Application for Unemployment Insurance Benefits
Department of Workforce Development
Instructions and Next Steps
You will receive a "Claim Confirmation and Instructions" letter in the mail in a few
days.
Various informational documents will be sent to you as your claim continues.
Wisconsin has a waiting week for Unemployment Insurance benefits. This means that
for every new benefit year, no benefits are payable for the first week you would
otherwise be eligible for benefits.
Registration Requirement
You are required to register for work in your state of residence within 14 days.
You are required to fax proof of registration to 608-327-6471.
Proof of registration includes a screen shot, PDF, or paper copy of your
completed registration, your name, and the last 4 digits of your social security
number.
If you register after the deadline, you will not be eligible for benefits for any
weeks prior to the date you registered.
You must register and complete a résumé within 14 days.
Perform at least 4 work search actions each week
Record your work search actions during the week using the online work search
entry form. If you prefer paper, use the work search action log.
You are required to look for work beginning Sunday 03/30/2025.
Keep acceptable proof of your work search actions for one year. Maintain
enough detail to verify your work searches at any time.
More information about valid work search requirements is available on the DWD
website.
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Examples of valid work search actions include:
Submitting a résumé or application in person to an employer that has openings
or is taking applications.
Registering with a placement facility, temporary help agency, or recruiter.
Participating in a job interview.
File a weekly claim certification each week
You will not be paid any benefits for a week until you file a weekly claim
certification for that week.
You must wait until Sunday or later to file a weekly claim certification for the
previous week. UI weeks run from Sunday through Saturday.
Once the week has ended, you have a 14-day window to file the weekly claim
certification.
Read the Maintaining Your UI Eligibility section of the Claimant Handbook for
more information about filing your weekly claim certification.
You need to file your weekly claim certification for the week:
03/30/2025 through 04/05/2025.
File your first weekly claim during the week of Sunday 04/06/2025. At
that time you will complete your claim for the previous week,
03/30/2025 through 04/05/2025.
Read the Claimant Handbook
The Claimant Handbook has important information about Unemployment
Insurance and your legal rights, including how to apply for benefits, how your
eligibility for benefits is determined, and what you must do each week to receive
a benefit payment.
You are held responsible for knowing the information in the handbook.
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New Claims
A separate computation form will list the employers and wages on which your
new claim is based.
You must agree to this statement and check the box before you can continue to the
next page.
I have read the instructions and acknowledge I am responsible for
knowing this information.
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