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New Hampshire Unemployment Insurance Benefits
New Hampshire’s Unemployment Compensation Bureau issues unemployment insurance benefits to eligible New Hampshire claimants who have become unemployed – or even underemployed – through no fault of their own. Benefits can be claimed by employees of private industry, plus those who work in state and local governments
The program is funded by state taxes on employers. No funds for the state unemployment program are taken from employee earnings.
New Hampshire Unemployment Services
| Website | https://www.nhes.nh.gov |
| Private Website | New Hampshire Unemployment |
| Phone | 800-266-2252 |
| Apply Online | File an Initial Claim |
| Weekly Certification | File a Continued Claim |
| Appeal a Denial | https://www.nhes.nh.gov/appeals |
| Find a Local Office | https://www.nhes.nh.gov/locations/index.htm |
| Report Fraud | https://www.nhes.nh.gov/contact/ui-fraud.htm |
| Coronavirus Updates | https://www.unemploymentbenefits.nh.gov |
How To Qualify for New Hampshire Unemployment Benefits
No final determination about claimant eligibility can be made until after the initial claim is submitted. To qualify for UI benefits, New Hampshire job seekers must typically meet the following criteria:
- The claimant must be completely or partially unemployed through no fault of his or her own
- The claimant must be registered for work unless specifically exempted
- The claimant must be available to accept full-time work during all shifts and hours appropriate to the claimant’s work
- The claimant must be physically and mentally able to work
- The claimant must actively be searching for work
You must be actively looking for work in order to collect unemployment benefits in the state of New Hampshire.
Benefit Payments and Duration
| Base Period | First 4 of the last 5 completed quarters |
| Alt Base Period | Last 4 completed quarters |
| Duration of Benefits | Weekly Payment | Maximum Benefits Amount (1 year) | |
| Min | Max | ||
| 26 weeks | $32 | $427 | $11,102 |
How To Apply for New Hampshire Unemployment Benefits
As soon as you become unemployed or have work hours significantly reduced, you should file a new claim for unemployment assistance with the New Hampshire Unemployment Compensation Bureau. You may complete this process online or by visiting the nearest New Hampshire Employment Security office, where you may file your new claim using a computer in a Resource Center.
When you visit New Hampshire’s online center for claims, you’ll find easy to follow, step-by-step instructions for completing your claim for unemployment compensation benefits.
Please note that you will need to create an account in New Hampshire’s Workforce Connect online platform. Once you have done so, you can use this same account to submit your unemployment claim, check on its status, and submit your weekly benefits claims.
How Do I Manage My Unemployment Benefits?
Throughout the full duration of your UI benefits, you need to file a weekly claim to certify that you still meet eligibility requirements. For each week you want to receive benefits, you must answer questions about your work search activity, report any money you earned, and report any job offers you received and refused.
You can file your weekly claim online. You’ll be able to use the same account you created to submit your initial claim. Follow the step-by-step instructions within the portal to help you submit your weekly claim. Your submitted answers to the weekly questions help the state of New Hampshire verify that you have continued eligibility for receiving UI benefits.
Filing an Appeal
You may request an appeal if you disagree with the determination about your initial unemployment claim. Any appeal should be submitted in writing within 14 calendar days of the date your letter of determination was mailed. Your letter of determination also will include specific steps you should take to submit your request for appeal.
Appeal decisions are administered by New Hampshire’s Appeal Tribunal Unit, which may ask you to participate in an appeals hearing before issuing an updated decision.
Reporting Fraud
Unemployment fraud, including identity theft and benefit overpayment, lessens the integrity of the New Hampshire UI benefits system and may keep vital financial benefits out of the hands of those who need them the most.
If you suspect someone of UI benefits fraud, you can report your concerns to the New Hampshire Unemployment Compensation Bureau through any of the following methods:
Phone: 800-852-3400, Ext. 84016
Online: Use the e-form for reporting potential unemployment insurance fraud
New Hampshire Unemployment Office Locations
| NH Unemployment Office – Conway | 518 White Mountain Highway Conway, NH 03818-4205 |
603-447-5924 |
| NH Unemployment Office – Keene | 149 Emerald Street Suite Y Keene, NH 03431 |
603-352-1904 |
| NH Unemployment Office – Laconia | 426 Union Avenue Laconia, NH 03246 |
603-524-3960 |
| NH Unemployment Office – Littleton | 646 Union Street Suite 100 Littleton, NH 03561 |
603-444-2971 |
| NH Unemployment Office – Manchester | 300 Hanover Street Manchester, NH 03104 |
603-627-7841 |
| NH Unemployment Office – Nashua | 6 Townsend West Nashua, NH 03063 |
603-882-5177 |
| NH Unemployment Office – Portsmouth | 2000 Lafayette Road Portsmouth, NH 03801 |
603-436-3702 |
| NH Unemployment Office – Salem | 29 South Broadway Salem, NH 03079 |
603-893-9185 |
| NH Unemployment Office – Somersworth | 6 Marsh Brook Drive Somersworth, NH 03878 |
603-742-3600 |
