How To File For Missouri Unemployment

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

Missouri unemployment eligibility requirements

When you file a new claim, they will review your work history to determine if you earned enough wages in insured work to establish a claim. Insured work is work done for one or more employers that are required to contribute to the Unemployment Insurance Trust Fund. Your claim benefit year is the one-year period that UI benefits are potentially available to you.To be eligible, you must:

  • Lose your job through no fault of your own OR quit with good cause related to the work or the employer
  • Make at least $2,250, at least $1,500 during one of the calendar quarters, and at least $750 during the remainder of the year, from an insured employer during your base period
  • And your total base period wages must be at least 1.5 times your highest quarter wages or
  • You must make at least 1.5 times the Taxable Wage Base during two of the four base period quarters
If your claim begins on a Sunday between Your base period is the prior twelve month period as shown
January 1 - March 31 October 1 - September 30
April 1 - June 30 January 1 - December 31
July 1 - September 30 April 1 - March 31
October 1 - December 31 July 1 - June 30

When you receive unemployment benefits

If you are eligible and there are no issues, you can expect payment of your benefits within 18-22 days of filing your initial claim. If there are any issues with your claim, payment may be delayed several weeks while an investigation is conducted. Benefits will not arrive on the same day each week, and the Division of Employment Security (DES) will not mail you a notice when they process. Your benefits are subject to federal and state income taxes. Contact the IRS for more information.The employers on which your claim is based, as well as your last employer are notified that you have filed a claim for benefits. These employers may protest if they have information they believe should keep you from receiving benefits.

Any situation that may keep you from receiving benefits is called an "issue". If there is an issue, you will be sent a questionnaire or a notice for a telephone interview to give information about the issue. Even if you do not complete the questionnaire or participate in the telephone interview, a determination will be made based upon the information available.

After all issues are resolved, and if you are eligible for benefits, payments are usually made the next working day after your weekly request for payment is received. Benefits will not arrive on the same day each week. You will not be mailed a notice when payment is made. Use the DES website at www.moclaim.mo.gov or automated phone system to track payments and claim balance. There is never a fee for using the Division’s Internet or IVR system. For information on your Missouri Access MasterCard® balance, deposits. and other activity, go to www.mo-access.com (no fee) or call 888-775-3445 (three free calls per week then 50 cents per call). Payment information is normally available one or two working days after you file the weekly request for payment.

Waiting Week

The waiting week is the first week of your claim for which you are eligible for unemployment benefits but not paid these benefits. You must file a weekly request for payment for this week. You may receive compensation for the waiting week as the last payment on your regular unemployment claim.

How are my benefits figured?

Your weekly benefit amount (WBA) is 4 percent of the average of your two highest quarters in the base period. Missouri's maximum WBA is $320. Twenty weeks of benefits is the maximum allowed during your benefit year.

Missouri weekly unemployment benefits request

Make sure you have the following items available:

  • Your Social Security Number and your PIN (Personal Identification Number)
  • If you worked and earned wages during the week you are claiming, or you received or will receive vacation, holiday or Workers Adjustment and Retraining Notification (W.A.R.N.) pay for the week, be sure you know the gross amount (total dollars and cents before any deductions) of the pay before you file. These wages will be verified with the employer(s)
  • If self-employed during the week for which you are filing, be sure you know how many hours you worked, even if you had no earnings. If you worked but had no earnings, contact your Regional Claims Center for assistance in filing.

You can file your weekly request for payment online or by phone.

Online: Visit uinteract.labor.mo.gov. Log onto the claims filing system and answer the questions and click "Submit". You will receive a confirmation page to indicate your claim has been filed.

Phone: Call your Regional Claims Center to file your claim by phone. Answer the questions until you hear: "Your weekly claim has been filed."

Jefferson City 573-751-9040
Kansas City 816-889-3101
St. Louis 314-340-4950
Springfield 417-895-6851
Outside Local Calling Area 800-320-2519
  • You must report all wages earned during the week even though you may not be paid until later
  • You must report tips, commissions, bonuses, show-up time, and military reserve drill pay
  • Board, lodging and any other payments not in cash or by check also must be reported
  • If your income for the week is from self-employment or National Guard drill, you need to discuss this with your RCC each week. They will instruct you on how to answer
  • You also must be able and available to work full time each day. This means no illness, injury, or personal circumstances would keep you from working during the week claimed

File Missouri unemployment claim

Online: The Online Claim Filing System is available 24 hours a day, except between 11:30pm on Saturday and 12:31am on Sunday Central Time. You may use the online claim filing system to file your weekly request for payment. Visit uinteract.labor.mo.gov.

Phone: The telephone filing system is available from 8am to 5pm Central Time Monday through Friday, except holidays. The Regional Claims Centers (RCC) answer calls in the order they are received.

Jefferson City 573-751-9040
Kansas City 816-889-3101
St. Louis 314-340-4950
Springfield 417-895-6851
Outside Local Calling Area 800-320-2519

Your call will be answered by an Interactive Voice Response (IVR) System. You will be given a menu of services. When prompted, say "File a Claim" and follow the system's instructions. Sometimes the phone lines will be busy when you call. If your call is not answered by the IVR System on your first try, keep trying every few minutes. Once you are in line to speak with a representative, do not hang up and call back. That will only increase your wait time by putting you again at the back of the line.

File an appeal

If you disagree with a determination, you or your duly authorized agent may file an appeal. You may appeal if you believe the law was incorrectly applied or all the facts were not considered when the determination was made. If you do not understand a determination or notice, contact your Regional Claims Center (RCC).

Your appeal rights and time limits are explained on each determination. If you do not file within the time limit, you may lose your right to appeal. Generally, only circumstances beyond your reasonable control will be considered good cause for late filing. Methods for filing your appeal will be available on your determination letter.

While waiting for the appeals hearing and decision, you must continue to file as usual for each week you are unemployed, or you will not receive unemployment benefits for those weeks, even if the results are in your favor.

Your employer also may file an appeal to a determination that finds you eligible to receive benefits. An employer's appeal will not cause your benefits to stop, unless the employer wins the appeal. It is important that you participate in the hearing on the employer's appeal to present your side of the case. Without your testimony, the employer may win the appeal and you would have to pay back any benefits received. More information on how to file an appeal.

Appeals can be filed by a claimant, an employer, or a licensed Missouri attorney by using either the Claimant Request for Appeal Form, the Employer Request for Appeal Form, or online using Uinteract.

  • Appeals by Claimant Must Include:
  • Your name and Social Security Number
  • The name of the employer
  • The date and subject matter of the determination
  • A brief statement of your reasons for disagreeing with the determination
  • Your signature
  • Appeals by Employer Must Include:
  • The name of the employer
  • Your name and job title (an employee of the employer can file the appeal)
  • The names and Social Security Numbers of all claimants involved (if any)
  • The date and subject matter of the determination
  • A brief statement of your reasons for disagreeing with the determination
  • Your signature

You must submit your appeal through UInteract, or by mail or fax to the following address/fax number, unless your determination gives you a different address. Appeals cannot be filed by e-mail or over the telephone.

Division of Employment Security
Appeals Tribunal
P.O. Box 59
Jefferson City, MO 65104-0059
Or fax to: 573-751-1321

Log into UInteract

You have 30 days from the date of the determination to file an appeal. The last day to file an appeal is set out on the determination.