Kansas Unemployment

Kansas Unemployment Insurance Benefits

Unemployment insurance benefits in Kansas help provide economic stability for families when workers lose employment through no fault of their own. 

According to the Kansas Employment Security Law, employers pay taxes that fund these unemployment insurance benefits, so no employee wages are withheld to fund the program.

By providing UI benefits, the state of Kansas mitigates the potential negative effects of temporary unemployment on Kansas families and communities. Unemployment compensation in Kansas is administered by the Kansas Department of Labor.

Kansas Unemployment Services

Am I Eligible for Unemployment Benefits in Kansas?

The Kansas Department of Labor will assess individual eligibility for UI benefits on a case-by-case basis. Typically, jobless workers in Kansas must meet the following eligibility requirements to collect unemployment assistance:

• The claimant must have earned a minimum amount in wages before losing employment, as defined by Kansas law.
• The claimant must be unemployed through no fault of his or her own, as defined by Kansas law.
• The claimant must be able and available to work.

Keep in mind that you must also be actively seeking employment throughout the time that benefits are collected.

Benefit Payments and Duration

How To Apply for Kansas Unemployment Benefits

The state of Kansas encourages all unemployed Kansans to submit their initial claims online whenever possible. When you file an initial UI benefits claim, you will create a username and password that you can then use to check the status of your unemployment claim, along with submitting your weekly certifications for state unemployment benefits.

While a telephone option also is available, wait times often can be lengthy. Be prepared to wait on hold if you call to speak with a customer service representative.

Customer service representatives are available to offer assistance from 8 a.m. to 4:15 p.m. Monday through Friday at the following numbers:

• Kansas City: 913-596-3500
• Topeka: 785-575-1460
• Wichita: 316-383-9947
• Toll-Free: 800-292-6333

Speech and/or hearing disabled Kansans can access the Kansas Relay Center by calling 800-766-3777.

How Do I Manage My Unemployment Benefits?

For each that week you collect unemployment compensation, you must submit a weekly benefit certification. Using the account you created when you submitted your initial claim, you will answer a series of questions about your job-search activities, any income or wages you earned, and whether you were offered suitable work during that week.

Filing an Appeal

If you disagree with the decision rendered about your initial claim, you may file an appeal with the Kansas Department of Labor within 16 days of the mailing date of your determination letter.

Your employer also has the option to appeal. All the information you need to submit a request for appeal will be explained on the back of the official determination notice you receive.

Typically, your request for appeal should be submitted in writing and include your name, the last four digits of the claimant’s Social Security number, a current address, your phone number, and the specific decision being appealed. You may submit your request for appeal via any of the methods listed below:

• Email: [email protected]
• Mail: 401 SW Topeka Blvd, 2nd Floor
• Topeka, KS 66603-3182
• Fax: 785-296-4065

How Do I Report Fraud?

Unemployment fraud is defined in Kansas as “the willful misrepresentation of information by an individual for purposes of collecting unemployment benefits.” Unemployment fraud also includes identity theft, and in all its forms is a serious crime that potentially keeps essential unemployment assistance away from the workers and families in Kansas who most need it.

Anyone found to have committed unemployment insurance fraud is disqualified from receiving any unemployment benefits for five years and also can be prosecuted for making false statements or withholding material information as part of a fraudulent claim.

If you know or suspect someone of fraudulent activity related to unemployment compensation, the state of Kansas strongly encourages you to report your concerns using the state’s online reporting form. You can also make a report through the Fraud Hotline at 785-291-6059.

Kansas Unemployment Office Locations