In order to maintain your eligibility for the Wisconsin unemployment insurance program, all claimants must submit a weekly claim for every week they wish to receive compensation.
Weekly claims maintain unemployment eligibility
After you submit your initial claim for UI benefits, you will need to file a weekly claim to confirm that you are still unemployed. Your weekly unemployment claim will ask you to report any income you earned during the week, and provide information about your efforts to find a new full-time job.
You can start submitting your weekly claim certification on the Sunday following the submission of your initial application. It’s important to submit your certification by 3:00 pm on the Saturday that is 14 days after the end of the week for which you are claiming benefits. This ensures that your claim is processed on time and helps you continue receiving the benefits you are eligible for.
When submitting your weekly claim for Wisconsin unemployment benefits, you will be asked questions like:
- Were you available to work full time?
- Did you perform any work? If so,
- Which employers did you work for?
- How many hours did you work?
- What was your gross income?
- Did you perform at least four work search actions?
- What work search actions did you perform? You will need to include information such as:
- Date of action
- Work search action
- Business name
- Name and title of person contacted
- Method of contact
- Contact information (address, phone number, email, website)
- Result of contact
Before submitting your information, it’s important to carefully review all the details to ensure accuracy. Providing false information or withholding any relevant details in order to receive benefits is considered unemployment fraud in Wisconsin.
Even if you are in the process of appealing a determination, it’s necessary to continue filing your weekly claims. Failure to do so may lead to a delay or denial of your unemployment insurance benefits for each week that you didn’t file. Filing your claims regularly ensures that you stay on track and receive the benefits you are eligible for.
How to file weekly claims online
The best way to file your weekly claim is by using the online claimant portal. To do so, you will need to:
- Visit unemployment.wisconsin.gov
- Log in using the username and password you created when you initially filed
- Click “My UI Summary”
- Click “File My Weekly Certification”
- Answer the questions on the screen
- Review your answers carefully
- Click “Submit”
You will need to submit your weekly claim during the following times:
- Sunday: 9:00 AM to Midnight
- Monday to Friday: Available 24 hours
- Saturday: 12:00 AM to 3:00 PM
How to file weekly claims by phone
If you don’t have internet access or need help from a live representative, you can file your weekly claim by calling the UI claimant assistance hotline.
To reduce phone wait times, the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development asks that claimants call during the time that corresponds with the first initial of their last name:
A to M
- Monday to Friday 6:15 a.m. to 12 p.m.
- Saturday 7 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
N to Z
- Monday to Friday 12 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.
- Saturday 7 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
How do I know if my weekly claim was successful?
Once you submit your weekly claim information, you will receive a confirmation number. It is highly recommended that you write this number down in case you need it at a future date.
You can also review the “My UI Summary” page to see the status of your weekly claims and payments.
How to collect payment
When you apply for Wisconsin unemployment benefits, you have two options for receiving your payments:
- Direct deposit: If you choose this method, you’ll need a checking or savings account at a U.S. bank or credit union. You’ll provide the routing number, account number, and account type to the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development. Your benefit payments will be deposited directly into your bank account.
- Prepaid Visa debit card from U.S. Bank: If you don’t select direct deposit, the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development will send your unemployment insurance payments to a prepaid Visa debit card provided by U.S. Bank. Once your payments are approved, U.S. Bank will mail the debit card within two business days. It may take around seven to ten business days for the card to arrive in a plain, white envelope with a window through the postal service.
You should not expect to receive your unemployment compensation on the same day or within the same timeframe every week. It may vary.
If you have filed a weekly claim certification and have not received a payment or an explanation within seven days, you can check the status of your payment on the online portal or contact the claimant assistance hotline for further assistance.
Can I change my preferred payment method?
If you wish to change your payment method, you can do so by logging into the claimant portal and clicking the “My UI Summary” tab, then “Payment Information” or you can call the UI claimant assistance hotline.
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