How To File For Kentucky Unemployment

This page provides information on how to file for unemployment in Kentucky. 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 Kentucky Unemployment Department for assistance. It is important that you file your new claim right away because Kentucky unemployment insurance are not retroactive.

Waiting Week

Due to recent changes in the unemployment insurance law, you must now serve a one week waiting period per benefit year. Your waiting week will always be your first payable week. You will request benefits for a two week period. If you are otherwise eligible, the amount of your first check will only be for one week. Your maximum benefit amount will not change.

How long and how much money can a person draw UI benefits?

The minimum amount you can receive in Kentucky is $39 per week. The maximum is $502​ maximum per week.The maximum amount of benefits payable to any worker within any benefit year shall be the amount equal to whichever is the lesser of:

  • 26 times his weekly benefit rate
  • One-third of his base-period wages, except that no worker's maximum amount shall be less than 15 times his weekly benefit rate

Information needed when applying for benefits

To file a claim, you will need:

  • Unemployment Claim Filing Your social security number
  • Unemployment Claim Filing Your complete mailing address
  • Unemployment Claim Filing Name, address, and phone number for each of your employers over the last 18 months
  • Unemployment Claim Filing The exact day you began work at each job
  • Unemployment Claim Filing The last day you worked at each job

Apply for Kentucky unemployment benefits online

The Kentucky's Electronic Workplace for Employment Services (KEWES) internet claims system is accessible for filing an unemployment claim or requesting your bi-weekly benefit payment on-line. The system is available Monday through Friday from 7am to 7pm and Sunday from 10am to 9pm Eastern Time. You cannot file a claim or request a bi-weekly benefit payment on Saturdays. To submit your claim online, click here.

Apply for Kentucky unemployment benefits by phone

Unemployment Insurance claimants who do not have access to the Internet or who speak Spanish can call 502-875-0442 Monday through Friday between 7:30am and 5:30pm Eastern Time, to file their initial or reopen claims by telephone. This is not a toll-free number. To request your bi-weekly benefit payment by telephone call 877-3MY-KYUI or 877-369-5984 toll free.

File an appeal

Appeals from benefit determinations may be made by either the employer or the claimant and are heard by an Appeals Branch referee. Be sure to include the social security number and/or the employer number of the claimant when sending documentation. If either party is dissatisfied with the decision of the referee, a further appeal may be filed with the Unemployment Insurance Commission, and, thereafter, through the courts.

The party filing the appeal must do so within the number of days specified on the Appeals Rights Chart from the mailing date of the decision being appealed. Appeals must be made in writing. A letter to the appropriate local office, to the Appeals Branch or to the UI Commission stating the intent to appeal is sufficient. Appeals may be addressed as below:

Appeals Branch
275 E. Main St. 2EB
Frankfort, KY 40621
DES.UIA@Ky.gov​
Fax: 502-564-7850

UI Commission
275 E. Main St.2WF
Frankfort, KY 40621
DES.UIC@Ky.gov​​​
Fax: 502-564-3925

The appealing party may withdraw an appeal by informing the Appeals Branch or UI Commission, in writing.