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Start Your Unemployment Compensation Process

Filing New or Current Claims

Log into DCNetworks for the following:

Claimant's Rights and Responsibilities Handbook (English, Spanish) [PDF]

Managing Your Account

Unemployment Insurance Information for Employers

General Benefits Information

You may be disqualified from receiving benefits in the District of Columbia for any of the following reasons:

  • Voluntary departure from your last employer without good cause connected with the work.
  • Discharge by your last employer for gross misconduct.
  • Discharge by your last employer for misconduct other than gross misconduct.
  • Refusal to apply for, or accept, suitable work without good cause.
  • Participation in a labor dispute other than a lockout.
  • Inability to work or unavailability for work.
  • Failure to register, as directed, with the Job Service.
  • Failure to report, as directed.
  • Failure to participate, as directed, in reemployment services.
  • Failure to attend a training course recommended by the Department of Employment Services.
  • Not being authorized to work, if you are not a US Citizen.
  • A reasonable assurance of continuing employment.

Extended Unemployment Insurance Information

There are currently two federal programs that potentially extend unemployment insurance (UI) benefits for eligible claimants. The Emergency Unemployment Compensation (EUC) and Extended Benefits (EB) programs are designed to assist claimants who have exhausted their regular UI benefits during this period of high unemployment. 

If a claimant is otherwise eligible for federal unemployment benefits, in order to receive additional weeks of benefits through EUC:

  • Claimants must exhaust all regular UI benefits by week ending December 29, 2012.
  • Claimants must have applied for EUC through the web, over the phone, or at a local American Job Center on or before the week ending December 29, 2012.
  • Claimants cannot be eligible for unemployment benefits on a new, regular claim in DC, another state, or Canada.

The law President Obama signed on February 22, 2012, which will extend unemployment insurance benefits through December 31, 2012, creates national job search requirements for everyone collecting state and federal UI benefits.  This work search is required for the life of the claim.

  • Claimants MUST submit Work Search information each week to the DOES for review. Work search information can be supplied online or, in the case of hardship, the claim form may be submitted by mailing a completed weekly claim form.
  • Payment for the week may not be made until we receive evidence that the required work search has been made.
  • Failure to perform an adequate search for work will affect your eligibility and may result in a denial of benefits.
  • In order to receive additional weeks of benefits through the Extended Benefits Program:
    • Claimants must exhaust all regular UI benefits and all EUC benefits before the week ending January 5, 2013. 
    • Claimants must continue to file each week through the web, over the phone, or by mail.
    • Claimants cannot be eligible for unemployment benefits on a new, regular claim in DC, another state, or Canada.

Additionally, all UI claimants are encouraged to utilize job-seeker services through the DCNetworks system, the One City One Hire web portal, or one of the American Job Centers.

This latest federal legislation does not include any additional weeks of benefits; it extends the filing deadlines for starting any new tier of the four tiers of federal extension benefits available.  It also extends the filing and payment dates for those who are currently collecting benefits under the Extended Benefits Program.

Additionally, the legislation will gradually reduce the number of maximum potential weeks available from up to 99 weeks to up to 93 weeks. View [PDF] the breakdown of the filing deadlines for federal extension benefits and the total maximum weeks of benefits available in the District of Columbia based on the current unemployment rate thresholds.

 

More Information

Need some help?

Phone: Local (202) 724-7000 or Toll Free 1 (877) 319-7346

Effective immediately, the DC unemployment phone lines are open: Monday-Friday from 8:30 am-5 pm

Please call during non-peak hours—weekdays after 5 pm and all day Saturday via the automated line. Due to heavy call volume, if you call during peak hours, please be prepared for extended hold times.

Find a Job - Visit www.jobs.dc.gov

 

 

Service Details: 
HomeSaver Program
Claimant Eligibility
Dislocated Workers
Service Contact: 
Office of Unemployment Compensation - Tax Division
Contact Email: 
does@dc.gov
Contact Phone: 
(202) 698-7550
Contact Fax: 
(202) 673-6993
Contact TTY: 
TTY
Contact Suite #: 
4th Floor
Office Hours: 
Monday to Friday 8:30 am to 4:30 pm