How to file in Louisiana, step by step
- Gather your documents. Louisiana asks for the items in the checklist below.
- File your claim online at louisianaworks.net or by phone (numbers and hours).
- Meet the work search rule. Claims filed on or after January 4, 2026: five work search activities a week. Claims filed before that date: three.
- Request benefits for each week you are unemployed, as your claim instructions say. See how weekly claims work.
- Answer any reemployment appointment. Some claimants are selected for a RESEA session at a job center.
Documents Louisiana asks for
- Names, addresses, work locations and phones of employers in the last 18 months
- Identity documents and federal or military paperwork if they apply
Source: laworks.net. Lists can be partial; follow the instructions in your claim.
How much Louisiana pays and for how long
All statesMaximum from the U.S. DOL table effective July 2026. The state calculates your weekly amount from your past wages when you file. How long unemployment lasts
Louisiana unemployment phone
DetailsHours: Monday to Friday, 8:00 AM–4:30 PM (general unemployment FAQ).
Where to log in
The official place to start a claim or reach your account is louisianaworks.net, run by the Louisiana Workforce Commission. Only enter your Social Security number or PIN on the official state site. This guide is independent and cannot see or change your claim.
If your claim is denied
Federal law requires every state to offer a fair hearing before an impartial tribunal to anyone whose unemployment claim is denied (Social Security Act, sec. 303(a)(3)). The determination letter from Louisiana tells you the deadline and how to file the appeal. How unemployment appeals work.
Job centers in Louisiana
All 57American Job Center — Vermilion — Abbeville
1301 Clover Street, Abbeville
American Job Center — Rapides — Alexandria
5610-B Coliseum Boulevard, Alexandria
American Job Center — Jefferson – West — Avondale
709 Churchill Parkway, Room 244, Avondale
American Job Center — Morehouse — Bastrop
250 Holt Street, Bastrop
American Job Center — East Baton Rouge-South — Baton Rouge
1991 Wooddale Boulevard, Baton Rouge
American Job Center — East Baton Rouge –North (Now serving Wooddale) — Baton Rouge
4523 Plank Road, Baton Rouge
American Job Center — Washington — Bogalusa
537 Kentucky Avenue, Bogalusa
American Job Center — Bossier/Caddo — Bossier City
4000 Viking Drive, B-1, Bossier City
American Job Center — St. Bernard — Chalmette
3700 Lafontaine Street, Chalmette
American Job Center — Grant — Colfax
205 Main Street, Colfax
American Job Center — Caldwell — Columbia
6563 Hwy 165, Columbia
American Job Center — Acadia — Crowley
223 W. 5th Street, Crowley
Louisiana unemployment questions
How do I file for unemployment in Louisiana?
Online on the Louisiana Workforce Commission website or by phone at 1-866-783-5567. Have your Social Security number and your employers from the last 18 months ready.
What is the Louisiana unemployment phone number?
1-866-783-5567. Hours: Monday to Friday, 8:00 AM–4:30 PM (general unemployment FAQ).
How much is unemployment in Louisiana?
Up to $282 a week. Your own amount depends on your past wages.
How long does unemployment last in Louisiana?
Up to 20 weeks; the federal table lists a range of 12-20 weeks depending on your situation. Your weeks are set when the state reviews your claim.
Where do I log in to Louisiana unemployment?
Use the official site (louisianaworks.net) to start a claim or reach your account. We do not handle logins or claims.
What if my Louisiana unemployment claim is denied?
Federal law requires every state to give claimants whose claims are denied the chance of a fair hearing before an impartial tribunal. Your determination letter explains how and by when to appeal.
Related guides
Sources
Claim website: dol.gov, checked October 30, 2026.
Claims phone: dol.gov, checked October 30, 2026.
Documents: laworks.net, checked October 30, 2026.
Work search: laworks.net, checked October 30, 2026.
Weekly maximum: oui.doleta.gov (dated July 2026), checked October 30, 2026.
Maximum weeks: oui.doleta.gov (dated July 2026), checked October 30, 2026.
Right to a fair hearing: 42 U.S.C. 503(a)(3), checked October 31, 2026.