Your right to a hearing
To receive federal funding, every state's unemployment law must provide an "opportunity for a fair hearing, before an impartial tribunal, for all individuals whose claims for unemployment compensation are denied" (42 U.S.C. 503(a)(3)).
How to appeal
- Read your determination letter as soon as it arrives. It explains why the claim was denied, the deadline and how to appeal.
- File the appeal the way the letter says (online, by mail or fax) before the deadline.
- Gather proof: pay stubs, separation letters, emails, work search records and names of witnesses.
- Attend the hearing on the date and in the format the notice gives.
Who to contact in your state
| State | Agency | Claims phone |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama | Alabama Department of Workforce (Workforce Alabama) | 1-866-234-5382, option 2 |
| Alaska | Alaska Department of Labor and Workforce Development | Anchorage 907-269-4700; Fairbanks 907-451-2871; Juneau 907-465-5552 |
| Arizona | Arizona Department of Economic Security | 1-877-600-2722 |
| Arkansas | Arkansas Department of Workforce Services | 1-844-908-2178 |
| California | California Employment Development Department | 1-800-300-5616 |
| Colorado | Colorado Department of Labor and Employment | 303-318-9000 |
| Connecticut | Connecticut Department of Labor | 1-800-956-3294 |
| Delaware | Delaware Department of Labor | Claims: 302-761-8446; automated TeleBenefits: 302-761-6576 or 800-794-3032 |
| District of Columbia | District of Columbia Department of Employment Services | 202-724-7000 |
| Florida | FloridaCommerce | 1-833-352-7759 |
| Georgia | Georgia Department of Labor | 1-877-709-8185 |
| Hawaii | Hawaii Department of Labor and Industrial Relations | 808-762-5752 or 833-901-2272 |
| Idaho | Idaho Department of Labor | 208-332-8942 |
| Illinois | Illinois Department of Employment Security | 1-800-244-5631 |
| Indiana | Indiana Department of Workforce Development | 1-800-891-6499 |
| Iowa | Iowa Workforce Development | 1-866-239-0843 |
| Kansas | Kansas Department of Labor | 785-575-1460; 800-292-6333 (toll-free) |
| Kentucky | Kentucky Career Center Office of Unemployment Insurance | 502-564-2900 |
| Louisiana | Louisiana Workforce Commission | 1-866-783-5567 |
| Maine | Maine Department of Labor | 1-800-593-7660 |
| Maryland | Maryland Department of Labor | 667-207-6520 |
| Massachusetts | Massachusetts Department of Unemployment Assistance | 1-877-626-6800 |
| Michigan | Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity | 1-866-500-0017 |
| Minnesota | Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development | Twin Cities area: 651-296-3644; Greater Minnesota: 1-877-898-9090 |
| Mississippi | Mississippi Department of Employment Security | 601-493-9427 |
| Missouri | Missouri Department of Labor and Industrial Relations | 800-320-2519 |
| Montana | Montana Department of Labor and Industry | 406-444-2545 |
| Nebraska | Nebraska Department of Labor | 402-458-2500 |
| Nevada | Nevada Department of Employment Training and Rehabilitation | North 775-684-0350; South 702-486-0350; rural or out of state 888-890-8211 |
| New Hampshire | New Hampshire Department of Employment Security | 1-800-852-3400 |
| New Jersey | New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development | North NJ: 201-601-4100; Central NJ: 732-761-2020; South NJ: 856-507-2340; out-of-state claims: 1-888-795-6672 |
| New Mexico | New Mexico Department of Workforce Solutions | 1-877-664-6984 |
| New York | New York Department of Labor | 1-888-209-8124 |
| North Carolina | North Carolina Department of Commerce | 1-888-737-0259 |
| North Dakota | North Dakota Job Service | 701-328-4995 |
| Ohio | Ohio Department of Job and Family Services | 1-877-644-6562 |
| Oklahoma | Oklahoma Employment Security Commission | 405-525-1500 |
| Oregon | Oregon Employment Department | 1-877-345-3484 |
| Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry | 1-888-313-7284 |
| Rhode Island | Rhode Island Department of Labor and Training | 401-415-6772 |
| South Carolina | South Carolina Department of Employment and Workforce | 1-866-831-1724 |
| South Dakota | South Dakota Department of Labor and Regulation | Claims call center 605-626-3179; customer service 605-626-2452 |
| Tennessee | Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development | 844-224-5818, option 1 |
| Texas | Texas Workforce Commission | 1-800-939-6631 |
| Utah | Utah Department of Workforce Services | Salt Lake and South Davis: 801-526-4400; Weber and North Davis: 801-612-0877; Utah County: 801-375-4067; other counties and out of state: 1-888-848-0688 |
| Vermont | Vermont Department of Labor | 1-877-214-3330 |
| Virginia | Virginia Employment Commission | 1-866-832-2363 |
| Washington | Washington Employment Security Department | 1-800-318-6022 |
| West Virginia | Workforce West Virginia | 1-800-379-1032 |
| Wisconsin | Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development | 1-844-910-3661 |
| Wyoming | Wyoming Department of Workforce Services | 307-473-3789 |
Some job centers help with appeal paperwork; West Virginia, for example, says its local offices receive appeals. Check your state's offices.
Frequently asked questions
How long do I have to appeal?
Each state sets its own deadline. It is printed in the determination letter; file before that date.
How will the hearing happen?
The hearing notice from your state gives the date, the format (phone, video or in person) and whether you can bring a representative or witnesses.
Sources
42 U.S.C. 503 (Social Security Act sec. 303): fair hearing, able and available, worker profiling. Checked October 31, 2026.
State figures: each state's official unemployment agency, linked on its state page.