New Mexico Unemployment
Updated May 4, 2021 Unemployment
New Mexico Unemployment Benefits
The New Mexico Department of Workforce Services administers the state’s unemployment insurance benefits program, which provides temporary financial assistance to qualified New Mexico workers who meet program requirements.
Funding for UI benefits in New Mexico comes from employer payroll taxes. No money for the program ever is deducted from employee paychecks.
New Mexico Unemployment Services
| Website | https://www.dws.state.nm.us/en-us/Unemployment |
| Private Website | New Mexico Unemployment |
| Phone | 877-664-6984 |
| Apply Online | https://sam.dws.state.nm.us/Core/Login.ASPX |
| Weekly Certification | https://www.dws.state.nm.us/MyWorkforceConnection |
| Appeal a Denial | Request a Hearing |
| Find a Local Office | https://www.dws.state.nm.us/en-us/Office-Locations |
| Report Fraud | Report UI Fraud Activity |
| Coronavirus Updates | https://www.dws.state.nm.us/COVID-19-Info |
How To Qualify for New Mexico Unemployment Benefits
New Mexico requires the following to be true to be considered eligible for UI benefits:
- A claimant must be unemployed through no fault of his or her own, as outlined by New Mexico state law.
- A claimant must be able to work – physically, emotionally, and mentally capable of working during any week for which unemployment benefits are sought. You cannot collect benefits if you are sick, injured, or disabled.
- A claimant must be available to accept suitable work when it is offered – in other words, ready to start a job immediately, with no obstacles to accepting work such as transportation or childcare issues
- A claimant must actively be seeking work – proactively searching for work and trying to find a job.
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 | ||
| 14-26 weeks | $86 | $461 | $11,986 - $13,286 |
How Do I Apply for New Mexico Unemployment Benefits?
You can apply for New Mexico UI benefits online or over the phone at 877-664-6984. Agents are available to help you Monday-Friday, 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. The first time you use the New Mexico jobs website, you will be asked to create an account. You will need a valid email address that you can check regularly since future communications will come to this address. It also will be used for account management and security purposes.
Once you’ve created your account, you will be directed to the My Workforce Connection page that will allow you to register as part of the New Mexico Workforce Connection’s online system. Then you can access the Unemployment Insurance Tax & Claims System by selecting Unemployment Insurance under the Quick Menu.
Managing Your New Mexico Unemployment Benefits
Each week that you submit a claim for weekly UI benefits, you’ll be asked to answer questions about your job search activities, along with your continued ability to accept suitable work when it is offered. You may submit your weekly claim online or over the phone at 877-664-6984.
Unless you gain an official exemption, you will need to conduct a minimum of two work searches per week for every week you claim benefits. You will be required to keep a log of all work search activity, and the New Mexico Department of Workforce Solutions may request documentation of your work search for audit purposes at any time.
How Do I Appeal a Decision?
If the New Mexico Department of Workforce Services denies your claim, you will receive an official Notice of Disqualification in writing. This notice will include a Request for Hearing packet. that will provide all the specific information you need to request an appeal. Your employer also may request an appeal if unsatisfied with the decision regarding your initial claim.
You may file an appeal online through the same New Mexico Workforce Connections account you used to submit your initial claim and your weekly claims.
Your request for appeal moves your claim before the Department of Workforce Services Appeals Tribunal. You will then participate in a telephone hearing before an administrative law judge, where you, along with your former employer, will provide sworn testimony about your claim.
Reporting UI Fraud in New Mexico
People who commit UI fraud face serious penalties in New Mexico, including any of the following:
- Legal prosecution
- Jail or prison sentences
- Property liens
- Forced repayment of improperly collected UI benefits – plus penalties and fines
- Garnished wages
- Forfeiture of future income tax refunds
- Ineligibility to collect UI benefits in the future
If you have information about potentially fraudulent UI benefits activity, you are strongly encouraged to report it online or call the New Mexico Department of Workforce Solutions UI fraud line at 505-24-FRAUD (505-243-7283).
New Mexico Unemployment Office Locations
| New Mexico Unemployment Office - Otero County | 901 Alaska Ave Alamogordo, NM 88310 | 575-437-9210 |
| New Mexico Unemployment Office - Albuquerque | 501 Mountain Road NE Albuquerque, NM 87102 | 505-843-1900 |
| New Mexico Unemployment Office - Artesia | 704 W Main Artesia, NM 88210 | 575-748-1303 |
| New Mexico Unemployment Office - Carlsbad | 323 S Halagueno Carlsbad, NM 88220 | 575-887-1174 |
| New Mexico Unemployment Office - Clovis | 111 N Main Clovis, NM 88101 | 575-762-4571 |
| Deming Workforce Connection | 322 E Oak St Deming, NM 88030 | 575-546-0192 |
| New Mexico Unemployment Office - Espanola | 319 Paseo de Onate Street Espanola, NM 87532 | 505-753-2285 |
| New Mexico Unemployment Office - Farmington | 3401 E. 30th Street, Farmington, NM 87402 | 505-327-6126 |
| Gallup Workforce Connection | 2918 E. Highway 66 Gallup, NM 87301 | 505-863-8181 |
| New Mexico Unemployment Office - Hobbs | 204 West Park Hobbs, NM 88240 | 575-393-5188 |
| Las Cruces Workforce Connection | 226 South Alameda Blvd. Las Cruces, NM 88005 | 575-524-6250 |
| New Mexico Unemployment Office - Las Vegas | 833 Grand Avenue Las Vegas, NM 87701 | 505-425-6451 |
| New Mexico Unemployment Office - Valencia County | 428 Los Lentes Rd. SE Los Lunas, NM 87031 | 505-212-9115 |
| New Mexico Unemployment Office - Moriarty | 777 Old U.S. Route 66 P.O. Box 939 Moriarty, NM 87035 | 505-832-6774 |
| New Mexico Unemployment Office - Sandoval County | 461 Ridgerock Road Rio Rancho, NM 87124 | 505-771-2160 |
| New Mexico Unemployment Office - Roswell | 2110 South Main Street Roswell, NM 88203 | 575-624-6040 |
| New Mexico Unemployment Office - Ruidoso | 709 Mechem Drive Ruidoso, NM 88345 | 575-258-1730 |
| New Mexico Unemployment Office - Santa Fe | 525 Camino De Los Marquez Ste 200 Santa Fe, NM 87505 | 505-355-1758 |
| Silver City Workforce Connection | 420 West Broadway Silver City, NM 88061 | 575-538-3737 |
| Socorro Workforce Connection | 109 Faulkner Socorro, NM 87801 | 575-835-0067 |
| New Mexico Unemployment Office - Taos | 1036 Salazar Road Taos, NM 87571 | 575-758-4219 |
| Truth or Consequences Workforce Connection | 601 Sunset Street Truth Or Consequences, NM 87901 | 575-894-1263 |
