Utah Unemployment

Utah Unemployment Benefits

Utah’s unemployment insurance benefits program helps provide financial assistance to members of the labor force who have lost employment. 

Eligible recipients must be unemployed through no fault of their own, and they must be actively seeking work, enrolled in approved job training, or waiting to be recalled to work. Funding for the program comes from an employment insurance trust that is funded by Utah employers.

Utah Unemployment Services

Am I Eligible for Unemployment Benefits in Utah?

If you have lost your job through no fault of your own, you may be eligible for Utah unemployment insurance benefits. A claimant needs to meet the following eligibility requirements to receive unemployment compensation:

• Be partially or completely unemployed through no fault of your own.
• Be a resident of Utah
• Show documentation of sufficient income during base period to establish eligibility.
• Show documentation of earned wages in at least two base period quarters. Note that a base period is considered in Utah as the first four of the last five working quarters.
• Have earned at least $4200 in total earnings during base period, along with earning 1 1/2 times your highest quarter.

Once your initial claim is approved, you must continue to meet the following criteria on a weekly basis:

• File a weekly claim
• Be able and available for full-time work if and when offered

 Benefit Payments and Duration

How To Apply

Utah requires that all new unemployment insurance benefits claims be filed online, through the Utah Department of Workforce Services Unemployment Insurance Claim Filing website. The website is available for use from 2 a.m. to 11:45 p.m., seven days a week, and you can plan for the filing process to take approximately 30 minutes to complete for your initial claim – it comprises the following six steps:

• Initial Steps: Help verify ID and determine eligibility
• Personal Information: Enter your contact and demographic information (optional)
• Employment Information: Enter all employment information for the last several months, including everything associated with the circumstances of your separating from employment
• Eligibility Questions: Enter information about your current availability for employment
• Statements: Provides information from the state of Utah surrounding each employer separation.
• Finalize Your Claim: Review information and instructions to keep your claim active

How Do I Manage My Unemployment Benefits?

To submit your weekly UI claim, you’ll need to set up an account through the state of Utah’s Dept. of Workforce Services. Each week, you must provide both your Social Security number and a Personal Identification Number that you create in order to certify your claim.

You must submit a weekly unemployment claim for each week that you collect benefits. During the weekly certification process, you will be asked questions about your job search activity whether you were offered any employment. Your answers will help determine whether you are eligible for another week of unemployment benefits.

Failure to submit your weekly benefits claim may mean that you are unable to receive UI benefits for that week, so it’s important to be diligent and submit your information on time.

Filing an Appeal

You can file an appeal if you’re unhappy with the initial claim decision. You can request a hearing online through the Department of Workforce Services or submit a written statement of appeal via mail or fax at the contact information below:

Appeals Unit 
Phone: 801-526-9300 or toll-free at 877-800-0671

Address: PO Box 45244
Salt Lake City, UT 84145-0244

Fax: 801-526-9242

On first appeal, your case will be reviewed by an administrative law judge. A second appeal will be reviewed by the Workforce Appeals Board. If it’s necessary to appeal the Board’s decision, you may do so through the Utah Court of Appeals.

How Do I Report Fraud?

Reporting incorrect information is considered fraud, and penalties include steep fines, loss of all future benefits, and sometimes even prosecution. If you suspect unemployment insurance fraud, you can file a report online, or you may print it out and mail in a Request For Investigation.

Utah Unemployment Office Locations