How To File For New Hampshire Unemployment

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

When to file for unemployment benefits

Each time you become unemployed or have your hours of work significantly reduced, you must file a new claim or reopen an existing claim. This can be done online or by visiting the nearest NH Employment Security office to file your claim on a computer in one of our Resource Centers. You must open your claim during the week your hours are reduced or, if you became unemployed from full-time work on Thursday or Friday, open your claim on Sunday or Monday. If you live in another State and your last employment was in New Hampshire, you may file your claim over the Internet.

Information needed when applying for unemployment

Below is the information you need when applying for unemployment benefits:

  • Your Social Security Number
  • Address (mailing and home address)
  • Telephone Number
  • Email Address
  • Alien Registration Number (if you are not a US citizen)
  • Amount of separation, holiday, sick, or retirement pay you received or will receive
  • Military Form DD-214, member 4 copy (if you were in the military in the past year)
  • Form SF-8 (if you worked for the Federal government in the past year)

Also, for each employer you worked for in the past 18 months, you need:

  • Complete name and address of each employer (including zip code)
  • Payroll address if different
  • Employer's telephone number (including area code)
  • Beginning and ending dates of employment (day, month and year)
  • Number of hours worked and pay rate if you worked this week (including Sunday)
  • Reason why you are no longer working for employer

Filing a claim is a two step process. You must complete both steps to be potentially eligible for payment.

Step 1: Initial Claim

This is the first claim you file after becoming unemployed, your first claim in a Benefit Year. It is not a request for compensation, but it serves as a notice to the Department and your employer that you may claim benefits. You must register and file your initial claim application online. Your claim is effective the Sunday of the calendar week in which it is opened. To be timely to claim the week in which you last worked, you must file your initial claim within three business days of your last day worked. You must file no later than the last day of the first week for which you wish to file for benefits.

Step 2: Continued Claim

File your weekly claim online. This is the actual request for payment of benefits that is made each week. You must file your first continued claim between the first Sunday through Saturday period following the week you open your claim, and every week thereafter that you wish to file for benefits.

How and when do I file a claim?

This is the first claim you file after becoming unemployed, your first claim in a Benefit Year. It is not a request for compensation, but it serves as a notice to the Department and your employer that you may claim benefits. You must register and file your initial claim application over the Internet. Your claim is effective the Sunday of the calendar week in which it is opened. To be timely to claim the week in which you last worked, you must file your initial claim within 3 (three) business days of your last day worked. You must file no later than the last day of the first week for which you wish to file for benefits.

Filing for New Hampshire unemployment benefits

Filing for Unemployment Compensation can be done online, over the phone or in person. To file your unemployment claim online, click here. To file in person, visit one of their local offices. If you do not live in New Hampshire and have no access to the internet, please call 800-266-2252, Monday through Friday from 8am to 4:30pm EST.

When will I get my check?

After your initial claim is completed, it is immediately transmitted to the Benefit Adjudication Unit for processing. Your monetary eligibility is determined and a Determination of Unemployment Compensation mailed that detail your potential WBA (weekly benefit amount). This document is not a guarantee of payment. If there are questions on non-monetary eligibility conditions, you may be contacted for additional information.

Depending on the number of questions about your claim, if any, you can expect to be contacted and/or receive a Determination of Eligibility within 30 days. If you are unemployed for any reason other than lack of work, more time may be needed to process your claim. If you are found eligible, checks will be issued for any timely weeks filed at the same time the final non-monetary eligibility determinations are made. Remember to file for weekly benefits (also known as continued claims) according to the instructions provided. You will only receive payment for continued claims that are filed timely.

How will I know if I qualify for benefits and the amount?

You will be mailed a Determination of Unemployment Compensation about your monetary eligibility and, if there are any questions about your claim, you will be mailed one or more Determination of Eligibility documents about your non-monetary eligibility.

First unemployment insurance payment

After your initial claim is completed, it is immediately transmitted to the Benefit Adjudication Unit for processing. Your monetary eligibility is determined and a Determination of Unemployment Compensation mailed that detail your potential WBA (weekly benefit amount). This document is not a guarantee of payment. If there are questions on non-monetary eligibility conditions, you may be contacted for additional information. Depending on the number of questions about your claim, if any, you can expect to be contacted and/or receive a Determination of Eligibility within 30 days. If you are unemployed for any reason other than lack of work, 6 more time may be needed to process your claim. If you are found eligible, checks will be issued for any timely weeks filed at the same time the final non-monetary eligibility determinations are made. Remember to file for weekly benefits (also known as continued claims) according to the instructions provided. You will only receive payment for continued claims that are filed timely.

Monetary Eligibility

After filing an initial application for Unemployment Insurance benefits, you will receive a Determination of Unemployment Compensation with information about your monetary eligibility. This monetary determination is not a guarantee of payment. It is to advise you and your employer that a claim for benefits has been filed and, if eligible, what the weekly benefit rate will be and upon which wages that rate is based.

Non-Monetary Eligibility

If there are any questions that need to be addressed on a claim, the claimant will receive a Determination of Eligibility document regarding non-monetary eligibility.

New Hampshire unemployment eligibility requirements

In order to be eligible for unemployment compensation, an individual:

  • Must be totally or partially unemployed
  • Must register for work unless you have been specifically exempted
  • Must be available for full-time work on all shifts and during all the hours work claimant is qualified for is normally performed
  • Must be physically and mentally able to work
  • Must search for work
  • Must file timely claims for benefits
  • Must participate in Re-employment Services if selected by NH Employment Security
  • Must disclose mandatory child support payments or overpaid food stamp coupons. Must report any refusal of work or referral to work
Work Search Requirements

Looking for work and providing proof of a search for work is a basic eligibility requirement when collecting unemployment benefits. Having a potential return to work date with a seasonal employer is not a guarantee of a waiver of your work search responsibility. You may be required to look for work that you are able to perform during the off season. The entry of work search activity records is required when filing a continued claim for unemployment benefits online.

File an appeal

NHES certifying officers rule on and issue decisions on unemployment compensation claim issues. Such a decision is known as a Determination of Unemployment Compensation. The claimant or an employer who is an interested party to the claim has the right to request an appeal if the party disagrees with the determination. An appeal is timely if it is submitted within 14 calendar days of the issue (mail) date of the determination being appealed.

The Appeal Tribunal Unit administers these appeals. Appeal requests are processed, and de novo administrative hearings are scheduled. The Appeals Tribunal Chairmen conduct the hearings and issue decisions on the issue under appeal. The Chairmen also presides at Administrative Hearings, sometimes as the chair of an Administrative Hearing Committee (AHC), and issue decisions on employer tax appeals, such as whether an individual worked "in employment" and whether a business is subject to unemployment compensation taxation. Appeals of these "liability" determinations are timely if filed within 14 calendar days of the determination mail date. Administrative hearings are also held and decisions issued on claimant and employer compromise requests.

To file an appeal online, use the Online Appeal Form (Formulario de Apelación - en línea)

If filing by fax, send the request to: 603-223-6141

If filing by mail, send the request to:

Attn: Appeal Tribunal Unit
NH Employment Security
PO Box 2009
Concord, NH 03302-2009

An appeal request should include:

  • The claimant's name and at least the last four digits of his/her Social Security Number
  • If an employer appeal, the business name and the name of the person filing the request
  • Contact information, including an address, telephone number, and email address and
  • If possible, a copy of the determination notice(s)
  • The reason for the disagreement with the determination

If unable to include a copy of the determination, please include the issue date and determination identification number listed on the determination being appealed.

Please indicate if there are:

  • Any dates or time you will be unable to participate in a hearing
  • If an attorney may be involved
  • If an interpreter is needed for you or any potential witnesses, and, if so, for what language(s)
  • Also, please advise if a hearing impairment accommodation is needed
  • Finally, the determination becomes final at the end of the appeal period if there has not been an appeal. However, the commissioner is allowed to extend the time for filing an appeal if there are sufficient grounds for doing so. Please include the reason why the appeal was filed beyond the 14-day filing period with the appeal request.