The Utah Unemployment Insurance benefit program is a vital safety net for residents who have lost their jobs through no fault of their own. This program provides temporary financial assistance to eligible individuals who are currently unemployed and actively seeking work.
The program is managed by the Utah Department of Workforce Services, which oversees the distribution of unemployment benefits to qualifying applicants. These benefits are funded through taxes paid by the employer, and they are designed to help alleviate the financial burden of job loss while the worker looks for new employment opportunities.
Utah UI Benefits Calculator
The Utah Unemployment Benefits Calculator helps you estimate your UI weekly benefits amount.
Calculate Your Utah Unemployment Benefits
See our Utah unemployment calculator to estimate your UI benefit payments.
Eligibility requirements for UI benefits in Utah
In order to qualify for Utah Unemployment Insurance benefits, you must meet the following
requirements as outlined by the state:
- Be completely or partly unemployed, through no fault of your own
- Be a U.S. citizen or able to work in the United States
- Meet the monetary eligibility requirements
- File a claim for benefits each week
- Be willing and available for full time employment
Monetary eligibility
When filing for the unemployment insurance program, you will receive a letter called the “Notice of Monetary Determination.” This letter tells will outline:
- How much money you made in the past year from the job you lost
- How much money you can get each week in unemployment compensation
- How many weeks you can receive unemployment benefits (between 10 to 26 weeks, depending on how much you earned)
Your unemployment compensation is based on how much you earned during a “base period.” The base period is the first four out of the last five quarters before you filed for benefits. You must have made at least $4,800 during the base period, and you have to have earned more than one and a half times your highest-earning quarter.
If you made less than one and a half times your highest-earning quarter, you may still qualify for unemployment benefits using an “alternate base period.” In this case, the Utah Department of Workforce Services will use your four most recent working quarters instead.
Learn more about eligibility requirements
Job Separation
The reason for separating from your previous organization plays a critical role in establishing whether you are eligible for UI benefits or not. You must have lost your jobs for no fault of your own. Here are some of the important conditions you must fulfill to gain eligibility for unemployment benefits in Utah:
- You were not fired due to any work-related reasons
- You were not involved in any unethical, illegal or immoral activities in your workplace
- You did not quit your job voluntarily due to lack of interest
- You must be partially or completely unemployed
- You must not have lost your job for any reason that directly concerns you
- If in case, you are partially unemployed, the wages you earn must be lesser than the WBA you receive every week
Maintaining eligibility
In order to maintain your eligibility for unemployment benefits in the state of Utah, you must file a weekly claim. This claim will ask you questions about work-related activities you did throughout the week, including but not limited to:
- Did you work or attend paid training at any point during the week?
- What were your gross earnings before deductions?
- During the week, did you resign from a job or get terminated from a job?
- Did you reject any job offers or fail to apply for any work during the week?
- Did you participate in any unpaid training or attend school during the week?
- Could you work full-time without any limitations, and were you available?
- Did you travel outside the United States during the week?
- Did you apply for jobs to fulfill your work search requirements?
Learn more about job search requirements
How to apply for unemployment benefits in Utah
In order to apply for Utah unemployment benefits, you must file an initial claim through the state’s Department of Workforce Services online portal.
Be prepared to supply your personal identification documents and contact information, as well as your past employment history.
It will take roughly 30 minutes to file your initial claim for unemployment benefits.
Learn more about the Utah unemployment application
How to file weekly claims
After you file an initial application, you will need to file a weekly claim to qualify for benefits.
To file your weekly claim, visit jobs.utah.gov, click on “Sign In” in the upper right-hand corner, then select “my Unemployment” and “File Weekly Claim” from the drop-down menu.
It will take a few weeks to start receiving benefits. You will need to file weekly claims during this review period. Otherwise, you risk being denied unemployment compensation for that week.
Learn how to file a weekly claim
Things to know after applying for benefits
After filing your initial application for benefits, it’s important to stay on top of things to ensure you continue receiving compensation. Failure to comply with the rules and regulations may result in the discontinuation of your benefits. Consider the following:
Utah unemployment fraud
It is considered unemployment fraud if you lie to obtain benefits you are not entitled to. You are engaging in fraud if you are providing false information, withholding information, or making false statements.
Failure to report all earnings while filing for benefits or inaccurately reporting the reason you’re not working are two of the most common causes of unemployment fraud.
Overpayments
When you receive unemployment benefits that you are not entitled to, it results in an overpayment. If this happens, you will receive an overpayment notice which will provide instructions for repayment and appeal. The total weekly benefit amount, including deductions and penalties, will be used to calculate the overpayment.
Failure to repay an overpayment may result in federal and/or state tax garnishment or placing a lien against your property.
Extended benefit programs
The state of Utah only participates in extended benefit programs once its unemployment rate hits a certain threshold, or during natural disasters and extreme economic circumstances.
As of 2023, no extended benefits are offered. Utah residents are eligible for 10-26 weeks of unemployment benefits, depending on earnings.
Job training assistance
Utah offers job training programs to help workers find and maintain a career. These programs are often geared toward specific demographics, such as veterans, people with disabilities, refugees, and more.
A few of the most popular programs include:
- Apprenticeship Utah
- Refugee Employment Services
- Student Transition Services
- Utah Jobs mobile app
- Veteran and Military Employment Services
- Workforce Services Rehabilitation
- And more
Learn about job training opportunities in UT
Utah unemployment office locations and phone numbers
If you have questions about your unemployment claim or need help with filing, you can call the Utah Claims Assistance and Re-employment Team.
If you’re interested in learning more about career counseling and job search programs, visit your county Department of Workforce Services office.
Frequently asked questions about Utah unemployment insurance
What do I do after I’ve found a full-time job?
Once you are a full-time employee, you can close out your claim by contacting the Claims Center. You can also simply stop filing any further claims. If you do not file any claims for three consecutive weeks, the system will automatically close your claim.
Can I attend school while receiving benefits?
Your eligibility for full-time work may be impacted if school attendance limits your availability.
Are my unemployment benefits taxable?
Yes, unemployment compensation is subject to income tax. You can opt to have taxes withheld from your benefits. The amount withheld for federal taxes will be 10%, while the amount withheld for state taxes will be 5%.
What is the maximum benefit amount I can receive?
In Utah, the maximum benefit amount is $712 per week. The total maximum benefit amount for the year is $18,512.
What happens if I am sick or traveling while receiving unemployment benefits?
You are ineligible for benefits for any week you are sick or traveling. This is because you are not able to work should the opportunity arise. If you are unable to work for any reason while receiving unemployment benefits, you must report it to the Claim Center immediately.
Can I move to another state and receive Utah Unemployment Insurance benefits?
As long as you continue to meet the eligibility requirements, you can continue filing claims for the Utah unemployment benefit program. However, you must update your contact information.
You also need to register for work within three business days of moving to a new state.
If you travel or relocate outside the United States, you must inform the Claims Center.
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