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Filing an Unemployment Claim by Phone

  1. When do I have to File a Claim by Phone?
  2. How Do I File an Application for Unemployment by Phone?
  1. When do I have to File a Claim by Phone?

    You must file your unemployment claim by phone if:
    • You worked in any other state than Kansas in the past 18 months
    • You filed an unemployment claim with another state in the past 12 months
    • You were in the military service or were federal employee in the past 18 months

  2. How do I File an Application for Unemployment by phone?

    If you cannot file through the Internet, you can apply for unemployment benefits by telephoning the Kansas Unemployment Call Center.
  • You may use a touch-tone telephone or a telephone that has a pulse/tone switch to enter your responses.

    • If you are using a telephone that has a pulse/tone switch, be sure the switch is set to tone after your call is answered.

  • Most public pay telephones can access our system.

  • Kansas Unemployment Call Center telephone numbers are listed in the back of the Unemployment Insurance Benefits booklet and under "What are the Numbers to Call to Claim My Benefits by Telephone?"

  • The telephone system is busiest at the beginning of the week.

  • If you call on Monday or Tuesday, be prepared to hold.

  • You may consider calling Wednesday, Thursday or Friday when there are usually fewer callers.

    You may call the Kansas Unemployment Call Center between 8:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m.(Central Time), Monday through Friday, except Thursdays when the call center closes at 3:15 p.m. The call center is closed on state holidays.

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    Here is an example of the Kansas Unemployment Call Center phone options:
  1. You will be asked to choose a language for the call:

    • English
    • Spanish
    • Vietnamese

  2. You will be asked to enter an extension number if you are returning a call.

  3. If you are not returning a call to the Kansas Unemployment Call Center, press "2" to continue.

  4. If you choose to continue you will hear the following:

    • Please select the following option that best fits your needs:

      1. If you wish to apply for unemployment, or are calling to complete your application, please press 1

      2. If you are a claimant and were instructed to call this office, or have general questions, please press 2

      3. If you are an employer, please press 3

      4. If you are with the Kansas Relay Center, please press 4

      5. If you wish to hear these options again, please press the pound (#) key.

      6. If you select option "1" to file an application for unemployment insurance benefits, you will answer basic questions using the telephone keypad. Once you have completed the automated portion of your claim application, your call will be routed to the first available claims specialist to help you complete your claim.

  5. After the claims specialist has gathered all necessary information, your claim will be processed.

    • Note: A record of your claim will not be established unless you are told your claim has been accepted. If you are unable to complete your claim application, the information you have entered will be saved for seven (7) days from the date you began filing the claim so that you can complete it later and within seven (7) days.

  6. If you call the Kansas Unemployment Call Center to start filing your application again within that seven day period, you should select option "1" to apply for unemployment insurance benefits.

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    • Note: You also can complete your application on this web site.

  7. After we verify your identity, you can begin filing your claim again from the point where you left off before.

    • Note: If you do not finish filing your claim within the seven day period following your first attempt, you will have to start over from the beginning and answer all questions again. In addition, the effective date of your claim will change which means you will not receive waiting week credit or payment for the previous week(s).

      The automated telephone system to file an application for unemployment is:
  • 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m., Monday through Friday

  • 9:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m., Saturday

    If you call outside normal office hours you will only be able to complete the automated portion of your claim application. Your claim information will be saved for seven (7) days, allowing you to call back during normal office hours to complete your application or you may complete filing through this web site.

    Your claim will be filed as a "quick claim" and completed without having to speak to a claims specialist if:
  • You are laid off due to lack of work

  • There are no other issues on your claim

  • Your last employer is the same employer as when you filed previously

  • Your address has not changed.

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