Idaho Unemployment

Idaho Unemployment Insurance Benefits

Idaho’s unemployment insurance benefits program helps replace a portion of lost income for unemployed Idaho residents who have lost employment through no fault of their own.

Idaho unemployment insurance benefits are funded through an employer tax, which is collected by the Idaho Department of Labor and placed in a federal trust fund. Money from that fund then is used specifically and solely to pay unemployment compensation to eligible members of the Idaho labor force.

Idaho Unemployment Services

Am I Eligible for Unemployment Benefits in Idaho?

While individual eligibility decisions are made on a case by case basis, in general, a claimant must meet the following eligibility requirements in order to be eligible for unemployment assistance in Idaho:

• Be totally or partially unemployed through no fault of his or her own
• Be a U.S. citizen or otherwise legally authorized to work in the United States
• Be available and able to perform full-time work if and when suitable employment is offered
• Be willing to actively seek full-time work
• Establish monetary eligibility for benefits by having sufficient earnings within the base period for review, as established by Idaho law

If you are unsure whether you qualify for state unemployment benefits, you should go ahead and apply to find out for certain.

Benefit Payments and Duration

How Do I Apply for Unemployment Benefits in Idaho?

You may submit your initial unemployment compensation claim at labor.idaho.gov/claimantportal. The state of Idaho will not accept unemployment claims over the telephone. If you do not have Internet access or otherwise need assistance in submitting your initial claim, you may visit your nearest local Idaho Department of Labor office.

As part of the application process, you must create a user account within the claimant portal. You will be able to use this account moving forward for all inquiries related to your claim – including tracking the status of your claim and filing your weekly certification for benefits.

How Do I Manage My Unemployment Benefits?

Part of the unemployment compensation process includes submitting information on a weekly basis so that the state of Idaho can confirm that you remain eligible.

You can submit your weekly benefit certification online using the same user account you set up when you submitted your initial claim. During the process, you will answer questions related to your work search activities for the previous week.

The claimant portal is operational seven days a week, 24 hours a day, including holidays. Once you log into your account, you can follow the step-by-step instructions within the portal for filing your weekly certification.

You also may submit your weekly certification by visiting a Department of Labor office and using one of the many computers available for use in the lobby.

How Do I Appeal a Decision?

Once your initial claim is submitted, you will receive an official decision letter outlining whether you are eligible and what kind of benefit amount you can expect. If you are unhappy or disagree with the decision related to your case, you may submit a request for appeal.

This request must be submitted in writing and signed by the person submitting the request. You should identify the specific decision you’d like to appeal and follow any other instructions included in your official decision notice.

You may file a request for appeal by any of the following methods:

• Hand-deliver: Appeals Bureau, 317 W. Main St., Boise, Idaho 83735.
• Mail: Send your request for appeal to the same address from which it was mailed to you
• Fax: 208-334-6440

According to Idaho law, your request for appeal must be filed within 14 days after the postmarked date on your official decision letter.

How Do I Report Fraud?

Examples of unemployment fraud include making false statements, failing to report important facts, or impersonating someone else’s identity in order to collect unemployment assistance.

The Idaho Department of Labor fully investigates all reports of UI benefits fraud to protect taxpayer dollars and make sure essential financial assistance is directed toward those who truly merit it.

If you suspect someone is fraudulently collecting unemployment benefits, you are encouraged to call the state of Idaho’s fraud tip line at 877-540-8638 and leave detailed information about the person or business you believe may be involved in committing fraud. You also may provide this same information by emailing your report to fraud@labor.idaho.gov.

Idaho Unemployment Office Locations