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 Tennessee’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 Tennessee, you must:
Learn more about Tennessee’s monetary requirements and personal eligibility requirements here.
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 Tennessee, complete the following three steps:
Learn what documents and information you need here.
The Tennessee Unemployment Office only accepts claims online.
To apply for Unemployment Insurance online, click here to access Tennessee’s Unemployment claim portal.
If you have questions about the application process or require assistance, contact the Tennessee Department of Labor’s Main Office Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM CST at (844) 224-5818.
The amount of Unemployment Benefits you receive is based on your past reported earnings by employers that you have worked for in Tennessee. To determine the amount you will receive each week, the Tennessee Department of Labor takes the highest-earning quarter in the applicant’s base period and divides that amount by 26.
The maximum weekly benefit amount in Tennessee is $275.
Learn more about Tennessee’s base period and how benefits are calculated 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. Learn more about the Weekly Certification Application here.
Keep track of your work-search contacts. You are required to make at least two contacts 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.
You can learn more about what to expect after applying here.
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.
Learn more about the Weekly Certification Application and file your Weekly Certification Applications 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 within 15 calendar days of your determination.
You can submit an appeal to the Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce online through the Jobs4TN claims portal here. Here are the steps you will need to take to file your appeal:
Remember to continue certifying your claim weekly in order to receive benefits if your determination is overturned because of your appeal.
For help with an Unemployment Insurance application, or for any further questions about your Unemployment Insurance claim, call the Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce at (844) 224-5818.
You can also visit or call a local Unemployment Office for further assistance. Find your nearest Unemployment Office location and contact information here.
The Tennessee Department of Labor customer service telephone line and local Unemployment Offices are available Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM until 4:30 PM CST, except for the observed holidays noted 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 Tennessee Unemployment Benefits or an Unemployment Insurance claim, call the Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce (DLW) main office at (844) 224-5818.
You can also contact DLW customer service by phone at (615) 532-4812 or (800) 332-2667, or by email at WC.Info@tn.gov.
If you would like to submit a request for assistance online, you can access the DLW’s request form on their main website here. Live chat with a representative is also available on the Tennessee DLW main website here by clicking the “Chat” icon in the bottom left-hand corner.
If you have questions about appeals, you can learn about the appeals process and access the appeals request form here.
Tennessee DLW phone lines are available Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM until 4:30 PM CST, except for the observed holidays noted here.
Tennessee has 8 Unemployment Offices. Find your nearest local Unemployment Office’s location, hours of operation, and phone number. Or, go to the Tennessee DLW Contact page here.
| Location | Address | Phone Number | Hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| Memphis | One Commerce Square 40 South Main Street, Suite 500 Memphis, TN 38103 |
Phone: (901) 543-6077 Fax: (901) 543-6039 |
Monday- Friday 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM |
| Cookeville | 444-A Neal Street Cookeville, TN 38501 |
Phone: (931) 520-4290 Fax: (931) 520-4316 |
Monday- Friday 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM |
| Jackson | 225 Dr. Martin L. King Jr. Drive Suite 120 Jackson, TN 38301 |
Phone: (731) 423-5646 Fax: (731) 265-7022 |
Monday- Friday 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM |
| Chattanooga | 1301 Riverfront Parkway, Suite 202 Chattanooga, TN 37402 |
Phone: (423) 634-6422 Fax: (423) 634-3115 |
Monday- Friday 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM |
| Nashville | 220 French Landing Drive, Suite 1B Nashville, TN 37243 |
Phone: (615) 741-1383 Fax: (615) 253-1223 |
Monday- Friday 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM |
| Knoxville | 520 Summit Hill, Suite 103 Knoxville, TN 37902 |
Phone: (865) 594-5177 Fax: (865) 594-5172 |
Monday- Friday 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM |
| Murfreesboro | 845 Esther Lane Murfreesboro, TN 37219 |
Phone: (615) 848-6743 Fax: (615) 217-9378 |
Monday- Friday 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM |
| Gray | 5788 Bobby Hicks Highway Gray, TN 37615-3190 |
Phone: (423) 854-5160 Fax: (423) 239-7844 |
Monday- Friday 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM |
To find more information on Tennessee Unemployment Benefits and Services, visit:
To file an Unemployment Insurance claim online:
If you have a question about Tennessee Business Unemployment Insurance, watch a short video provided by the Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce 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.
To apply for Unemployment Insurance in Tennessee, complete the following three steps:
Learn what documents and information you need here.
The Tennessee Unemployment Office only accepts claims online.
To apply for Unemployment Insurance online, click here to access Tennessee’s Unemployment claim portal.
If you have questions about the application process or require assistance, contact the Tennessee Department of Labor’s Main Office Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM CST at (844) 224-5818.
If you have already applied for Unemployment Insurance online, you can check the status of your application by logging into your account through the Tennessee Unemployment Claim Tracker here.
You can learn more about how to check your application status here.
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.
Learn more about the Weekly Certification Application here.
If your Unemployment Insurance application was denied, you have the right to file an appeal within 15 calendar days of your determination.
You can submit an appeal to the Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce online through the Jobs4TN claims portal here. Here are the steps you will need to take to file your appeal:
Remember to continue certifying your claim weekly in order to receive benefits if your determination is overturned because of your appeal.
For help with an Unemployment Insurance application, or for any further questions about your Unemployment Insurance claim, call the Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce at (844) 224-5818.
You can also visit or call a local Unemployment Office for further assistance. Find your nearest Unemployment Office location and contact information here.
The Tennessee Department of Labor customer service telephone line and local Unemployment Offices are available Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM until 4:30 PM CST, except for the observed holidays noted 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.
