Unemployment FAQs

When filing a new application, you will need the following information:

• Your Social Security number
• Full mailing address, including apartment or lot number, Zip Code and PO Box if you use one
• A phone number where you can be reached during the day
• The name and mailing address of your last employer, no matter how long you worked there
• Note: Your paycheck stub or W-2 form usually contains this information
• The date you began and stopped working for each employer and the reason you left each job for the last 18 months
• The county in which you live
• Your driver's license number
• If you are not a citizen or national of the United States, your employment authorization number and expiration date
• If you were active duty military within the past 18 months, your DD-214, Member #4 form
• If you were a federal employee, your Standard Form SF-50 or pay stub
• Any separation, vacation, or holiday pay you have received or will receive in the future.

A record of your application will not be established unless you are told your claim has been accepted. If you are unable to complete your application, the information you have entered will be saved for 7 days from the date you began filing the claim so that you can complete it later and within 7 days.

After we verify your identity, you can begin filing your application again from the point where you left off.
Your application is effective the week that you file your application for unemployment. If you do not finish filing your application within the 7–day period following your first attempt, you will have to start over from the beginning and answer all questions again. If your claim needs backdating, you will need to file with the Contact Center.

If you are eligible for regular unemployment benefits, weekly benefit amounts for claims filed between the dates of July 1, 2022 through June 30, 2023 will be a minimum of $140 and a maximum of $560 per week. For claims filed between July 1, 2023 through June 30, 2024 weekly benefit amounts will be a minimum of $147 and a maximum of $589 per week. You will be notified of your weekly benefit amount through a monetary determination, which will be issued after you file an application for benefits. If you want an estimate of your weekly benefit amount, we recommend using our benefits calculator at GetKansasBenefits.gov. 

If you have wages during the base period of your claim earned in another state, from the military or federal government, we will ask for your wage information from the other state(s), and/or your branch of service or the federal government to help process your claim.

If you have not earned enough wages in Kansas to be eligible for benefits without adding in the additional wages from another state, the military or federal government, your unemployment payments will be delayed until we receive the requested wage information.

When we receive the wage information, another "Unemployment Insurance Monetary Determination" letter listing these wages will be mailed to you. You must continue to file your weekly claim for payment while your wages are being investigated.

Go to GetKansasBenefits.gov and click to file an online application for unemployment insurance if:

• You are filing a new application for unemployment
• You need to open your claim again and you have worked since the last time you filed.
• Follow the instructions found there carefully. Your application is not complete until you reach the "Claimant Determination."

The online service is available: Sunday from noon to Monday at 9 p.m.; Tuesday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m.; and Saturday from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m.

During the process, you may be asked to complete forms and return them to the Kansas Unemployment Contact Center. You can print them and mail or fax them. The information provided in the form is important as it will be used to determine if you are eligible for unemployment benefits. A delay in the return of those documents may cause your benefits to be denied.

If you cannot file online you can apply for unemployment benefits by calling the Kansas Unemployment Contact Center. You must use a touch–tone phone to file your claim over the phone.

You must file your unemployment application by phone if:

• You worked in any other state than Kansas in the past 18 months
• You filed an unemployment claim with another state in the past 12 months
• You were in the military service or were a federal employee in the past 18 months

All other claims can be filed online. Remember, filing online is simple, fast and secure; whereas there will be a wait if I transfer you to take your application.

The individual may file a claim for unemployment benefits in any state in which they have earned money. States will combine your wages for a claim. In Kansas, an individual with wages in another state must apply by calling our contact center—you cannot complete an application online in Kansas if combining wages. Individuals can only file/claim benefits in one state at a time, so if they begin filing in one state, their claim will remain with that state. 

All new applications will have an identity verification conducted with the Social Security Administration.

After you complete your claim, you will receive an "Unemployment Insurance Monetary Determination" letter based on the information we have on your past employment. This includes:

• The start date of your unemployment claim
• The amount of wages reported by each employer
• Your base period
• Your weekly benefit amount
• Your total benefit amount

The information in the letter will show whether you have earned enough wages to establish an unemployment claim. If you believe that wages on your "Determination Letter" are incorrect or missing information, contact the Kansas Unemployment Contact Center for assistance. You will be asked to provide proof of the correct wages (check stubs, W–2 statements or other documents).

A monetary determination does not mean you will receive benefits. Additional information may be needed from you and/or your employer to make sure you are eligible.

You must continue to file your weekly claim for payment while your claim is being investigated.

The required verification for all new claims may delay the receipt of benefits in limited circumstances.

The name and Social Security number of new claimants are sent through a secure transaction to the Social Security Administration.

Through random selection your Social Security number was pulled for additional verification. As a part of your eligibility you are required to submit the information requested.

We will need a copy of both your Social Security card and your driver’s license or other state-issued photo ID. Legible copies of the documents should be mailed or faxed to our office by the due date shown on the Identity Verification form you were sent.

If you do not submit the required information by the due date, you will be held ineligible to receive benefits until we receive the necessary documentation. Please continue to file your weekly claims while this matter is under investigation so you may be paid for back weeks if the matter is resolved.

If you have lost your Social Security card or changed your name, you may request a duplicate card from the Social Security Administration website.

It may take a week or more to get a replacement Social Security card. You can ask your local SSA office to provide you with a printout of your information that you can provide to us while you wait for the duplicate card to be issued. Your local Social Security office can be found in the U.S. (Federal) Government section of the phone book.

To report a name change, fill out an Application for a Social Security Card (Form SS-5). You can get the form by visiting the website above or any Social Security office, as well as by calling Social Security’s toll-free number (800) 772-1213.

Go to GetKansasBenefits.gov to file another online application for unemployment benefits or if you need to reopen an existing claim.

Follow the instructions found there carefully. Your application is Not Complete until you reach the “Claimant Determination” page.

During the process, you may be asked to print forms that must be filled out and returned to the Kansas Unemployment Contact Center. This is important information that will be used to determine if you are eligible for unemployment benefits. A delay in the return of those documents may cause your benefits to be denied.

If you have used the website to apply for unemployment benefits at another time, you must use the same user name and password created when you filed your first application.

If you cannot file online you can apply for unemployment benefits by calling the Unemployment Contact Center. However, please note that there will be another wait time.

No, it means there are questions or issues that must be addressed before your unemployment insurance claim can be cleared for payment or denied. During the adjudication process, we will make a determination about your claim based on the current information we have, which includes information we receive from your answers to these additional questions, your previous employer and even other sources. In some cases, we will make a determination after we have talked with you in a telephone interview.

If you have not submitted your application, you may use the back button on your Web browser to return to previous questions. You will also have an opportunity to review and change your answers before submitting the application. You may do this by selecting and changing your answer on the “Review Answers” page.

If you have already completed and submitted your application, you will be unable to change your answers or add additional information. You may fax in additional information to (785) 296-3249 or simply provide this information if selected for a phone interview

Make sure the pop-up blocker on your Web browser is turned off.

You will need to speak to a representative with the Unemployment Contact Center to complete the processing of your claim.

Most of the forms are accessible on the Unemployment Home page.

You are not required to have a copy of the summary document.

Claim maintenance is a process that requires a detailed manual review of an Unemployment Insurance (UI) claim to ensure all data is accurate. Unemployment claims are stored and processed in the KDOL mainframe system and when a claim isn’t processing correctly or needs further IT intervention to process and pay the claim, a highly skilled UI specialist will make the appropriate correct changes. Every case is unique, so we do not have an estimated time frame for completion when a claim goes through maintenance.

• File your first weekly claim on Sunday afternoon or evening or Monday before 7 p.m. after filing your unemployment claim in the previous week. For example: If you filed your initial application on Tuesday you should file for your first week of unemployment on the following Sunday or Monday. You may file weekly claims on the Internet or telephone.
• The calendar week for unemployment compensation purposes runs from midnight Sunday to midnight the following Saturday. You may file on any day of the week, Sunday through Saturday, but filing early in the week assures the most prompt payment. You will not receive a benefit payment until that week has been claimed. If you do not file within 14 days, your claim will become inactive and you will have to file an application to re-open your unemployment claim.
• You must file each week to be eligible for your weekly payment.
• If there is a state or bank holiday, your payment will be delayed.

Visit GetKansasBenefits.gov and click on FILE A WEEKLY CLAIM. Use the user name, password and PIN you created when you first applied for unemployment benefits.

You may be instructed to provide information regarding your eligibility. If you have any questions about how to use the system, first review the frequently asked questions. If you cannot find the answer there, please contact the Unemployment Contact Center.

You will need the following information to file a weekly claim for payment:

• If filing online - your user name, password and PIN.
• If filing by phone - your Social Security number and PIN.
• The amount of your gross wages earned (money earned before deductions, not received) during the week you are making a claim for unemployment insurance. You must report wages earned for the week in which you actually worked for those wages, not the week in which you received payment for that work. This includes any pay received as a Reservist for weekend drill and annual training participation.
• The number of hours you worked during the week being claimed.
• Gross amount of any paid time off (such as vacation, personal time off or holiday pay) you received for the week being claimed. Do not report your vacation and holiday pay as a total; these should be separate entries on your claim.
• Gross amount of severance pay received for the week being claimed.
• Paper and pencil to write down any information or instructions you may be given while filing.

There is no toll-free phone number available for the Weekly Claim Line. We recommend that you file your weekly claims online to avoid long-distance charges.

You will be asked a series of questions when you file a weekly claim.

• Did you work any day, Sunday through Saturday, during the week being claimed? Enter your gross earnings before deductions for this week. Do not include holiday, vacation or severance pay in this amount. Please enter the number of hours worked during the week being claimed.
• Did you receive any bonus pay during the week being claimed?
• Did you receive holiday pay for the week being claimed?
• Did you receive vacation pay for the week being claimed?
• Did you receive any severance pay for the week being claimed?
• Did you refuse work during the week being claimed?
• Did you quit a job or were you fired from a job during the week being claimed? Did you report the loss of employment to the Contact Center?
• Did you attend school or enter training during the week being claimed?
• Did you receive or change any type of pension, other than Social Security benefits, during the week being claimed?
• Did you apply for or receive any Workers Compensation payments for the week being claimed that were for a work-connected injury or disability?
• Were you physically able to work four or more days during the week being claimed?
• Were you available for work with no undue restrictions for four or more days during the week being claimed?
• Did you look for work as directed by the Kansas Unemployment Contact Center or Internet claims system during the week being claimed?

You should file every week you are unemployed. If you skip a week it will create a break in your claim and you will need to reopen your claim to continue filing your weekly claims.

You may receive some benefits for a week in which you work less than full time and earn less than your weekly benefit amount.

You may earn up to 25 percent of your weekly benefit amount (WBA) without a reduction to your unemployment benefits. Any earnings over 25 percent of your WBA will be deducted from your unemployment benefits on a dollar-for-dollar basis.

You must report your gross wages (wages before deductions) and not your take-home pay. This includes any wages received as a Reservist for weekend drill and annual training participation.

All wages from employment must be reported during the week when the wages are earned, not when they are received.

You must file a weekly claim for payment for each week you want to receive benefits. Payments will be made if all eligibility requirements have been met. Your claim becomes inactive if you have not filed a weekly claim for payment or had any other activity on your claim for 14 calendar days. If you are determined to be eligible for a benefit payment, you will receive a Visa® debit card by mail.

If there are no issues on your claim, payments are normally received two to three business days after you file your weekly claim. (Please note: If you file your weekly claim on Sunday, payment is made on Wednesday.) Benefit payments will not always be deposited in your debit card or bank account on the same day each week. They may be delayed because of holidays or temporarily held while an issue is being investigated. You must file your weekly claim while any investigation is in progress.

You can obtain information concerning the status of your claim anytime online by selecting the CHECK YOUR CLAIM STATUS option, or by selecting option "1" through the weekly claim phone line. You will be able to get information about:

• The last three weeks you claimed.
• Date and amount of your benefit payment and the amount of benefits remaining.
• If a benefit payment was not issued, the system may be able to tell you the reason.
• If the amount of your benefit payment is reduced because of earnings, pension, child support deduction or any other reason, the system will tell you the amount of the deduction and the reason for it.

If you have questions that cannot be answered by the weekly claim system, please contact the Unemployment Contact Center.

In order to file an initial application for unemployment benefits or to file a weekly claim for unemployment benefits on GetKansasBenefits.gov, you must first create and login with a unique user account that is associated to you, the claimant. Without an account, you will be unable to file for benefits online.

You will need to provide the following information and/or unique identifiers when creating your account: first name and last name; Social Security number; telephone number; email address; user name; password; and a PIN (personal identification number).

You must create a unique user name and password so the online system will be able to recognize you. Be sure to make note of your user name and password because you will need to use them to file your initial application for benefits as well as your weekly claim for benefits.

Your user name and password must be at least six characters long. You may use numbers, letters and symbols in your user name password. Your user name and password should be something you can remember and others cannot guess.

Your PIN must be four-digits long. Do not use repeated numbers like 1111 or numbers in a sequence like 1234. Your PIN identifies you to the system. Your PIN, along with your Social Security number, is your electronic signature. This helps prevent another person from obtaining information about your claim or claiming your unemployment benefits.

Our website has an automated feature to reset your username and password on the Benefits Log-In page. Just select "Need help signing in?". If you are still having problems after trying that, please try our contact center.

You can access the unemployment benefits system by visiting GetKansasBenefits.gov and selecting the Get Started Here option at the top of the page.

You may change your address, phone number, email address, telephone number, password, PIN and other personal information by selecting the Change Your Information option after you log into the online unemployment benefits system.

You can use the website to:

• File an application for unemployment insurance benefits
• File your weekly claim for benefits
• Check payment information
• Check the status of your claim
• Update personal information (phone number, mailing address, email address)
• Reset your PIN (Personal Identification Number)
• Review the Unemployment Insurance Desk Guide
• View resources on unemployment insurance benefits.

• If you have received a message regarding eligibility, it means that KDOL is performing an eligibility review. There are a number of reasons for an eligibility review.  Payment will not be processed until the investigation is complete and you are found eligible for benefits. Please respond to all requests for information from the agency in order to speed the process along.
• If you receive a message indicating that benefits did not pay because of the waiting week, it is because you are required to serve a waiting week.  We know that a systems glitch caused some claimants not to receive the payment for the waiting week, and we are working to resolve that issue.

If you have questions that cannot otherwise be answered by the weekly claim system or online, you will have to speak to an Unemployment Insurance Contact Center representative.

Adjudication is the process we use to resolve questions. We will call to gather more information about an unemployment insurance claim. Your claim may go to adjudication if there are questions about why you left your job, or are meeting other eligibility requirements. During adjudication, we will make a determination about your claim based on the current information we have, additional information we receive from you, your previous employer and even other sources.

In broad terms, a claim goes to adjudication if it raises questions about why you left your job, or your eligibility for benefits. For example, if you said on your application that you were fired from your job, we'll need to find out more about those circumstances before we can decide if you're qualified for benefits. All reasons other than lack of work (layoffs) will trigger adjudication. (These include getting fired, quitting, taking a leave of absence and or being involved in a labor dispute.) There are a number of eligibility factors that will also trigger adjudication.

If my application goes to adjudication, does that mean I've been denied unemployment benefits?
No. If your case goes to adjudication, it means there are questions or issues that must be addressed before your claim can be cleared for payment or denied. We temporarily suspend your claim until we resolve those issues by obtaining information from you and/or your employers and by seeking additional information to clear up any conflicting or missing information. Issues often include the reason or circumstances that led to your job loss.

Yes, you should file a claim each week as long as you remain unemployed. If your case is cleared for payment and you have met all eligibility requirements, you'll get back payments for any weeks you claimed and were eligible to receive, in one lump sum.

We may call to ask you questions about your claim, or we may mail you a form and ask you to send in more information explaining the circumstances. (If you're filing online, we'll provide this form for you to complete right away and mail or fax, so we have that information in our system to make a determination or follow-up with a call.

We'll ask you a variety of questions to help us determine your eligibility for unemployment benefits. It's very important that you answer all of our questions completely and honestly.

No. Adjudication calls are just between the claimant and KDOL.

This phone call is important! If you miss the first call, we will not make a second attempt to contact you. If we are not able to connect during that time, we have to make a decision about your eligibility or separation based on the information we have.

We'll send you a letter of determination that says you've been approved for unemployment benefits or explains why we've denied your claim. If we deny your claim, the letter includes information about how to appeal and where to send your appeal. If you are denied and you decide to file an appeal, you'll get a copy of all the documentation we used to make our decision. During your appeal, you should continue to file weekly claims as long as you remain unemployed.

At this time, determinations are estimated to take 5-6 weeks.

If there are no other issues, your benefits will be released the day after we enter your determination into our computer system. Your benefits—and any back payments—will be automatically deposited on your debit card or into your bank account depending on which method of payment you selected when filing your application.

• Complete and return all information requests promptly. The sooner we have answers to our questions, the sooner we can make a determination.
• Pay attention to information requests that appear on the "confirmation" page when you file your claim online. They must be printed, filled out and returned before we can make a determination on your claim.
• Watch your mailbox. We may send you requests for additional information. And if you move, let us know promptly.
• Send your information to the address or fax number indicated on our form.
• You should respond to our request for information, Print clearly, answer all the questions and explain yourself fully.
• Make sure your name and Social Security number are on all pages of correspondence.
• Be available when we schedule a call for your determination interview. It might come a little earlier or later in the day because of the length of other scheduled calls.
• Continue to file weekly claims while any investigations are underway.

If you disagree with the Notice of Determination mailed to you following adjudication of a claim, you may file an appeal with the Kansas Department of Labor within 16 days of the mail date of the determination. Your appeal rights and time limits for filing an appeal are explained on the back of your Notice of Determination.

After you file your appeal, staff in the Office of Appeals will prepare your hearing packet, which includes the letter of appeal, any documentation submitted with the letter of appeal, the determination being appealed, and all documentation previously submitted by both the claimant and the employer to the Kansas Department of Labor that is relevant to the issue appealed. The case will then be scheduled for hearing. Cases are scheduled on a first in, first out basis.

After you request an appeal and your appeal has been scheduled, you will receive a Notice of Telephone Hearing, instructions on how to prepare for your appeal hearing and your hearing packet. The Notice of Telephone Hearing will list the date and time of your hearing. It is important that you follow the directions on the Notice of Telephone Hearing to register for the hearing by providing a telephone number at which to be contacted for the hearing. Register as soon as you receive your hearing notice, but in any event no later than 1 p.m. the business day before the scheduled hearing or you will not be called for the hearing.

In order to participate in the hearing, you are required to call the Office of Appeals by 1 p.m. the business day prior to the scheduled hearing and provide a telephone number at which you can be contacted for the hearing. If you do not provide a telephone number by 1 p.m. the business day prior to the hearing, you will not be called for the hearing. It is important that you participate in the hearing because the decision will be based on information you give at the hearing. Failure to take part in the hearing may result in an erroneous decision.

You can now register online for your Appeals hearing.

If you have good cause why you cannot participate at the scheduled time, you may request to reschedule the hearing—this is called a “continuance.” Good cause is a compelling personal emergency and not simply inconvenience. The request must be made in writing by 1 p.m. the business day prior to the scheduled hearing.

Yes, you can have witnesses at the hearing. All witness names and telephone numbers must be provided to the Office of Appeals by 1 p.m. the business day prior to the hearing.

You may request that the Office of Appeals issue a subpoena to obtain necessary witnesses or evidence. The request for a subpoena must be made in writing at least seven days before the hearing date. Your request for a subpoena can be denied, and you can state your objection to the denial at the hearing. You must also attempt to obtain the evidence or witness for the hearing yourself before seeking a subpoena.

Yes. All evidence must be submitted to both the Office of Appeals and the opposing party no later than 1 p.m. the business day prior to the hearing. If you do not provide the evidence to both parties in advance as required, use of the evidence may be denied. The name and address of the opposing party you should use is listed on the bottom of the Notice of Telephone Hearing.

Although it is not required, you have the right to be represented by an attorney licensed in the state of Kansas or a duly authorized representative at your hearing. A duly authorized representative is a union representative, a supervised law student, an employee of a corporate employer or an employee of the employer’s cost control firm.

An attorney must file a written entry of appearance before the hearing with the Office of Appeals.

All attorney fees must be paid by the person or company hiring the attorney. Attorney fees assessed to the claimant must be approved by the Secretary of Labor in accordance with K.S.A. 44-718(b). The Secretary of Labor may not approve fees in excess of 25 percent of the claimant's total benefit amount.

The appeal hearing will likely be scheduled to take place by telephone. You will be called by the Appeals Referee at the time of your hearing. The opposing party and any additional witnesses or representatives will also appear on the same telephone call.The Appeals Referee will explain the hearing procedures and then both parties will have the opportunity to present their testimony and evidence. Cross-examination is also allowed. Both parties will have the chance to make a final statement before the conclusion of the hearing.After the hearing, the Appeals Referee will consider both the facts and the law and issue a written decision that will be mailed to both parties. You will not be given a decision the day of your hearing.

Interpreter services or disability assistance will be provided upon request.

Hearings are normally scheduled for 45 minutes to an hour, but the length of the hearings can vary depending on number of witnesses, volume of evidence and types of issues.

In-person hearings are held on a very limited basis if a telephone hearing is not possible. To request an in-person hearing, you must submit the request in writing. The party requesting the in-person hearing may be granted the right to appear in person, but the other party will have the option of appearing via telephone or in person unless the Appeals Referee determines that it would be best for all parties to appear in person. All in-person hearings are held in Topeka, Kansas.

Your hearing will be set for the first available time after we receive your request. The length of time before your hearing will depend on the number of other appeals to be heard. Appeals Referees are scheduled up to 35 cases per week and the length of time to issue each decision varies widely depending upon the complexity of the case. Your decision will be mailed to you as soon as possible after the hearing.

Yes. During the appeal process, you should continue to file your weekly claim for payment for each week you are unemployed. You will not be paid for any week for which you have not filed a weekly claim for payment, even if an appeal decision finds you eligible for benefits.

You are not required to participate. However, failing to participate could negatively impact your benefits (for claimants) or your employer tax liability (for employers). For example, a claimant who has been paid benefits and receives an unfavorable appeal decision could result not only in a loss of future benefits, but also an overpayment of benefits previously paid that the claimant would be required to repay. It is important to appear and participate in the hearing to protect your rights.

Either party may request the decision not in their favor be reviewed by the Employment Security Board of Review (the Board). Instructions for filing that appeal are on the last page of the Appeals Referee’s decision. The Board will review the hearing testimony and evidence and will not hold a new hearing or accept additional evidence. You may appeal the Board’s decision to the District Court and up through the Court of Appeals and Kansas Supreme Court if you so desire. These additional appeals are at your expense.

Call the Office of Appeals at (785) 296-1800. 

(785) 291-6086 (FAX)

Address: 401 SW Topeka Blvd, Topeka, KS 66603-3182

If you are a member of a bargaining unit involved in a strike or lockout resulting from a labor dispute you are most likely ineligible for unemployment benefits during the strike or lockout. Those individuals who are not members of the bargaining unit who are temporarily laid off as a result of the labor dispute are likely to be eligible to receive benefits. For more information go to the Labor Dispute/Strike/Lockout Guide located at https://www.dol.ks.gov/ui-forms under Guides. 

As a union worker temporarily laid off due to lack of work (including school or training), you may qualify for UI benefits. Click here to read more information on how to file for unemployment.

An adjudicator will determine whether or not you are eligible for benefits if you attend school. They will review whether or not attending school impacts your availability. Under certain circumstances, your classes or training may be certified as approved training.

If you are unemployed for any reason other than lack of work, the reason you lost your job may have a bearing on whether you receive benefits. Each time you become unemployed and apply for unemployment benefits, you must provide the reason you are unemployed.

You will be disqualified for benefits if you if you voluntarily quit your job without good cause attributable to the work or the employer.

You may still be eligible if you under certain circumstances outlined in Kansas law. The only way to know if you will receive benefits if you have left work voluntarily is to apply for benefits and allow one of our adjudicators to make a determination.

You are not eligible for unemployment benefits if you are discharged (fired) for misconduct or gross misconduct connected with the work.

"Misconduct" is defined as a violation of a duty or obligation reasonably owed the employer as a condition of employment.

"Gross misconduct" is defined as extreme, willful or wanton misconduct.

You are not eligible for unemployment benefits if you fail without good cause to apply for or accept suitable work when offered. We will consider a number of different factors in determining whether work is suitable including circumstances related to COVID-19.

If you return to work full time or have gross earnings (wages before deductions) that equal or exceed your weekly benefit amount, you should stop filing weekly claims, and your claim will become inactive.

If you return to work midweek and do not work “full time” your first week back, you can still file a claim for this week. You will need to report the hours and earnings that you did work on your weekly claim.
If you are unemployed again within the same benefit year, or if your hours are reduced and your gross pay is less than your weekly benefit amount, you can file a claim against your remaining balance.

Severance, termination or other similar pay is payment made by the employer when an employee is separated from a job. This can be made in a lump sum payment or several payments over a period of time.

Yes, all severance pay must be reported to the Kansas Department of Labor when filing an application and weekly claims for unemployment benefits. A determination will be made to determine if and when the claimant is eligible for benefits.

Your hearing will be set for the first available time after we receive your request. The length of time before your hearing will depend on the number of other appeals to be heard.  Appeals Referees are scheduled up to 35 cases per week and the length of time to issue each decision varies widely depending upon the complexity of the case. Your decision will be mailed to you as soon as possible after the hearing.

Someone found to have committed fraud is disqualified from receiving any unemployment benefits for a period of five years and can be prosecuted for making false statements or withholding material information to obtain benefits not due to the individual.

No. You cannot receive workers compensation for temporary or permanent total disability under the Workers Compensation Law of any state and receive unemployment benefits simultaneously.

No. If your case goes to adjudication, it means there are questions or issues that must be addressed before your claim can be cleared for payment or denied. We temporarily suspend your claim until we resolve those issues by obtaining information from you and/or your employers and by seeking additional information to clear up any conflicting or missing information. Issues often include the reason or circumstances that led to your job loss.

If there are no other issues, your benefits will be released the day after we enter your determination into our computer system. Your benefits—and any back payments—will be automatically deposited on your debit card or into your bank account depending on which method of payment your selected when filing your application.

There are a few things that you can do to help speed up the process and make sure your claim goes smoothly through the system. Before you file your claim, make sure you have:

• The names and complete addresses of all your employers for the past 18 months, as well as the beginning and ending employment dates with those employers.
• The reason you're out of work. Why you lost your job may have a bearing on whether you receive benefits. We'll gather information from both you and your employer.
• Were you employed out of state? We can request wages information from the other state(s) to use on your claim.
• Were you recently discharged from the military? We're required to obtain a copy of your DD–214, Member 4.
• Did you leave federal employment? We'll ask for a copy of your SF–50, W–2 or check stubs.
• Filing online is one of the fastest ways to complete the claim process. You can complete a claim online at GetKansasBenefits.govprovided you meet these criteria: 
  1. In the past 18 months, you have not worked outside the state of Kansas.
  2. In the past 12 months, you have not filed an unemployment claim with another state.
  3. In the past 18 months, you have not been a member of the military or a federal employee.
• Errors in your filing or missing information will slow up the process while we work to get the necessary information to determine if you are eligible for benefits.

House Bill 2001 created a Kansas law that requires employers who impose COVID-19 vaccine requirements to:

• Allow an employee to submit a written waiver request for an exemption to their employer’s COVID-19 vaccine requirement.
• Allow medical and religious exemptions to COVID-19 vaccine requirements made in accordance with Sec. 1 of 2021 Special Session H.B. 2001 requirements.

This will also create a complaint and investigation process with the secretary of labor for violations of Sec. 1 of 2021 Special Session H.B. 2001, enforcement actions by the attorney general and civil penalties may be imposed by a court for such violations.

A full overview of the House Bill 2001 can be found HERE.

Yes, you can apply for unemployment benefits. There are many factors that determine a claimant’s eligibility. If you have lost your job, we recommend applying for unemployment benefits and going through the adjudication process. You will receive a determination letter regarding your eligibility.

An employer is in violation of Sec. 1 of 2021 Special Session H.B. 2001 if:

• The employer implemented a COVID-19 vaccine requirement;
• The employee submitted a written waiver request for a religious or medical exemption to the employer’s COVID-19 vaccine requirement (as defined in the law); and
• The employer: (1) failed to offer an exemption, (2) improperly denied an exemption request, (3) took punitive action against the employee for requesting an exemption, or (4) committed any other violations of Sec. 1 of H.B. 2001, such as inquiring into the sincerity of the employee’s exemption request based on sincerely held religious beliefs.

To file a complaint with KDOL under Section 1 of 2021 Special Session H.B. 2001, you must be an employee aggrieved of a violation of Section 1 of 2021 Special Session H.B. 2001 by your employer who is in the state of Kansas. You may not file a complaint on behalf of another employee or for an employer who you are not employed by.

If you believe you were aggrieved by a violation of 2021 Special Session H.B. 2001, please visit www.getkansasbenefits.gov/CovidLaw/Instructions to start the complaint process.

An employer must grant your written waiver request for an exemption to the employer’s COVID-19 vaccine requirement if it is in accordance with Sec. 1 of 2021 Special SessionH.B. 2001. To be in accordance with Sec. 1 of 2021 Special Session H.B. 2001, the written waiver request you submit to you employer must state that complying with your employer’s COVID-19 vaccine requirement would:

1. Endanger the life or health of the employee or an individual who resides with the employee, as evidenced by an accompanying written statement signed by a physician or another person who performs acts pursuant to practice agreements, protocols or at the order, direction, or delegation of a physician; or
2. violate sincerely held religious beliefs of the employee, as evidenced by an accompanying written statement signed by the employee.

Save a copy of the written waiver request and any correspondence for your records.

If you believe you were aggrieved by a violation of 2021 Special Session H.B. 2001, please visit www.getkansasbenefits.gov/CovidLaw/Instructions to start the complaint process.

You will answer some preliminary questions to determine whether Section 1 of 2021 Special Session H.B. 2001 permits you to file a complaint with the Kansas Department of Labor. If your answers to the questions indicate you may be able to file a complaint under H.B. 2001, you will be directed to the Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) page to sign in or register for an account. To learn how to register for MFA click HERE.

Once you are signed in, you must complete the entire complaint form. If you exit the form before completing it, your answers will NOT be saved. Once you press submit, print the confirmation page for your records.

Be advised that your answers to the questions are not confidential and any documentation you upload may be shared with your employer who you allege violated Section 1 of 2021 Special Session H.B. 2001 as part of KDOL’s investigation of your complaint.

• Documentation to show you are an “employee” of the employer you are filing a complaint against - e.g., pay stub, schedule for interview, offer letter.
• A copy of all documents reflecting your employer implemented a COVID-19 requirement.
• A copy of the written waiver request for an exemption that you provided to your employer.
• A copy of the denial request for an exemption from your employer.

Once you submit the complaint form, you will receive a final order from the Kansas Department of Labor within 60 calendar days.

No. If your employer filed by spreadsheet, that is your application. Please do not file an application if your employer already did because that will result in a delay in benefits. However, you do still need to submit a weekly claim if your employer filed by spreadsheet.

If you forgot to add an employee, please file a new spreadsheet for just that person. Please do not resubmit a duplicate spreadsheet with the employee left off added.

Please call Maureen Reynolds at (785) 291-6010 or send an email to Maureen.Reynolds@ks.gov and advise of the error and what needs to be corrected. Make sure to include your Company Name, your name, title and contact information. You may be contacted if further information is needed. Do not submit another spreadsheet.

By filing by spreadsheet, the employer is able to submit the application for unemployment insurance benefits for all employees. They will have the opportunity to provide all information at once instead of responding to individual requests for information from KDOL. This also allows employers direct access to one of Employer Relations Specialists to answer their questions instead of waiting on hold at our UI Contact Center. The process saves time for employers while helping claimants receive benefits faster and easier!

On our website, you will find a Layoff/Shared Work Template for you to download, fill in, and then upload to our website. When you are ready to upload, you can use your existing Unemployment Tax Username and password. If you do not have one, you can register online.

The Social Security Numbers should not include any dashes (-). EXAMPLE: "123-45-6789" should be entered in the spreadsheet as "123456789". It is important that you do not alter the form, as doing so may prevent us from being able to process the spreadsheet through our system. All information requested on the spreadsheet is needed in order to process these claims. We appreciate your willingness to help your employees by filing their applications for them.

The layoff spreadsheet is the initial filing for unemployment insurance benefits. Each individual employee or claimant is responsible for filing their own weekly claims honestly and accurately. If a weekly claim is not filed, it cannot be paid.

Employers are required to notify employees of their potential eligibility for unemployment insurance benefits. KDOL does ask that the employer inform all employees included in the layoff that identity verification with the Social Security Administration will be conducted once the layoff spreadsheet is processed. If the employee does not pass the verification, they will be asked to supply a copy of their driver’s license and Social Security card to KDOL. Additionally, employees will need to answer all other requests for information from KDOL. They will receive a Monetary Determination along with the K-Ben SLF (Kansas Unemployment Benefits Disclosure) form in the mail.

Spreadsheets submitted with 25 or less employees will be mailed individual employer notices (KBEN 44/45). Employers should complete and send the forms back as instructed on the notices.

When you file an initial application, your work history will be reviewed to determine if you have earned enough wages to qualify for unemployment.

If you have earned enough wages to qualify for benefits, you will be entitled to receive regular unemployment benefits for those weeks when you are either totally or partially unemployed and meet all requirements. We determine both your weekly benefit amount (WBA) and your total benefit amount (TBA) based on the wages you earned during your base period.

To qualify for benefits you must have been paid wages from insured employment in at least two quarters with the total of your wages being at least 30 times your WBA. Insured work is work performed for employers who are required to pay unemployment insurance tax on your wages.

If you are eligible for regular unemployment benefits, weekly benefit amounts for claims filed between the dates of July 1, 2022 through June 30, 2023 will be a minimum of $140 and a maximum of $560 per week. For claims filed between July 1, 2023 through June 30, 2024 weekly benefit amounts will be a minimum of $147 and a maximum of $589 per week. You will be notified of your weekly benefit amount through a monetary determination, which will be issued after you file an application for benefits. If you want an estimate of your weekly benefit amount, we recommend using our benefits calculator at GetKansasBenefits.gov. 

The Benefit Year begins when your claim is effective. Your claim is good for one year starting with this date.

Yes. Per Kansas law, claimants are generally required to serve a one-week waiting period per benefit year before receiving unemployment benefits. This means that you will not receive payment for the first week of eligible benefits. It's important to note that you should continue to file for unemployment benefits as soon as you become unemployed. Your claim will be effective from the week you file, and the waiting week will be served for the first eligible week of unemployment. This waiting period is a standard requirement in many unemployment insurance programs.

Yes, if your benefit year has ended and you still need unemployment benefits, you must file a new initial claim on the GetKansasBenefits.gov website to reestablish a new benefit year. Your monetary entitlement is active for only that year. When you file for a new benefit year, it will be reviewed as a new state unemployment claim and KDOL will determine your eligibility for either state or federal benefits. This process of determining may take a few days and claimants will be notified via mail. In the interim, continue to file your weekly claims if you are not working or are working reduced hours.

The Weekly Benefit Amount is the amount of unemployment insurance benefits you are eligible to receive each week before taxes and other deductions, if it is determined you are eligible to receive unemployment benefits.

The Total Benefit Amount is the amount of unemployment benefits you are eligible to receive during your benefit year, if it is determined that you are eligible to receive unemployment insurance benefits. Divide your total benefit amount by your weekly benefit amount to calculate the approximate number of weeks of unemployment benefits available to you.

If your initial unemployment application is monetarily entitled, you will be entitled to receive regular unemployment benefits for those weeks when you are either totally or partially unemployed and meet all eligibility requirements. You will receive a K-BEN 41 in the mail explaining your total benefit amount (TBA). This is the balance from which your weekly benefits amounts (WBA) payments are deducted. When your TBA is 0, your benefits will have exhausted for your current established benefit year.

The seasonally adjusted, three-month average unemployment rate in Kansas at the time your claim is effective.

You may receive some benefits for a week in which you work less than full time and earn less than your weekly benefit amount.

You may earn up to 25 percent of your weekly benefit amount (WBA) without a reduction to your unemployment benefits. Any earnings over 25 percent of your WBA will be deducted from your unemployment benefits on a dollar-for-dollar basis.

You must report your gross wages (wages before deductions) and not your take-home pay. This includes any wages received as a Reservist for weekend drill and annual training participation.

All wages from employment must be reported during the week when the wages are earned, not when they are received.

Vacation, holiday, bonus, and separation pay may reduce or delay your unemployment benefits when paid. If you receive these types of pay while claiming unemployment benefits, you must report this information when you file your application and weekly claim for payment.

Certain retirement pensions will reduce your weekly benefit if the employment you are receiving the pension from is also your base period employment (the first four of the last five completed calendar quarters).

Examples of pensions that may reduce your benefits include:

• Military retirement
• Private employer pension
• Federal civilian pension
• State, county or city pension

If you are responsible for court-ordered child support payments and are in arrears, the Kansas Department for Children and Families will initiate an order to take part of your unemployment insurance benefits.

Initially, the order will take 50 percent of your benefits each week.

For more information please call the Child Support Call Center at (888) 757-2445.

The Kansas Department of Labor cannot assist in answering any questions about child support cases.

If you receive benefits you are not entitled to, you are required to repay the benefits, even if someone else made the mistake that caused the overpayment. When a potential overpayment is detected, we may ask you to provide information as we investigate. If an overpayment has been established, we will mail a notice of determination explaining how the overpayment occurred, the amount overpaid and how to repay the amount due. If it is determined that a claimant received more money than they were entitled to, their case is turned over to the Asset Recovery unit to collect the debt. You may contact the Asset Recovery unit at (785) 296-3609 to make arrangements to repay an overpayment. You may repay it in a lump sum or by making payments. If you believe that the notice is incorrect, you have the right to appeal.

You may pay it back in a lump sum, or you can request a payment plan to pay overtime.

If you are still claiming benefits, your overpayment will be deducted from your weekly unemployment payments until the overpayment is repaid. This means you will be without unemployment benefits until the overpayment is paid back. In addition, any state tax refund you may be due will be applied to the overpayment in each year an overpayment remains. It is to your advantage to repay overpayments as soon as possible.

Kansas law requires that we collect interest on your overpayment, which over time will increase the amount you must repay.

The $600 FPUC payments will currently not be used to offset overpayments.

Unemployment insurance is taxable income and must be reported on your federal and state income tax returns.

If you want to have taxes withheld from your weekly unemployment benefits, complete the authorization form Agreement to Withhold Federal Income Tax from UI Benefits for federal withholding and Agreement to Withhold Kansas Income Tax from Unemployment Insurance Benefits for state withholding and send them to the Unemployment Contact Center as directed on the forms.

In January IRS Form 1099-G will be mailed to you stating the amount of unemployment insurance benefits paid to you during the previous year as reported to the IRS.

Yes, they can apply, and our staff will then determine whether or not they are eligible for benefits. Working less than full time may still be considered unemployed depending on the amount the individual earns. If they are eligible, their weekly benefit amount will be reduced in accordance with the amount of earnings. It is important that claimants accurately report their earnings when filing their weekly claims.

Yes, they can apply, and we will determine whether or not they are eligible for benefits. We know people are holding more than one job at a time. We will look at the weekly benefit amount and how much is earned and the hours of work at the other job to determine eligibility. If they are eligible, their weekly benefit amount will be reduced in accordance with the amount of earnings. It is important that claimants accurately report their earnings when filing their weekly claims.

To be eligible for unemployment benefits, an individual must have worked sufficiently within the last 18 months. The individual can apply for benefits, and KDOL will determine whether they have sufficient earnings during that time period to be entitled to benefits.

You must file a weekly claim for payment for each week you want to receive benefits. Payments will be made if all eligibility requirements have been met. Your claim becomes inactive if you have not filed a weekly claim for payment or had any other activity on your claim for 14 calendar days. Claims will be paid by debit card or direct deposit depending on which option you selected when filing your application for benefits.

If there are no issues on your claim, payments are normally received two to three business days after you file your weekly claim.

Benefit payments will not always be deposited in your debit card or bank account on the same day each week. They may be delayed because of holidays or temporarily held while an issue is being investigated. You must file your weekly claim while any investigation is in progress.

You can obtain information concerning the status of your claim anytime online by selecting the CHECK YOUR CLAIM STATUS option, or by selecting option "1" through the weekly claim phone line. You will be able to get information about:

• The last three weeks you claimed.
• Date and amount of your benefit payment and the amount of benefits remaining.
• If a benefit payment was not issued, the system may be able to tell you the reason.
• If the amount of your benefit payment is reduced because of earnings, pension, child support deduction or any other reason, the system will tell you the amount of the deduction and the reason for it.

The Unemployment Debit Card is one way for unemployment claimants in Kansas to receive unemployment benefits. A card will be mailed to your home address when your first payable week is processed. Through U.S. Bank, the Kansas Department of Labor (KDOL) loads your unemployment benefit payments onto your card, making cash available to you through ATMs, Visa member financial institutions and other locations, such as grocery stores, that accept Visa debit cards.

The Frequently Asked Questions on the U.S. Bank ReliaCard® website provides detailed instructions on how to use your card.

If a claimant selects debit card but has a previous debit card from filing for UI before, the payments may be loaded to the old card. They can call U.S. Bank at (866) 335-1653 to double check if they already have a card and/or if a replacement card is needed.
 

No. It is a prepaid debit card. The card carries no credit line and you are not subjected to a credit check or approval process to receive the card. Purchases and withdrawals are limited to the balance on your card, similar to a checking account or a gift card.

Receiving a debit card means your first benefit payment has been approved. Getting a debit card does not guarantee that you will continue to qualify for unemployment benefits and payments. You should continue to file a weekly claim. If you have any questions, visit GetKansasBenefits.gov for more information on your claim.

To access your funds, you can:

• Make purchases through signature or PIN-based transactions
• Get cash back at participating store point-of-sale locations
• Funds from an in-network ATM, as identified by U.S. Bank
• Transfer funds to your personal bank account through U.S. Bank
• Obtain cash through bank tellers at any participating bank

It can take more than one week after processing the first payable week for you to receive your debit card. Choose direct deposit in payment options for quicker access to your first payment.

You can receive cash back at select retail point-of-sale merchant locations. You can also withdraw funds with no fee at any U.S. Bank or MoneyPass® ATM. Check out usbankreliacard.com or https://moneypass.com/atm-locator.html for a list of surcharge-free ATMs.

Yes. The total amount is available for withdrawal on the day of payment. However, there may be a daily limit set on ATM cash withdrawals. Please note that some transactions, such as use of your debit card at a gas station, restaurant or hotel, may cause a hold on an amount of your card for up to several days. Some ATMs set limits on the amount that can be withdrawn at one time.

No. Only you can access your payment information on GetKansasBenefits.gov to manage the payment of your benefits. All inquiries regarding direct deposit must be made through your banking institution.

Log in to your account on GetKansasBenefits.gov and select Payment Options. Select direct deposit and fill out the required banking information.

No. Payments can only be deposited into a single checking or savings account.

No. You will not receive a notification from the Kansas Department of Labor. Some banks do offer notifications for your account but you would need to contact your bank.

Once we have issued payment you will need to contact your bank if you have questions about your direct deposit.

If their GetKansasBenefits online account says we have released payment and they have direct deposit, the call center will not be able to assist them any further with their payment. Once we release the payment, it is up to their individual banks to release the payment to their account.

Through your account on GetKansasBenefits.gov.  Log in and choose payment method. Then select the option you wish to choose and provide any required information.

Claimants can switch between debit card and direct deposit. If they were signed up for debit card and 2 payments were made there, then they switch to direct deposit, the first 2 payments will stay with the debit card. Future payments will be direct deposited.

No.

Any time you file a new or additional application for benefits you should review your banking information for accuracy.

Claimants questioning where their payments are if multiple weeks have paid out, need to double check the day their payments were released.

For example, there are some claimants who had weekly claim payments for weeks ending 3/21 and 3/28, but the payments were not made until this week. The 7-10 days for a debit card will not apply until this week when the payments were made, even though the “weeks claimed” are much older.

No, we will only begin to withhold income taxes as of the date we process your request(s). If you have not been using withholding, we strongly recommend you set aside 3.5 percent for state income taxes and 10 percent for federal taxes from your weekly benefits check in order to fulfill income tax obligations for this year.

Withholding amounts are based on a percentage of your weekly benefit amount even if you are only receiving partial payments. Although you may be receiving a reduced weekly benefit amount, the withholding amount will be 3.5 percent of your weekly benefit amount for state withholding and 10 percent for federal withholding if you have completed both forms.

We will not automatically send out income tax withholding forms.

We will withhold 3.5 percent of your weekly benefit amount for state income taxes and 10 percent for federal income taxes. For example, if your weekly benefit amount is $200 we will withhold $7 for Kansas income taxes and $20 for federal taxes.

Yes, you will need to complete the form above to start or stop withholding.

Yes.

Yes.

The Kansas Department of Labor has a special Fraud Investigations unit that handles all allegations of Fraud. 

The group’s purpose is to detect, investigate and prosecute, if necessary, incorrect payments of UI benefits.

Most leads come from a quarterly cross-match of audits sent to employers. The audit checks for claimants who received benefits in the same quarter they also received wages reported by an employer. We also use the national and state directory of new hires to check for those collecting benefits after starting a new job.

Tips from the public are a great source of information in catching fraudulent activity. If you believe someone is fraudulently collecting unemployment benefits, please report it immediately to our Fraud Investigations unit. All allegations of fraud are investigated

Yes, if you suspect that someone is fraudulently receiving unemployment benefits, please notify the Fraud Investigations unit. Be sure to include as much information as possible so that we can adequately investigate your claim. If you do not have all the information requested, don’t worry—just tell us what you do know.

Yes. You can make an anonymous report, but providing us with your contact information allows us to obtain additional information if necessary.

All allegations of fraud are investigated. The more information you can provide, the better chance we have of conducing a successful investigation.

The two most important pieces of information to report are the person’s full name and the reason you believe they are committing fraud. Other information that may help us correctly identify the individual includes the person’s address, phone number, birth date, the last four digits of his or her Social Security number as well as their current employer’s name and address. See the online or downloadable reporting forms for more details.

You must provide one selection from List A
OR
A combination of one selection from List B AND one selection from List C.

When you arrive at the law enforcement agency, the officer will supply you with the K-FRD 102 Identity Verification – Law Enforcement Office form. Fill out Section A. The officer will fill out Section B using the identity verification documents you provide them. Fill out Section C with your benefit payment information then print, sign and date the form under Claimant Certification. The officer will fill out and sign under LEO Certification. Then the officer will submit the completed form to KDOL.

If there are no other issues with your account, you should be contacted by KDOL in approximately 48 – 72 hours. If an investigation is opened, the process may take longer to complete.

After the officer submits the completed identity verification form to KDOL, our Fraud Investigation unit will review the document and UI benefits account. We may contact you for additional questions. If our agency determines your identity has been verified correctly, the flag will be lifted from the account.

To qualify for benefits, the applicant must meet the following criteria (this could differ for those impacted by COVID-19):

• Be unemployed when the application is filed
• Earned sufficient wages in employment that is covered by Kansas Unemployment Security Law
• Be unemployed through no fault of the individual

School employees do not generally qualify for benefits during:

• Scheduled breaks in the school year
• Between school years or terms if they have a contract or reasonable assurance of returning to work in the same or similar capacity in the next term

You can file your claim online GetKansasBenefits.gov or by contacting an Unemployment Call Center below.

Kansas City: (913) 596-3500

Topeka: (785) 575-1460

Wichita: (316) 383-9947

Toll-Free: (800) 292-6333

The Department of Labor will consider several things when determining if reasonable assurance exists. These may include:

• The past employer/employee relationship
• An established understanding that the employee will return to work
• If the employee has placed his/her name on a list of available workers
• Whether the employee has reason to believe he/she will not be called back

Notice should include clear verbiage giving the individual reasonable assurance. Notice should include:

• Business/employer name
• Date
• Employee’s name
• Issuer’s name and position
• Starting date of school year
• Ending date of school year
• Dates of any scheduled vacations
• Dates of any holiday periods