Agency
District of Columbia Department of Employment Services
Weekly benefit amount
between $50 and $444
Official link
Unemployment PolicyAm I Eligible?
You must
- made at least $1,300 in wages in one quarter of the base period;
- have wages in at least two quarters of the base period;
- have earned at least $1,950 in wages for the entire base period; and
- ensure that the total amount you earned during the base period must be at least one and a half (1.5) times the wages in your highest quarter or be within $70 of that amount.
What do I need to file my claim?
- Social security number
- Most recent employer’s name, address, phone number, and dates of employment
- Alien Registration Number, if you are not a US Citizen
- DD214, if you are ex-military
- Standard Form 8 or Standard Form 50, if you are a former federal employee
- Severance pay information (only applicable if you did or will receive severance pay)
- Pension information (only applicable if you are receiving a pension payment)
- Evidence of a public health emergency impact (if applying due to the COVID-19 public health emergency). Documentation may include:
- A letter documenting a voluntary request or involuntary order to isolate or quarantine from a doctor or local health official
- A note from your doctor or medical records office recommending isolation or quarantine
- A self-determination that the Department of Health’s quarantine guidance applies to you
How to apply for Unemployment Insurance Benefits?
File Online
- Go to the website and click the tab “Claim Unemployment Benefits.”
- On the “Unemployment Insurance Service Center for Claimants” page, click “File for Benefits.”
- Scroll to the bottom of the page and click “File Your Claim Online.”
- Answer the questions with accurate information to complete the claim filing process.
For more information, read the FAQs to know more about how to file for a claim in the District of Columbia.
