States

How To Apply For Unemployment In Hawaii

You can apply for unemployment insurance benefits online at the State of Hawaii Department of Labor and Industrial Relations website. Hours of operation for online claims are 6:30 AM to 11:00 PM on weekdays and 9:00 AM to 11:00 PM on weekends and holidays. Please use the links below for additional information and resources:

Initial UI claim submission by phone is not available in the State of Hawaii. Your claim is effective from the date you file it, not from the date your employment was terminated, so don’t wait. You can access a printable Hawaii Unemployment Insurance handbook Here.

Eligibility Requirements for UI Benefits

In order to be eligible for unemployment insurance weekly benefits assistance, you must be fully or partially unemployed, registered with the state Workforce Development Division (WDD), and physically and mentally able to work. You’ll be required to submit work search reports when filing for weekly benefits payments throughout your unemployment period. Have the following available when you file your initial claim:

  • Your Social Security Number
  • Your Current Address and Phone Number
  • Your Most Recent Employer’s Contact Info and FEIN number
  • Your Work History for the past Fifteen Months

If you are a union member and can provide a Form UC-226 from your union, the WDD registration requirement will be waived. If you voluntarily quit or were fired from your previous job, you may not be eligible for unemployment benefits. If you’re denied benefits, you have the right to File an Appeal with the Hawaii Department of Labor and Industrial Relations.

Estimating Your Weekly Benefit Payment

Your weekly unemployment insurance benefit payment will be calculated based on insured wages you earned in the first four of the previous five quarters you worked. You must have earned wages in at least two of those quarters, and total wages for the base period must be at least 26 times your weekly benefit amount.

The State of Hawaii recently built a new website to handle unemployment insurance claims. If you’d like to calculate an estimate for what your weekly benefits payment will be, go to their Online UI Benefits Estimator. You’ll find a calculator there where you can enter your insured wages for the past five quarters and see an estimated weekly benefit amount.

Searching for Work and Job Training

The State of Hawaii Department of Labor and Industrial Relations has partnered with HireNet Hawaii to provide an online resource where unemployed workers can find new employment and educational opportunities. If you’re filing for unemployment insurance benefits payments, you’ll be required to Create a User Account and upload your resume to HireNet.

In addition to job opportunities, you’ll also find education and training resources. Utilize these to learn advanced job skills that can earn you a promotion when you go back to work or retrain for a different profession where more job opportunities are available. There are also links to colleges and universities where you can pursue a degree or certificate program.

Hawaii Unemployment Insurance Program

Go Back to All States

Select Your Location

Search