While we are not affiliated with the government in any way, our private company engaged writers to research the Unemployment Insurance program and compiled a guide and the following answers to frequently asked questions. Our goal is to help you get the benefits that you need by providing useful information on the process.
Unemployment Insurance is a benefit program designed to replace part of the income of recently unemployed or underemployed workers. Unemployment Insurance is available to workers who are out of work through no fault of their own.
Learn more about Unemployment on Delaware’s Unemployment Program Overview page here.
Unemployment Insurance Benefits are weekly payments given to eligible workers who apply to and are accepted into the program. These payments are typically provided via direct deposits to the beneficiary’s bank account.
Learn more about how Unemployment Insurance payments work here.
To qualify for Unemployment Insurance in Delaware, you must:
Learn more about Delaware’s monetary and personal eligibility requirements on page 9 of this handbook.
Apply for benefits online here during the week you are seeking payment, when your hours have been reduced or when you are no longer employed. Do NOT wait until the week is over.
Learn more information on when to apply for Unemployment Insurance here.
To apply for Unemployment Insurance in Delaware, complete the following three steps:
Learn what documents and information you need in this handbook.
To apply for Unemployment Insurance online, click here to access Delaware’s Unemployment claim portal.
To apply for Unemployment Insurance in person, click here to find an office near you. A copy of the paper application is available here.
If you have questions about the application process or require assistance, you can contact the following information hotlines:
All automatic Delaware DOL phone lines are available every day from 24 hours a day.
To speak to a DOL representative, call (302) 761-8446 between Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM until 4:00 PM ET, except for the observed holidays noted here.
The amount of Unemployment Benefits you receive is based on your past reported earnings by employers that you worked for in Delaware. To determine the amount you will receive each week, the Delaware Department of Labor takes two highest-earning quarters in the applicant’s base period and divides that amount by 46.
The minimum weekly benefit amount in Delaware is $20. The maximum weekly benefit amount is $400.
To find out more about the base period and how benefits are calculated, click here.
The week after you file your unemployment claim is called the Waiting Week. During the Waiting Week, you must file a Weekly Certification Application through the claimant portal here and the Unemployment Office will make sure you are still unemployed or underemployed, and meet all other eligibility requirements. If approved, you will begin receiving your weekly benefits the following week. You are not paid for the Waiting Week, but you do receive a Waiting Week credit.
Learn more about the Waiting Week here.
Keep track of your work-search contacts. You are required to make at least one contact per week to receive payments and waiting week credit.
If you were discharged or quit your last job, expect a call (or email if that is your preferred contact method) to determine if you are eligible for unemployment insurance.
Learn more about what to expect after applying on page 7 of this handbook.
You must file a Weekly Certification Application every week you are receiving Unemployment Benefits until you are employed again. This weekly claim is like a follow-up application that certifies your continued eligibility for the program, and proves you are actively applying for new jobs.
File your Weekly Certification Application here.
It’s important to remember that you will stop receiving Unemployment Benefits and your Unemployment Claim will be canceled if you have not filed Weekly Certifications for two or more consecutive weeks.
If your Unemployment Insurance application was denied, you have the right to file an appeal. You can submit an appeal to the Department of Labor by calling (302) 761-8418 or emailing DOL_DUI_Appeals_Request@delaware.gov.
For help with an Unemployment Insurance application, or for any further questions about your Unemployment Insurance claim, call the Delaware Department of Labor at (302) 761-8446 between Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM until 4:00 PM ET, except for the observed holidays noted here.
You can also visit or call your nearest local office for further assistance. You can find the location nearest you and its contact information here.
While we are not affiliated with the government in any way, our private company engaged writers to research the Unemployment Insurance program and compiled a guide and these answers to frequently asked questions. Our goal is to help you get the benefits that you need by providing useful information on the process.
Our free Unemployment Insurance Guide is filled with helpful information about how to apply, program eligibility requirements and how to get in touch with local offices. You can view or download our free guide here.
If you have general questions about Delaware Unemployment Benefits or an Unemployment Insurance claim, call the Delaware Department of Labor (DOL) information hotline at the following numbers:
These lines can assist with frequently asked questions regarding unemployment claims. All automatic Delaware DOL phone lines are available every day from 24 hours a day.
To speak to a DOL representative, call (302) 761-8446 between Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM until 4:00 PM ET, except for the observed holidays noted here.
If you would like to contact a representative at the main office, you can also email the Delaware Department of Labor at UIClaims@delaware.gov.
If you have questions about appeals, call the Unemployment Hearings and Appeals Division at (302) 761-8418. Or, learn about the appeals process here.
Delaware has four Career Centers. Find your nearest local office’s location, hours of operation, and phone number below. Or, go to the Delaware DOL Contact Us page here.
| Location | Address | Phone Number | Hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wilmington | 4425 North Market Street Wilmington, DE 19802 |
(302) 761-8446 | 8:00 am – 4:00 pm Monday – Friday |
| Dover | Blue Hen Corporate Center 655 S. Bay Road, Suite 2H Dover, DE 19901 |
(302) 761-8446 | 8:00 am – 4:00 pm Monday – Friday |
| Newark | University Office Plaza 252 Chapman Road, Suite 210 Newark, DE 19702 |
(302) 761-8446 | 8:00 am – 4:00 pm Monday – Friday |
| Georgetown | 8 Georgetown Plaza, Suite 2 Georgetown, DE 19947 |
(302) 761-8446 | 8:00 am – 4:00 pm Monday – Friday |
To find more information on Delaware Unemployment Benefits and Services, visit:
To file an Unemployment Insurance claim, visit the Delaware Unemployment Insurance claimant portal here.
To find more information about COVID-19’s impact on Delaware Unemployment Insurance, visit the Delaware Department of Labor (DOL) COVID-19 information page here.
If you have a question about Delaware Employer Unemployment Insurance:
While we are not affiliated with the government in any way, our private company engaged writers to research the Unemployment Insurance program and compiled a guide and these answers to frequently asked questions. Our goal is to help you get the benefits that you need by providing useful information on the process.
Our free Unemployment Insurance Guide is filled with helpful information about how to apply, program eligibility and how to get in touch with local offices. You can view or download our free guide here.
To apply for Unemployment Insurance in Delaware, complete the following three steps:
If you have questions about the application process or require assistance, you can contact the following information hotlines:
All automatic Delaware DOL phone lines are available every day from 24 hours a day.
To speak to a DOL representative, call (302) 761-8446 between Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM until 4:00 PM ET, except for the observed holidays noted here.
If you have already applied for Unemployment Insurance online, you can check the status of your application by logging into your account through the Delaware Claimant Portal here.
You can also check the status of your application by calling the Delaware Department of Labor’s customer service line at the following information hotlines:
You will not begin receiving Unemployment Benefits immediately after submitting the application. By law, you must wait one week before finding out whether you will begin receiving benefits. This is called the Waiting Week.
The Waiting Week is the week after you file your unemployment claim. During the Waiting Week, you must file a Weekly Certification Application through the claimant portal here and the Unemployment Office will make sure you are still unemployed or underemployed, and meet all other eligibility requirements. If approved, you will begin receiving your weekly benefits the following week. You are not paid for the Waiting Week, but you do receive a Waiting Week credit.
Learn more about the Waiting Week here.
If your Unemployment Insurance application was denied, you have the right to file an appeal. You can submit an appeal to the Department of Labor by calling (302) 761-8418 or emailing DOL_DUI_Appeals_Request@delaware.gov.
For help with an Unemployment Insurance application, or for any further questions about your Unemployment Insurance claim, call the Delaware Department of Labor at (302) 761-8446 between Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM until 4:00 PM ET, except for the observed holidays noted here.
You can also visit or call your nearest local office for further assistance. You can find the location nearest you and its contact information here.
While we are not affiliated with the government in any way, our private company engaged writers to research the Unemployment Insurance program and compiled a guide and these answers to frequently asked questions. Our goal is to help you get the benefits that you need by providing useful information on the process.
Our free Unemployment Insurance Guide is filled with helpful information about how to apply, program eligibility requirements and how to get in touch with local offices. You can view or download our free guide here.
