Wisconsin Unemployment Insurance

Wisconsin Unemployment Insurance (UI) provide temporary financial assistance to workers who lose their jobs through no fault of their own.

Each state sets its own guidelines for eligibility for UI benefits, but you usually qualify if you:

1. have lost a job through no fault of your own;
2. are unemployed or partially unemployed for reasons permissible under federal law;
3. are “able to work, available to work, and actively seeking work;” and
4. have earned at least a certain amount of money during a “base period” prior to becoming unemployed. In most states, this is usually the first 4 out of the last 5 completed calendar quarters prior to the time that your claim is filed.

According to the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development, in order to be eligible for unemployment benefits, you must have earned a minimum amount of wages in a recent base period and must have:¹

1. wages from covered employment in at least two quarters of your base period, and
2. wages in the three lowest-earning quarters of your base period that, when combined, equal at least four times your Weekly Benefit Rate (WBR), and
3. total base-period wages of at least 35 times your Weekly Benefit Rate (WBR), and
4. a Weekly Benefit Rate of at least $54.

For example, if your Weekly Benefit Rate (WBR) is $200,

• your wages in your three lowest quarters must total at least $800 ($200 × 4), and
• your total base-period wages must be at least $7,000 ($200 × 35).

How much is unemployment benefits in Wisconsin?

Depending on how much you have earned in your base period, you may receive up to $370 per week ² for a maximum of 26 weeks of unemployment benefits per year, or 40% of your total base period wages, whichever is smaller.¹

The Department of Workforce Development has an online weekly benefit rate calculator  to calculate an estimate of what you might receive in benefits.

Is there a time limit on unemployment benefits in Wisconsin?

Yes. Benefits in Wisconsin are limited to 26 weeks within a benefit year. Once the maximum has been paid, payments end, and receiving further benefits generally requires a new benefit year and meeting the wage requirements again.

How do I apply for unemployment in Wisconsin?

You can apply for unemployment benefits online through Wisconsin UI Claimant Portal . If you can’t file online, you can call a claims specialist at (414) 435-7069 during business hours.

As a condition of eligibility, you are also required to register with Job Center of Wisconsin  and actively seek suitable employment each week that you are collecting benefits.

Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development
Unemployment Insurance Division
(414) 435-7069