Hawaii Unemployment

You must first establish a valid unemployment claim by meeting the following two monetary qualifications:

1) you must have been paid wages in two or more calendar quarters of your base period and,

2) you must also have been paid wages totaling 26 times your weekly benefit amount in your base period.

The standard base period is the first 4 of the last 5 completed calendar quarters immediately preceding the effective date of your claim. The effective date of your claim is the Sunday of the week in which you first apply. If you do not qualify using the standard base period, an alternate based period can be used. The alternate base period is the last 4 completed calendar quarters.

For example, if you file your claim on January 5, 2009, then the effective date of your claim is Sunday, January 4, 2009, and your standard base period is the first 4 completed quarters from October 1, 2007 to September 30, 2008. If the wages in the highest quarter of your base period is $8,400, then your weekly benefit amount would be $400 per week. You must have wages in at least two quarters of your base period and paid total wages of at least $10,400 in your base period.

If you worked in other states besides Hawaii (including the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, or the Virgin Islands) in the base period of your claim, you may be able to combine the wages to meet the necessary monetary qualifications or to increase your weekly benefit amount.

How do I file for unemployment benefits?

Step-By-Step Process For Filing Unemployment Insurance (UI) Claims

The following process describes the steps for filing a typical unemployment insurance claim. The actual steps may vary depending on the circumstances and type of claim. Claimants should refer to the Information on Unemployment Benefits Handbook for specific information on the claim filing process.

http://hawaii.gov/labor/ui/pdf/EE%20FAQ%202009%20rev%201-09.pdf

1. Filing your initial claim.
1. As soon as you become unemployed, call Hawaii Tele-Claim at 643-5555 (or 1-877-215-5793 outside of Hawaii). Since Mondays and Tuesdays are the busiest, we recommend you call from Wednesday to Friday during the first week you become unemployed.
2. When you call Hawaii Tele-Claims, you will answer questions from our Interactive Voice Response (IVR) system using your touch-tone telephone to begin the claim process. Remain on the line after you have completed the IVR portion of the claim filing process to speak to a Customer Service Representative (CSR). If you call outside office hours, you will need to call again during office hours to speak with a CSR to complete the claim filing process. You must speak with a CSR to complete the initial claim filing process.
3. Depending on your work history, type of claim, amount of information needed, etc. your interview with the CSR may take between 10 3 20 minutes.
2. Within 1-2 days after you file your initial claim.
1. After filing your initial claim, we will mail you an informational packet. Follow the enclosed instructions regarding any forms that need to be completed and returned to the local office handling your claim. Do not delay reviewing the documents and returning any forms that require completion within the specified time. Be sure to take the enclosed cRegistration for Workd form and report to the Workforce Development Division (WDD) within seven (7) days to register for work. If you belong to a labor union with a hiring hall, take the enclosed cUnion Registrationd form to your union. Mail or turn in the cRegistration for Workd form or the cUnion Registrationd form within seven (7) days.
2. You will also receive separately a cReminder Claim Certificationd which will indicate the first week that you should file for benefits and the period during which you should file for that week. (The cReminder Claim Certificationd is for information purposes only. Do not mail or turn in the cReminder Claim Certification.d)
3. Refer to the cInstructions for Using Hawaii Tele-Claimd which came with your packet. You are encouraged to use the cPractice Lined to familiarize yourself with the telephone claim certification filing process before you actually file your first claim certification. If you have any questions, call your local office for assistance.
3. Filing your claim certifications after you file your initial claim.
1. The first week on your claim is generally your waiting period. You must file for that week to receive credit for it but you will not be paid for that week. The first week that you can be paid for will be the second week that you claim. If there are no eligibility issues or job separation issues, (i.e., you were discharged or voluntarily quit), you will receive payment for the second week within 21 days after you filed your initial claim. After filing your first and second weeks one week at a time, you will then start filing on a bi-weekly (two weeks at a time) basis. Each time you file a bi-weekly claim certification, you will receive a payment for those two weeks.
2. To begin file your weekly or bi-weekly claim certifications, call Hawaii Tele-Claim at 643-2222 (or 1-877-215-5791 outside Hawaii) during the period indicated on the cReminder Claim Certification.d
3. Each time you file for a weekly or bi-weekly period via Hawaii Tele-Claim, you will receive a cReminder Claim Certificationd within 1 3 3 days which will advise you of the next weekly or bi-weekly period that you should file for and the dates within which you should call Hawaii Tele-Claim to file your claim certification(s).
4. If you have a part-time employer or if you are still on payroll with your regular fulltime employer but not getting fulltime hours to work, your employer must verify your earnings before a payment is processed. You will be provided with a cLow Earnings Reportd to take to your employer to verify your earnings for each week you claim benefits. Your earnings in excess of $50 will be deducted from your unemployment check.
4. Your Determination of Insured Status.
1. Generally, within 10 days after you file your initial claim, we will send you a cUnemployment Insurance Determination of Insured Statusd form that will tell you if you were paid sufficient wages to qualify for unemployment insurance benefits.
2. This determination will state your weekly benefit amount, the maximum amount payable on your claim, the starting and ending dates of your claim, and the wages that were used to compute your entitlement.
3. If you did not have sufficient wages to qualify, the reason will be stated on the determination.
4. If you disagree with the determination, or the wages or employment reported, you can request reconsideration or file an appeal. (Refer to the appeal rights printed on your determination for more information.)
5. Eligibility Determinations. The following steps apply only if there are any eligibility issues on your claim.
1. If there are any eligibility or job separation issues that must be resolved to determine your eligibility for benefits, we call you on the phone or send you a notice to contact a claims examiner to provide information. After the claims examiner conducts the investigation, we will send you a written determination advising you of your eligibility for benefits. The eligibility determination process will usually be completed within 14-21days after you filed your initial claim.
2. If benefits are allowed, your payments will be released when the eligibility determination is made. If benefits are denied, you will not receive any payments. The eligibility decision you get in the mail will explain the reason why benefits are denied, the period of ineligibility or disqualification, and your appeal rights.
3. If you are denied benefits and disagree with the decision, you have 10 days from the date of decision to request reconsideration or file an appeal. If you request reconsideration, the UI Division will conduct an investigation and issue a redetermination within 2 weeks affirming, modifying, or reversing the original determination. If you disagree with the redetermination, you can file an appeal.
4. If you request reconsideration or file an appeal, continue to file your weekly or biweekly claims certifications. If benefits are subsequently allowed, you will be paid only for weeks that were claimed and filed on time.
5. For determinations involving the reason for your job separation, your employer also has the right to file or a reconsideration or an appeal if benefits are allowed and the employer disagrees with the decision.
6. Appeal Rights.
1. a. If you or your employer files an appeal, the appeals office will schedule an appeals hearing to be held in about 2 to 4 weeks, depending on workload.
2. b. After your appeals hearing, the appeals office will issue a decision within 1 to 2 weeks. If benefits were denied and you are allowed benefits, payments will be made at that time, provided you have filed your weekly or bi-weekly claims for benefits and meet all other eligibility requirements. If benefits are denied by the appeals office and you disagree with the appeal decision, you have 30 days to request reopening or file for judicial review in Circuit Court.

http://hawaii.gov/labor/ui/pdf/claimant-process.pdf

Claim Filing by Phone

Applications from Hawaii   643-5555

Claim Certification from Hawaii  643-2222

Email:  dlir.unemployment@hawaii.gov

Oahu Branch and Out-of-State Employers

830 Punchbowl St Rm 437

Honolulu, HI  96813

Information:  (808) 586-8926

Registration:  (808) 586-8914

Tax Information:  (808) 586-8915

Liens \ Subpoenas:  (808) 586-8926

Contribution Assessment  (808) 586-8917

Fax:  (808) 586-8929

Email:  dlir.ui.empsvc.tax@hawaii.gov

 

Honolulu Claims Office

830 Punchbowl St Rm 110

Honolulu, HI 96813

Ph:  (808) 586-8970

   or (808) 586-8971

Fax:  (808) 586-8980

 

Maui Branch Employer Services

54 S High St Rm 201

Wailuku, HI  96793

Ph:  (808) 984-8410

Fax:  (808) 984-8444

 

Waipahu Claims Office

Waipahu Civic Center

94-275 Mokuola St Rm 301

Waipahu, HI  96797-3369

Ph:  (808) 675-0030

Fax:  (808) 675-0025

 

Hawaii Branch Employer Services

1990 Kinoole St Rm 101

Hilo, HI 96720-5293

Ph: (808) 974-4095

Fax:  (808) 974-4085

http://hawaii.gov/labor/ui/