Claims are filed on a calendar-week basis, Sunday through Saturday date. Weekly claims must be filed within fourteen days of the week ending date for the week to be considered timely. We recommend that you file on a weekly basis because claims filed after fourteen days will be considered untimely and will not be paid.
How To File Your Weekly Claim
Once you’ve submitted your unemployment application, you can collect benefit payments by filing your weekly claim. You must provide information each week to verify that you remain in compliance with Oklahoma unemployment work search requirements and are still eligible to receive unemployment benefits for that particular week. If you don’t certify, you will not receive a UI benefits payment for that time period.
For the purposes of submitting your weekly claims, a week is considered as the time period that begins on Sunday at 12:01 a.m. and ends on the following Saturday at midnight. You cannot file a weekly claim until the end of the week. If you try to submit a weekly claim mid-week, the system will be unable to accept it.
The state of Oklahoma gives you options when it comes to filing your weekly claims: online or over the phone.
How To File Your Weekly Claim Online
You can submit your weekly claims online at unemployment.state.ok.us. This site is your one-stop shop for many needs associated with your unemployment insurance claim, ranging from submitting your initial unemployment compensation claim to viewing and printing your 1099 tax form, changing your address or PIN, filing an appeal and more.
To file your weekly claims online, simply follow the prompts within the system to answer the state’s questions related to any wages earned, your work search activities and overall Oklahoma unemployment eligibility.
Your claim will not be complete until you are given a confirmation number to indicate that your claim has been accepted.
How To File Your Weekly Claim by Phone
You also have the option to file your weekly claims over the phone by calling 405-525-1500.
If you choose this option, you will be given specific instructions for how to answer each question related to your claim. It’s important that you listen to each question all the way through before attempting to answer. If you try to submit your answer mid-question, the system will just start the question over again.
In addition to filing your weekly claims, you can use the state of Oklahoma’s telephone system to file a new unemployment benefits claim, request information about the amount of UI benefits reported to the IRS, speak to an Unemployment Services representative, or request general information about Oklahoma unemployment insurance benefits.
Regardless of the method you choose to submit your weekly claims, it’s important that you do so in a timely manner. If you fail to submit your claim for more than 15 days after a given week, your claim may be categorized as untimely and your weekly benefit could be denied for payment.
Teleclaim:
Inside the Oklahoma City calling area use: (405) 525-1500
If you live outside the Oklahoma City calling area use: (800) 555-1554
Before you call IVR, make sure you have the following information
- Social Security number
- Personal identification number
- Information on any earnings and the number of hours you worked during the week (including vacation, holiday and severance pay)
Tips before calling
- Please do not use a cellular phone. To utilize the IVR system, you must have a TOUCH-TONE telephone or a regular push-button telephone with a TONE/PULSE switch. When using a regular push-button telephone with a TONE/PULSE, switch to Tone after you dial the number.
- The general and payment information inquiry system is available 24 hours a day and 7 days a week.
- Peak activity occurs from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. daily, and Monday has the heaviest call volume.
- The continued claim filing lines are available 24 hours a day and 7 days a week. Remember, you must claim each week of benefits within fourteen (14) days of the week-ending date.
- Customer Service Representatives are available Monday – Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
When you call IVR, the computer will follow a script and you will be asked specific questions. Additional questions may be asked based on your answers. Read through the sample questions before you call to save yourself time and confusion. You answer questions by using your telephone keypad and entering ‘1’ for YES and ‘9’ for NO.
Weekly Certification Sample Questions
When you file your weekly claims, you’ll be asked to respond to a variety of questions about your activities for the certification period. These questions are designed to make sure you remain in compliance with Oklahoma unemployment work search requirements. They address everything from your work search activities to reporting any income you received for any part-time or consulting work you may have done during the certification period.
Some examples of the questions you might need to answer include the following:
- Were you available and able to accept suitable employment during the week you are claiming benefits?
- Did you perform any work during the certification period for which you were paid?
- Did you refuse work during the week you are claiming?
- Did you receive – or are you entitled to receive – any severance pay from your former employer for the week you are claiming?
Did you quit work during the week for which you are claiming benefits? - Did you receive – or are you entitled to receive – any vacation pay from a former employer for the week you are claiming?
- Did you receive – or are you entitled to receive – holiday pay from a former employer for the certification week?
- Did you complete the number of work inquiries that are outlined in your work search plan?
- Did you receive any bonus pay for the certification week?
- During the week for which you’re claiming benefits, was there any change to the amount of pension or retirement pay you have previously reported?
- Were you fired or otherwise separated from employment during the certification period?
- Do you certify that you have answered all questions presented here accurately and truthfully?
The last question is an important one – make sure you are completely and truthfully answering each of the certification questions. Failure to report all information or knowingly providing false information in your weekly claim can be considered Oklahoma unemployment fraud.
How long does it take to get paid?
When you’ll receive your benefits payment depends on a couple of factors. First, your weekly claim has to be approved as a valid claim. If the Oklahoma Employment Security Commission has questions or needs clarity around anything in your weekly claim, that may hold up the process.
Once your claim is accepted, the timing for receiving your benefits depends on how you’ve chosen to receive them. For example, you’ll typically receive benefits loaded onto your unemployment debit card by the following day, unless you file over a weekend or holiday. If you’ve opted to have your unemployment benefits directly deposited into your bank account, it may take an extra day, depending on your bank’s processing time.
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