How To File For Kansas Unemployment
This page provides information on how to file for unemployment in Kansas. If you lost your job or your hours were reduced at no fault of your own, you may qualify to receive unemployment benefits in your state. Review the information below, if you still have questions or issues about these benefits, then we suggest to contact your local Kansas Unemployment Department for assistance. It is important that you file your new claim right away because Kansas unemployment insurance are not retroactive.
Information needed to file new unemployment claim
Below is a list of information you need to have when applying for Kansas unemployment:
- Your Social Security number
- Full mailing address, including apartment or lot number, Zip Code and PO Box if you use one
- A phone number where you can be reached during the day
- The name and mailing address of your last employer, no matter how long you worked there
- The date you began and stopped working for each employer and the reason you left each job
- The county in which you live
- Your driver's license number
- If you are not a citizen or national of the US, your employment authorization number and expiration date
- If you were active duty military within the past 18 months, your DD-214, Member #4 form
- If you were a federal employee, your Standard Form SF-50 or pay stub
- Any separation, vacation, or holiday pay you have received or will receive in the future
A record of your claim will not be established unless you are told your claim has been accepted. If you are unable to complete your claim application, the information you have entered will be saved for 7 days from the date you began filing the claim so that you can complete it later and within 7 days. After they verify your identity, you can begin filing your claim again from the point where you left off.
Your claim is effective the week that you file your application for unemployment. If you do not finish filing your claim within the 7-day period following your first attempt, you will have to start over from the beginning and answer all questions again. In addition, the effective date of your claim will change which means you will not receive waiting week credit or payment for the previous week(s).
Filing unemployment claim online
To file your Kansas unemployment claim online, go to GetKansasBenefits.gov or click here to file an online application for unemployment insurance if:
- You are filing a new application for unemployment
- You need to open your claim again and you have worked since the last time you filed
Follow the instructions carefully. Your application is not complete until you reach the Claimant Determination. The online service is available:
| Sunday from 12pm | To Monday at 9pm |
| Tuesday through Friday | From 7am to 9pm |
| Saturday | 7am to 10pm |
During the process, you may be asked to print forms that must be filled out and returned to the Kansas Unemployment Contact Center. This is important information that will be used to determine if you are eligible for unemployment benefits. A delay in the return of those documents may cause your benefits to be denied.
When filing online you must create a user name and password (see What is a user name and password for more information). Make note of your user name and password; you will use this information every time you use the unemployment website for this claim and future claims. You can use the website to:
- File an application for unemployment insurance benefits
- File your weekly claim for benefits
- Check payment information
- Check the status of your claim
- Update personal information (phone number, mailing address, email address)
- Reset your PIN (Personal Identification Number)
File unemployment claim by phone
If you cannot file online you can apply for unemployment benefits by calling the Kansas Unemployment Contact Center.
- You must use a touch-tone phone to file your claim over the phone
- If you are using a touch-tone phone that has a pulse/tone switch, be sure the switch is set to tone
- Most public pay phones can access our system
- The phone system is busiest on Monday and Tuesday. If you call on those days, be prepared for longer hold times
- You may consider calling Wednesday, Thursday or Friday when there are usually fewer callers
| Kansas City Area | 913-596-3500 |
| Topeka Area | 785-575-1460 |
| Wichita Area | 316-383-9947 |
| Toll-Free | 800-292-6333 |
| TDD | 800-766-3777 |
The automated phone system to file an application for unemployment is available from 7am to 7pm Monday through Friday and 9am to 7pm on Saturday. If you call outside office hours, you will only be able to complete the automated portion of your claim application. Your claim information will be saved for 7 days, allowing you to call back during office hours and speak to a claims specialist to complete your application, or you may complete filing your application online. Claims Specialists are available Monday through Friday 8am to 4:15pm (Central Time) except on state holidays.
After you file your unemployment benefits claim
All new initial claims will have an identity verification conducted with the Social Security Administration. After you complete your claim, you will receive an "Unemployment Insurance Monetary Determination" letter based on the information they have on your past employment. This includes:
- The start date of your unemployment claim
- The amount of wages reported by each employer
- Your base period
- Your weekly benefit amount
- Your total benefit amount
The information in the letter will show whether you have earned enough wages to establish an unemployment claim. If you believe that wages on your "Determination Letter" are incorrect or missing information, contact the Kansas Unemployment Contact Center for assistance. You will be asked to provide proof of the correct wages. Without proof, they may not be able to help you. A monetary determination does not mean you will receive benefits. Additional information may be needed from you and/or your employer to make sure you are eligible. You must continue to file your weekly claim for payment while your claim is being investigated.
File an appeal
If you disagree with the Notice of Determination mailed to you following adjudication of your claim, you may file an appeal with the Kansas Department of Labor. Your appeal rights, and time limits for filing an appeal (within 16 days of the mail date of the determination), are explained on the back of your Notice of Determination. You will lose your right to appeal if you do not file within the stated time limit.
Write a letter asking for an appeal of the decision to the Office of Appeals, 401 SW Topeka Boulevard, 2nd Floor, Topeka, KS 66603-3182, fax: 785-296-4065. If you are the claimant, be sure to include your name, Social Security number, current address and phone number. If you are the employer, include the claimant's name, Social Security number and the issue code of the determination you are appealing. You need not include details about your claim at this time.
