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Louisiana Unemployment Insurance Benefits
Louisiana’s unemployment insurance benefits program is designed to provide temporary financial support for Louisiana workers who lose their jobs through no fault of their own.
Eligibility is determined by requirements set forth by the Louisiana Employment Security Law. UI benefits are determined based on past employment and legal eligibility, not based on financial need.
In Louisiana, employers pay all costs of unemployment benefits through a payroll tax or reimbursable program. Employee wages are not used in any way to finance Louisiana’s jobless benefits program.
Louisiana Unemployment Services
| Website | laworks.net/UnemploymentInsurance |
| Private Website | Louisiana Unemployment |
| Phone | 866-783-5567 |
| HiRE@lwc.la.gov | |
| Apply Online | File a Claim |
| Weekly Certification | File a Weekly Claim |
| Appeal a Denial | Request a Hearing |
| Find a Local Office | Career Center Locations |
| Report Fraud | https://www2.laworks.net/FraudMenu.asp |
| Coronavirus Updates | COVID-19 Assistance |
Am I Eligible for Unemployment Benefits in Louisiana?
To be eligible for unemployment assistance in Louisiana, claimants must meet the following criteria:
- No longer working through no fault of your own or work hours dramatically reduced
- Sufficient income earned during the base period for review Louisiana defines your base period as the first four of the last five completed calendar quarters before you submit your initial claim
- Physically able and available to work
- Actively seeking work – the exception here is if you are laid off, but also have been given a target return-to-work date
Please see the Benefit Rights Information (PDF) for more details.
Benefit Payments and Duration
| Base Period | First 4 of the last 5 completed quarters |
| Alt Base Period | N/A |
| Duration of Benefits | Weekly Payment | Maximum Benefits Amount (1 year) | |
| Min | Max | ||
| 26 weeks | $10 | $247 | $5,746-$7,384 |
How Do I Apply for Unemployment Benefits in Louisiana?
The fastest and easiest way for you to submit your new unemployment claim is to submit your claim online through the Louisiana Workforce Commission. You will need a valid email address to set up an account, which can be used moving forward both to check the status of your claim and to complete your weekly certification for unemployment benefits.
After you file your unemployment claim, you will receive a list of available jobs in your area that may match your skills and experience.
Managing Your Unemployment Benefits
Each week that you request an unemployment compensation payment, you will need to verify that you remain eligible to receive UI benefits. To do this, you can use the same account you created to submit your initial claim. Simply sign in and select Weekly Claim Certification from the Unemployment Services menu.
Throughout the process, you will answer a series of questions about your job search activities for the prior week, plus any wages earned and/or any jobs offered that you declined.
Filing an Appeal
Both you and your employer are free to request an appeal of any determination related to your claim. You must do so within 15 days of the mailing date of your determination notice. Your request for appeal may entitle you to a hearing before an Administrative Law Judge, who will review your claim and issue a new decision.
You have three options for filing an appeal, as outlined below:
- Online: www.LAWORKS.net
- By mail: Louisiana Workforce Commission, Appeals Unit, P. O. Box 94094, Baton Rouge, LA 70804-9094
- By fax: 225-342-4223
If mailed, your letter must be postmarked no more than 15 days from the date of your determination notice and must be signed by the person filing the request for appeal. If you file your request by mail, it’s also a good idea to enclose a complete copy of the original determination with your request.
Reporting Fraud
The state of Louisiana strongly encourages you to help stop unemployment insurance fraud throughout the state. Unemployment fraud is a waste of taxpayer dollars, plus it may keep unemployment benefits from truly helping those who need them the most.
If you have any reason to suspect someone of unemployment benefits fraud, you can use the state of Louisiana’s online system to make a report. You can also call 800-201-3362 and report fraud over the phone.
Louisiana Unemployment Office Locations
| Morehouse Unemployment Office | 250 Holt Drive Bastrop, LA 71220 |
318-283-0849 |
| Baton Rouge North Unemployment Office | 4523 Plank Road Baton Rouge, LA 70805 |
225-358-4579 |
| Baton Rouge South Unemployment Office | 1991 Wooddale Boulevard Baton Rouge, LA 70806 |
225-925-4312 |
| Unemployment Office – Belle Chasse | 333 F Edwards Herbert Blvd Bldg. 600 Room 104 Belle Chasse, LA 70037 |
504-934-6045 |
| Washington Unemployment Office | 537 Kentucky Ave Bogalusa, LA 70427 |
985-545-1050 |
| Bossier Unemployment Office | 4000 Viking Drive Suite B-1 Bossier City, LA 71111 |
318-741-7365 |
| St. Bernard Unemployment Office | 3700 LaFontaine Street Chalmette, LA 70043 |
504-278-6214 |
| Grant Unemployment Office | 205 Main Street Colfax, LA 71417 |
318-627-3754 |
| Caldwell Unemployment Office | 6563 Highway 165 Columbia, LA 71418 |
318-649-5398 |
| Acadia Unemployment Office | 11 North Parkerson Ave #A Crowley, LA 70526 |
337-347-9239 |
| Beauregard Unemployment Office | 1102 West First Street Deridder, LA 70634 |
337-462-5838 |
| Union Unemployment Office | 303-B East Water Street Farmerville, LA 71241 |
318-368-7001 |
| Concordia Unemployment Office | 107 EE Wallace Blvd Ferriday, LA 71334 |
318-757-9213 |
| West St. Mary Unemployment Office | 600 Main Street Franklin, LA 70538 |
337-347-9648 |
| Ascension Unemployment Office | 1060 E. Worthy Street Gonzales, LA 70737 |
225-647-5557 |
| West Jefferson Unemployment Office | 1900 Lafayette Street Suite 1 Gretna, LA 70053 |
504-227-1283 |
| Geaux Jobs Of Tangipahoa Parish | 403 Market Street Hammond, LA 70401 |
985-902-4200 |
| Terrebonne Unemployment Office | 807 Barrow Street Houma, LA 70360 |
985-876-8990 |
| LaSalle Unemployment Office | 1050 Courthouse St Room 25 Jena, LA 71342 |
318-992-8264 |
| Jackson Unemployment Office | 236 Industrial Drive Jonesboro, LA 71251 |
318-480-5050 |
| Catahoula Unemployment Office | 841 Collins Dr. Jonesville, LA 71343 |
318-339-7667 |
| Lafayette Unemployment Office | 706 East Vermilion Street Lafayette, LA 70501 |
337-347-9115 |
| Calcasieu Unemployment Office | 2424 3rd Street Lake Charles, LA 70601 |
337-721-4010 |
| East Carroll Unemployment Office | 409 2nd Street Suite 6 Lake Providence, LA 71254 |
318-559-1618 |
| St. John Unemployment Office | 421 West Airline Hwy Suite F Laplace, LA 70068 |
985-652-3471 |
| Vernon Unemployment Office | 408 W. Fertitta Blvd Leesville, LA 71446 |
337-238-3321 |
| Livingston Unemployment Office | 29565 S. Magnolia Street # 1 P.O Box 1327 Livingston, LA 70754 |
225-435-0606 |
| St. Charles Unemployment Office | 737 Paul Maillard Road #2A Luling, LA 70070 |
985-783-5030 |
| Unemployment Office – Mansfield | 142 Lake Road Mansfield, LA 71052 |
318-871-2391 |
| Sabine Unemployment Office | 1125 West Mississippi Ave #A Many, LA 71449 |
318-256-2698 |
| Avoyelles Unemployment Office | 150 Goldenrod Street Marksville, LA 71350 |
318-240-8820 |
| East Jefferson Unemployment Office | 1801 Airline Highway Suite F Metairie, LA 70001 |
504-838-5678 |
| Unemployment Office – Minden | 902 Lee Street Minden, LA 70155 |
318-371-3024 |
| Ouachita Unemployment Office | 24 Accent Drive Suite 151 Monroe, LA 71202 |
318-362-3058 |
| St. Mary Unemployment Office | 900 Youngs Road Morgan City, LA 70380 |
985-384-4995 |
| Assumption Unemployment Office | 205 Hwy 1008 Napoleonville, LA 70390 |
985-369-1810 |
| Natchitoches Unemployment Office | 303 Bienville Street Natchitoches, LA 71457 |
318-357-2414 |
| Iberia Unemployment Office | 609 Ember Dr New Iberia, LA 70560 |
337-347-9537 |
| Orleans Unemployment Office | 3400 Tulane Avenue 2nd Floor New Orleans, LA 70119 |
504-658-4500 |
| West Carroll Unemployment Office | 310 Skinner Lane Oak Grove, LA 71263 |
318-428-8640 |
| Unemployment Office – Oberlin | 602 Court Street Oberlin, LA 70655 |
337-639-2175 |
| St. Landry Unemployment Office | 1065 Hwy 749 Suite C Opelousas, LA 70570 |
337-948-1330 |
| Iberville Unemployment Office | 23510 Railroad Avenue Plaquemine, LA 70764 |
225-687-0969 |
| Richland Unemployment Office | 146 Christian Drive Rayville, LA 71269 |
318-728-3348 |
| Bienville Unemployment Office | 2434 Manning Street Ringgold, LA 71068 |
318-894-9173 |
| Lincoln Unemployment Office | 307 North Homer Street #307 Ruston, LA 71270 |
318-251-4175 |
| Caddo Unemployment Office | 2121 Fairfield Ave Suite 100 Shreveport, LA 71104 |
318-676-7788 |
| St. Tammany Unemployment Office | 520 Old Spanish Trail Suite 4C Slidell, LA 70458 |
985-646-3940 |
| Unemployment Office – St. Francisville | 5681 Commerce Street Ste E St. Francisville, LA 70775 |
225-635-6635 |
| Tensas Unemployment Office | 107 Arts Drive Office 120 St. Joseph, LA 71366 |
318-355-8797 |
| St. Martin Unemployment Office | 215 Evangeline Blvd St. Martinville, LA 70582 |
337-347-9373 |
| Madison Unemployment Office | 1007 Johnson Street Tallulah, LA 71282 |
318-574-0387 |
| Lafourche Unemployment Office | 1425 Tiger Drive Thibodaux, LA 70301 |
985-446-3016 |
| St. James Unemployment Office | 2631 Hwy 20 West Vacherie, LA 70090 |
225-562-2458 |
| Evangeline Unemployment Office | 306 West Main Street Ville Platte, LA 70586 |
337-363-6241 |
| Unemployment Office – Vivian | 125 East Louisiana St. Vivian, LA 71082 |
318-676-5721 |
| Winn Unemployment Office | 103 West Boundary Street Winnfield, LA 71483 |
318-628-4641 |
| Franklin Unemployment Office | 3290 Front Street Winnsboro, LA 71295 |
318-435-5687 |
