Unemployment Insurance Benefits
Attention: On Sunday, May 17, 2009 weekly certification filing on the Internet or by telephone will be unavailable from 3 a.m. until noon Central Daylight Time (CDT) due to maintenance. Filing of initial claims and reopening of existing claims will also be unavailable.
Congress has approved an additional payment of $25 per week for weeks of unemployment paid from week ending February 28, 2009 to December 31, 2009. In some cases, payment will continue through June 30, 2010.
In addition, you will not pay Federal income tax on the first $2,400 in unemployment insurance benefits paid to you for 2009. You can change withholding status for unemployment insurance by calling the Benefit Section at 605.626.2452.
Unemployment insurance provides financial assistance for persons who have lost their jobs through no fault of their own. Its purpose is to provide a temporary source of income to individuals while they look for work. These payments also provide economic stability to the community. Unemployment insurance is financed entirely by a tax on payrolls paid by employers. To qualify for benefits you must have worked for an employer who was required to pay the tax. South Dakota workers do not contribute to this plan. Unemployment benefits are considered taxable income.
Emergency Unemployment Compensation (EUC) and Trade Readjustment Allowance (TRA) claims must be filed by telephone at 605.626.3179.
Online services available for the Unemployment Insurance Benefits program include the following:
- Filing a new initial claim application*
- Reopening an existing claim*
- Filing a weekly certification
- Updating personal information
- Viewing payment history
*Your claim will not be complete until you have received a confirmation number.
To access online services, click here. You must establish a user id and password.
Note: You may experience problems with this Web site if you do not use Internet Explorer 5.0 or newer. |
Helpful Information Regarding Unemployment Insurance
Frequently Asked Questions about UI Benefits - Frequently asked questions about the unemployment insurance benefits program, and the answers.
Frequently Asked Questions about the Debit Card - FAQs about option for receiving your unemployment insurance payments electronically through a U.S. Bank ReliaCard® Visa®.
Filing a Claim - How and when to file for unemployment insurance benefits.
Eligibility Requirements - What requirements must be met to be eligible for benefits. How to maintain eligibility.
Deductions from Benefits - What income is deductible from unemployment insurance benefits and how to report this income.
Wage Requirements/Benefit Amount - What wage requirements are necessary for filing a claim in South Dakota.
Weekly Certification Filing - How and when to file a weekly certification.
Filing Appeals - How to file an appeal if you disagree with a determination regarding your claim for benefits.
Facts About Unemployment Insurance Benefits - Additional information on your rights and responsibilities through the guidebook.
South Dakota Codified Laws on Unemployment Compensation - See the legal references to South Dakota unemployment insurance benefits.
If you cannot find answers to your questions among the topics listed to the left or through one of the options above, please contact us.
Unemployment Insurance Division - Benefit Section
South Dakota Department of Labor
PO Box 4730
Aberdeen, SD 57402-4730
Phone: 605.626.2452
Fax: 605.626.3172
e-mail
700 Governors Drive
Pierre, SD 57501-2291
Tel. 605.773.3101
Fax. 605.773.6184