For an Unemployment Benefit Payment
NOTE: The Department of Workforce Development submitted a grant application for the Federal Emergency Management Agency's (FEMA) Lost Wages Assistance (LWA) program on August 27, 2020. The grant was approved on September 1, 2020. DWD will update this site when additional information is available.
A weekly claim is what you file for a certain calendar week when you want to receive an unemployment benefit payment for that week.
You can only file a weekly claim if you've already applied for benefits.
Before you file your weekly claim, please review Part 3 in the Handbook for Claimants.
As a result of an Emergency Rule you do not need to do a work search through the week ending December 5, 2020. No action is needed on your part regarding the work search. However, some individuals may be required to register with JCW. These are two separate requirements.
NOTE: If you are receiving unemployment benefits, you may also qualify for Energy Assistance and receive help paying your utility bill. Unemployment is not counted as income when applying for Energy Assistance. More information available online at http://homeenergyplus.wi.gov or call 1-866-HEATWIS (432-8947).
If you have additional questions, please review our Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ).
If you have questions that cannot be answered by the Handbook for Claimants or our FAQ page, please call us at (414) 435-7069 during business hours.
Over 30,000 people try to file their weekly claim on Sundays from 9AM-10AM. To keep our system healthy and performing optimally, file later in the day or Monday through Friday. Remember, you have up to 14 days to file your weekly claim.
Hours of Operation: Online services are available at the following times to file a weekly claim:
| Sunday | 9:00 AM - Midnight |
|---|---|
| Monday – Friday | Available 24 Hours |
| Saturday | Midnight - 3:00 PM |
DWD Contact Information
201 E. Washington Ave
P.O. Box 7946
Madison, WI 53707
(608) 266-3131
A proud partner of the 
network