hurricane Ida to help survivors apply for Disaster Unemployment Assistance .
The MWC is a state-of-the-art vehicle equipped with computers, high-speed internet, and other workforce resources to help individuals and businesses get the help they need. LWC staff will be on the bus helping people fill out their application for benefits and answering any questions they might have.
We know there are still thousands of Louisianians without power right now, who otherwise may not be able to apply for this aid, said LWC Secretary Ava Cates. Our team is working tirelessly to ensure people who are displaced right now are able to keep their head above water.
The schedule for the MWC is below. LWC is working with parish officials to confirm additional dates and locations that do not interfere with emergency response efforts.
President Biden granted, and the Department of Labor expedited, a major disaster declaration request for 25 Louisiana parishes. This makes disaster unemployment assistance available to businesses and residents whose employment or self-employment was lost or interrupted as a direct result of Hurricane Ida.
DUA is typically available to anyone, employed or self-employed, who are unable to work or unable to get to work as a result of the disaster. People who qualify for regular unemployment benefits cannot get disaster unemployment.
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Information For Employers In Louisiana
If you are temporarily closing or reducing your hours of operations due to COVID-19, please contact the LWC to discuss how we can provide assistance and answer your questions about unemployment insurance and other programs and resources available.
- Contact us at with your unemployment insurance questions. Be sure to provide your companys name, a point of contact, telephone number and email address, as well as specifics on the assistance you are requesting. The Employer Call Center, 225-326-6999, is also available.
- For other programs and assistance, contact the Business Services unit at the American Job Center in your area. To find the closest American Job Center, go to
What If My Unemployment Claim Is Denied
If you want to appeal any decision related to your unemployment benefits you have 15 days to act after the date the decision is mailed to you. You will then have the right to a hearing. You can file an appeal online, by or by mail to LWC Appeals Unit P.O. Box 94094, Baton Rouge, LA 70804-9094. Finally, you can fax the appeal to 225-346-6077.
As you take difficult financial decisions to try to weather the coronavirus crisis, it’s important to know your rights. Applying for unemployment benefits in Louisiana could help you minimize the financial damage caused by this global pandemic.
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How To Claim Unemployment Benefits In Louisiana
Terminated workers should register for unemployment benefits once they have determined they meet the eligibility qualification for Louisiana UI. Applying for unemployment benefits in Louisiana is the first step claimants can take to receive compensation from the state while looking for job opportunities. The unemployment application process is not difficult but requires applicants to furnish specific information that corresponds to what their former employer reported. Since financial benefits from the UI program are not automatic, enrollees must continue to make routine claims for compensation. Those recently removed from employment must know:
Claiming benefits from Louisiana UI is more than a one-time application process. Like ongoing eligibility requirements, UI enrollees must continue to make unemployment claims until they obtain a new job or have exhausted their claim. Participants of the program who fail to file the weekly claims will lose the monetary benefits for that period, which cannot be recovered later.
Benefits From Approved Louisiana Unemployment Claims
Successful unemployment claims in LA are a provisional solution to losing a job and UI beneficiaries will receive compensation for a limited time. Participants sign up for unemployment in Louisiana may exhaust their benefits before finding a new work prospect. The length in which residents can collect unemployment in Louisiana is available for an extension in certain cases. The unemployment claim amount awarded to eligible applicants is dependent on the wages the petitioner earn during the most recent year or more. Like the time limit, UI beneficiaries who exhausted their total claim will need to file for an UI extension or wait until they are eligible again. UI participants should be aware of topics like:
Compensation from the UI program in Louisiana is like other earnings in that federal government sees it as no different from a standard paycheck. Participants are responsible for all tax obligations and may owe the government money if they do not take certain measures. To avoid unexpected penalties on UI benefits, find out more in our comprehensive guide here.
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How Much Money Will I Receive In Unemployment Benefits
The amount you receive in benefits depends on your earnings during your base period. The minimum weekly benefit is $10 and the maximum is $247.
Your benefit will be calculated by:
- Taking the average of your total covered employment wages during the base period
- Taking 1/25th of that average
- Multiplying that number by 1.05
- And multiplying again by 1.15
A federal stimulus bill also entitles workers to receive an extra $600 per week in unemployment benefits through the end of June.
How To Apply For An Unemployment Benefits Extension In Louisiana
If you are asking yourself, How can I extend unemployment in Louisiana? you will need to visit a state unemployment office. If your application is approved, you can continue to make weekly claims on the Louisiana Workforce Office website. Submitting an application online is the only way to claim your benefits, and if you do not have access to internet service, you will need to contact your local unemployment office for further assistance. The state Department of Labor does not accept extended benefits applications by mail.
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Requirements For Unemployment Registration
Unemployment registration in Louisiana occurs on a weekly basis and each week you must continue to meet the eligibility requirements. As long as you meet the following requirements each week, you can file a claim for unemployment benefits:
If you reject a job offer at any time, you must immediately notify the state Department of Labor and explain why the job was not suitable. If you are employed part-time, you must report all of your earnings on a consistent basis.
When you first file for an unemployment claim, state representatives will contact your previous employer to verify the information you provided about the circumstances of your termination. During this time, your previous employer has the right to dispute your claim. If this occurs, the department will collect more information from both parties, and make a ruling as to whether or not you qualify for unemployment benefits. If the state rules in favor of your employer, you will not be able to file for unemployment benefits. If you do not agree with the final decision, you have the right to file an unemployment denial appeal.
Submit Proof Of Income
- After you have filed an unemployment insurance claim application, submit your proof of income below by clicking “Submit Proof Here”
- Complete the questions in the online form.
- Upload your proof of income document. Your wage history needs to be established. This can be done by attaching any of the following documents:
- 2019 1099 Miscellaneous Income only
- 2019 W-2
- Form 1040 – U.S. Individual Income Tax Return
- Additional options are described on the bottom of the submission page
Following submission of documents, you will receive an email notification that your submission was received
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How Unemployment Works In Louisiana
