Wisconsin Urges Unemployment Filing Online Over Coronavirus

MADISON, WI – As Wisconsin's coronavirus public health emergency enters into its second week, many people are finding themselves out of work and needing to apply for unemployment benefits.

The Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development says they're encouraging people to go online for faster delivery of unemployment benefits after people have been flooding the department's phone lines with requests.

For fast, up-to-date information and to apply for unemployment benefits, officials recommend going to their website here: https://dwd.wisconsin.gov/ui/.

Officials say the majority of people applying for unemployment benefits can complete their claim online.

How To Get Benefits

1. Apply online

The week a person becomes unemployed, they're urged to file their application online instead of waiting to file. For more information, instructional videos, and to apply, please visit https://dwd.wisconsin.gov/uiben/apply/.

2. File Weekly Claim

After applying online, people will need to file a claim certification each week. This will require them to answer a series of questions. They must continue to file a weekly claim certification for each week they would like to receive benefits. More information is located at https://dwd.wisconsin.gov/uiben/handbook/english/contentspart3.htm.

Am I Eligible For Benefits?

The department has a handbook that can be found at https://dwd.wisconsin.gov/uiben/handbook/. It contains important information and instructions about your eligibility for benefits and how to protect your rights to those benefits under the Wisconsin Unemployment Insurance law.

Employers can also find information on payment options at https://dwd.wisconsin.gov/uitax/payments/ and unemployment insurance online services at https://dwd.wisconsin.gov/uitax/

The department also has a Wisconsin Unemployment Insurance Handbook for Employers, which can be found at https://dwd.wisconsin.gov/ui201/.