Unemployment Benefit Specialist (Adjudicator) FAQs

Adjudicator positions are currently available. Adjudicators investigate claims by interviewing employers and those filing for unemployment via phone. See full details in the position description (PD). (Also see More About the Position below.)

We anticipate filling around 15 – 20 full-time (40 hours/week) permanent positions. The number of positions to be filled is subject to change based on business needs.

ALL positions work first shift hours. (Also see Hours & Time Off below.)

ALL new hires must be available full-time for in-person new-hire training that is estimated to be between 6 and 8 weeks long. (Also see Training below.)

Positions are available in our Unemployment Insurance (UI) offices in the following cities:

• Appleton: Office is in the heart of Appleton, just off I-41.
• Eau Claire: Office is located off US Business 53 near the Highway 53 bypass.
• Menomonee Falls: Office is located near WI 190 and I-41, just a 20-minute drive from Milwaukee.

Employees are required to report in-person to their assigned office. New hire training and additional trainings over the first year will be conducted in-person at the assigned office.

Employees in these positions may be permitted to work remotely in Wisconsin once training is complete. These positions are not, however, solely "work from home" positions and employees will still need to report in-person to the office when required.

(Also see Working Remotely below.)

For hires that require training, the start date is anticipated to be Monday, September 9.

Starting pay is between $23.03 and $25.28 per hour, depending on qualifications and experience, plus excellent benefits. A 2% wage increase is anticipated on 6/30/2024.

Yes, these permanent positions are eligible for state benefits, including health insurance, retirement, sick leave, and vacation time.

Benefits for state employees are administered by the Department of Employee Trust Funds (ETF). Go to their website at Career Benefits For State Employees | ETF (wi.gov) for information about available benefits. An overview of the health insurance plan designs available in 2024 is provided in this decision guide.

No, these positions are NOT solely "work from home" positions and employees will still need to report in-person to the office when required. Employees in these positions may be permitted to work remotely in Wisconsin. Any remote work arrangements will be made with the supervisor after training is complete.

If permitted to work remotely, DWD will provide all necessary computer equipment for you to perform your work.

If permitted to work remotely, you would need to have access to high-speed internet (minimum 20 MB/second download, 10MB/second upload) and the ability to perform confidential and professional telework. DWD will provide all other necessary computer equipment for you to perform your work. The computer provided by DWD will have capability to connect to Wi-Fi. If call quality is not satisfactory via Wi-Fi, the computer must be connected to a modem via an ethernet cable.

Additionally, the remote work agreement requires remote work be performed in Wisconsin, unless by special permission of the Department of Workforce Development Secretary's Office and Chief Information Officer.

New hire training is estimated to be between 6 and 8 weeks long. Additional trainings are 1-2 weeks long and occur in the first year of work. All Adjudicators must be available between the hours of 7:45 AM and 4:30 PM for training. Please note:

• Employees are NOT able to take vacation or personal time off during the training period; and
• The new hire training and additional trainings will be conducted in-person at the assigned office locations.

The training period is mandatory and no vacation or personal time off will be granted during the training period.

Typically, Adjudicators work 7:45 AM to 4:30 PM, with a 45-minute lunch break, Monday through Friday.

At the beginning of your employment, you'll have 36 hours of personal holiday leave that could be used as paid time off during an excused absence. You should talk with your supervisor to see if the days you want to take off are approved.

NOTE: Adjudicators are NOT able to take vacation or personal time off during the mandatory training period. (Also see Training above.)

The duties and responsibilities are outlined in the position description (PD).

There is not a formal dress code. However, our work rules prohibit unclean, unkempt, or inappropriate dress or grooming which adversely affect proper performance of duties or the image of DWD.

Yes – these permanent positions may be reclassified to a higher level once appropriate.

Adjudicators are critical thinkers and look at all sides of a situation. They investigate claims in the unemployment insurance program by interviewing employers and those filing for unemployment via phone. They determine eligibility for claims by investigating, writing statements, and making formal legal decisions as to an individual's eligibility for unemployment benefits.

Your application materials will be evaluated, and you will receive a notification in your Wisc.Jobs job cart. If it is determined that you are eligible to move forward in the selection process, you will be invited to interview via the email address you provided.

Please be sure to check your email regularly.

We will only ask for the information we need to evaluate you for the positions for which you're competing. If we ask you to provide references and/or background information, it is because we are not able to re-use the information you provided previously.

If invited to interview, you will receive an email with a link to schedule your interview. The email will also contain important instructions to prepare for your interview. SAVE that email for reference.

Interviews will be offered during business hours on certain days of the week.

• If your interview is more than 48 hours away, you can reschedule your interview time by:
  • (In the email you received confirming the interview time you scheduled) Clicking on the link to cancel your scheduled interview time. Before doing so, you may want to check to make sure there are still other interview times available that will work for you.
  • (In the email you received from DWD inviting you to schedule an interview) Clicking on the link to schedule a new interview time.
• If your interview is less than 48 hours away, you must contact UBSInterview@dwd.wisconsin.gov to reschedule your interview.

If your interview is more than 48 hours away, use the email you received confirming your scheduled interview. Click on the link in that email to cancel your scheduled interview time.

If your interview is less than 48 hours away, you must contact UBSInterview@dwd.wisconsin.gov to cancel your interview.

The State of Wisconsin is an Equal Opportunity employer and complies with all state and federal employment laws, which includes providing reasonable accommodations to employees with disabilities. We're open to considering any request and will be happy to discuss any accommodations when we're making an offer of hire.

Please contact us at DWDJobs2@dwd.wisconsin.gov as soon as possible to discuss your needs. The State of Wisconsin is an Equal Opportunity employer and complies with all state and federal employment laws, which includes providing reasonable accommodations to employees with disabilities. Please make sure to contact us at least one business day prior to your scheduled interview.