Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is unemployment insurance?

   Unemployment insurance is temporary income for qualified workers who are unemployed through no fault of their own and who are either looking for full time work, in approved training, or awaiting recall to employment.

2. Do I pay for unemployment insurance out of my paycheck?

   No. Your employer, through quarterly unemployment insurance taxes, pays the costs for unemployment insurance. In Utah, employees do not contribute to the unemployment insurance fund.

3. Who decides if I am eligible for Unemployment Insurance?

   A Department representative will obtain necessary information from you and your employer and will determine your eligibility for benefits.

4. What information do I need to have with me when I file?

   You will need the following information:

   • Your Social Security number.
   • A valid drivers license or state issued identification card.
   • If you are not a citizen of the United States, your Alien Registration number and card.
   • The business names, complete addresses including zip codes, and phone numbers of all employers for whom you worked during the last two years.
   • The dates your work started and ended for those employers.
   • An estimate of your total gross earnings from those employers.
   • The reason you are no longer working for those employers.
   • If you have worked active military duty for at least one day in the last two years, you will need your DD214, Member 4, Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty.

5. Where can I file my unemployment insurance claim?

New claims for unemployment insurance benefits in Utah will be expedited if you file online. To file a new claim for unemployment insurance benefits, click here.

New claims can also be filed by telephone. To file by phone, please call the numbers listed below between 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday, except holidays. Call volumes may result in longer hold times, especially on Mondays.


Salt Lake County: (801) 526-4400
Utah County: (801) 375-4067
Weber and North Davis Counties: (801) 612-0877
Balance of state or out of state, Toll Free: 1-888-848-0688

The claims center is closed on all legal holidays.

6. What must I do to be eligible for unemployment Insurance?

   You must meet the following criteria:

   • You must be partially or totally unemployed through no fault of your own.
   • You must be a US citizen or legally authorized to work in the US.
   • You must have sufficient earnings in the base period to establish a monetary entitlement.
   • You must have worked and been paid wages for employment in at least two of the base period quarters that are being used.
   • You must have earned at least $3200 in total wages in the base period and earned 1.5 times the high quarter. If you do not have 1 1/2 times your high quarter wages in your current base period, you may qualify under the same conditions by using your Alternate Base Period, which would be the most recent four completed calendar quarters.
   • You must have a valid Utah claim.
   • You must file a weekly claim.
   • You must be able and available for full-time work.
   • You must be willing to actively seek full-time work in the US.
   • You must reside in the United States.

7. How do I file a weekly claim?

   Instruction for filing a weekly claim can be found in the Claimant Guide by clicking here, or on page 16 of the Claimant Handbook.

8. When should I apply for benefits/file a claim?

   File your claim on or after your last day worked. Generally, an unemployment claim is effective on the Sunday of the week you file, provided you did not work full time that week.

9. What is the effective date of my claim?

   It is the Sunday of the week you filed.
   Ex: If you filed the claim on Wednesday (11/23/11) then the effective date would be Sunday (11/20/11).
   Ex: If you filed the claim on Sunday (11/20/11) then your effective date would be Sunday (11/20/11).

10. What is a benefit year end date?

    It is the expiration date of the claim. It is 52 weeks from the effective date of the claim.

11. How will my weekly benefit be determined?

    In Utah, the first four of the last five completed quarters of wages will be used to determine your weekly benefit amount. Only covered wages in those quarters will be used. Wages from self-employment will be excluded.

    If you filed a claim between January - March your base period would be October 1 to September 30.
    If you filed a claim between April - June your base period would be January 1 through December 31.
    If you filed a claim between July - September your base period would be April 1 through March 31.
    If you filed a claim between October - December your base period would be July 1 through June 30.
    If you do not qualify by the formula previously explained, you may still qualify for benefits using an alternate base period, which would be the most recent four completed calendar quarters.

    To get an estimate of your benefits click here.

12. What is the formula used to determine my weekly benefit amount?

    The highest quarter during your base period divided by 26 determines the benefit amount you will receive per week of unemployment, up to a maximum of $467 for new claims effective on or after January 1, 2012.

13. How many weeks of unemployment insurance can I receive?

    A formula is used to determine the number of weeks. Multiply your total wages for insured work paid during the base period by 27%, disregarding any fractions of $1 and divide by your weekly benefit amount, disregarding any fractions. The result will be a preliminary determination of the number of weeks you are entitled to receive benefits. Utah has a minimum of 10 weeks and a maximum of 26 weeks of regular benefits.

    To get an estimate of your benefits click here.

    Note: Once your claim is filed, you will receive an official notice stating your weekly benefit amount and the number of weeks you may be entitled to receive.

14. How will a part-time job affect my benefits?

    You must report any gross earnings for the week the work is performed, regardless of when you are paid. You can earn up to 30% of your weekly benefit amount and still receive the full weekly benefit amount. If you earn over 30% of your weekly benefit amount then a dollar for dollar deduction will be taken. However, if you earn an amount equal to or more than your weekly benefit amount, or work 40 hours or more, you will not be eligible for payment that week.

15. How will retirement payments affect my benefits?

    Receiving retirement income, including disability retirement, may result in a reduction of your weekly benefit amount.

16. What is a job separation?

    It is the end of an employment relationship. Common job separation types include:
    Voluntary Quit: The employee ended the employment relationship.
    Discharge: The employer ended the employment relationship.
    Reduction of Force (lay off): The employer was not able to provide more work for the employee to perform.
    Part-time: When work hours have been reduced. Work performed during the week is not 40 or more hours.

17. If I resign or I am terminated from my job, will I be eligible to receive unemployment benefits?

    Generally, unemployment benefits are only available to persons who have become unemployed through no fault of their own, and are willing and able to accept full time work. Eligibility for unemployment benefits can only be determined once the claim is actually filed and facts are obtained from you and your former employer. Please refer to unemployment insurance rules and regulations.

18. How will I receive my payments?

    The preferred method is Direct Deposit into your personal checking or savings account. You may also choose to receive payments on a Utah Debit Card, which works like a standard debit card. Payments by paper checks are no longer issued.

19. When can I expect to receive my first payment?

    It can take up to four weeks to resolve any open issues and determine your eligibility. You will receive notification or payment once those issues have been resolved. The first eligible week of your claim is a non-payable waiting week.

    If you have a current claim with issues, click here to login and view the status of the issue(s). Choose "Issues Preventing Payment".

20. When can I expect to receive my payment after filing a weekly claim?

    You can expect to receive payment for an eligible week on your claim within two business days of filing your weekly claim.

21. How will I receive my UI correspondence?

    You can receive your UI correspondence electronically when you agree to receive it through the Electronic Correspondence Center. You can receive your correspondence quicker than having it sent through the mail.

    If you agree to receive correspondence electronically, your UI correspondence will be sent to a secure electronic “mailbox” set up for you on this website. When correspondence is sent to your mailbox, UI will also send a courtesy notification to any e-mail address you provide. This notification will let you know you have mail in your mailbox.

    You may discontinue receiving your UI correspondence electronically by opting out at any time.

22. What are the work search requirements to receive unemployment insurance?

    You will be required to make at least four new contacts for full time work each week, including the non payable waiting week. These contacts must be with employers not previously contacted. Employer contacts can include those made in person, by telephone, online, or by resumes that are faxed or emailed.

    If you do not make at least four new contacts during a given week, you may be denied benefits; however, the Department will evaluate your overall work search efforts during the week before making an eligibility determination.

    Note: You will be required to keep an accurate written record of all employer contacts and other work search efforts. The Department may request that record at anytime during your claim.

23. What do I do when I have found a full-time job?

    When you find full time employment, you can close your claim by calling the Claims Center to report that you are back to work. You can also close your claim by simply not filing once you begin working. After three weeks of not filing weekly claims, the system will automatically close your claim.
    Note: You must reopen your claim in order to receive benefits if your claim is closed.

24. What causes a claim to be closed?

    • Four consecutive weeks of earnings equal to or more than your weekly benefit amount.
    • No weekly claim filed within 27 days of the last week filed.

25. Can I attend school or training and collect unemployment benefits?

    You can receive unemployment benefits if the Department determines your schooling or training does not interfere with your availability for full-time work. Under limited circumstances, school attendance that interfers with your availability for full-time work may also be approved.

26. If I move to another state, will it affect my eligibility to continue collecting unemployment insurance in Utah?

    You can continue to file against Utah, as long as you continue to meet the eligibility requirements.

    • You must change your address/phone number immediately by logging in at jobs.utah.gov/ui/continuedclaims and selecting "This is you and the above information is NOT correct". Or you can contact the Unemployment Insurance Claims Center. Payments may be delayed if you do not report your current address.
    • You must register for work in that state within three business days so that state may assist you in your work search.
    • You will still be required to keep an accurate record of all employer contacts and the information can be requested at any time.
    • You are required to notify the Claims Center if you travel or move to a location outside the United States.

27. What is a Utah Debit Card?

    If you do not select Direct Deposit as your payment method you will be mailed a Utah Debit Card. The Utah Debit Card will be valid for any new claim you file for the next three years, so keep it in a safe place since you will be able to use it again if you file during that time. If you require a new card during that three-year time frame, you may be charged a replacement fee. For more information on your Utah Debit Card, click here.

    You must contact Chase at 1-866-330-6828 if you have not yet received your Utah Debit Card or to report a lost or stolen card.

28. Are there any extended benefits if I have exhausted my unemployment?

    Emergency Unemployment Compensation may be available, click here for more information.

29. Are unemployment benefits taxable?

    Unemployment benefits are subject to federal and Utah state income taxes. You may elect to have taxes withheld from your weekly benefit amount: 10 percent for federal taxes and 5 percent for state taxes.

30. What happens if information is not reported accurately?

    Failure to report information accurately can cause overpayment of benefits. Knowingly or carelessly misreporting any information, including earnings, constitutes fraud. If you commit fraud, you will be subject to repayment of benefits up to twice the overpayment amount, disqualification, severe fines, and possible prosecution.

31. What must be reported as earnings?

    Wages, tips, commission, gratuities, paid training, and holiday pay are all types of earnings that must be reported. Self-employment, Military Reserve, and National Guard wages must be reported as well.