How to Contact Your State Unemployment Office

During the application time for unemployment benefits, you may need to contact your local office several times. This can be in response to a request for extra paperwork, because you have a simple question or because you haven't been receiving the promised benefits. What method of contact is better depends mainly on your reason for contacting it.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

1. Head to the official website of your state unemployment office. Not all offices have online presences, but if yours does, the website will list all of the possible ways for you to get in touch, including phone, online form or mail. If there is an actual walk-in office open to the public in your city, the website will list that too.
2. Locate the phone number of your state unemployment office. This is usually a 1-800 number and can be found at the Free411 website (see Resources below). When you call, you may be connected to a machine, in which case you will need to leave your phone number and a specific time when you want to be called back.
3. Walk into the local unemployment office if there is one in your area. This may be the best way to contact it if you have a direct question, need help filing or simply cannot get in touch any other way. Be prepared for long waits, though, as offices tend to get especially busy.
4. Write to the unemployment office in your state if you don't mind waiting for an answer. This is a good option if you need to contact it to provide a requested document or to file some kind of complaint. In all other cases, mail is too slow and too unreliable to be a good option when filing for unemployment benefits or requesting an extension.
5. Visit the US Department of Labor's Employment & Training Administration for alternatives if you are unable to contact your local unemployment office (see Resources below).

Tips & Warnings

• If you need to talk to somebody directly, calling may be a good option. Otherwise, using an online form may be the fastest way to send requested information.