Need to file for unemployment insurance in Kentucky? Here's what to know about the process

Yahoo

13-03-2025

Losing your job can be scary and stressful, and applying for unemployment can feel complicated, overwhelming and confusing — but you're not alone. Many Americans have found themselves in this position over the years, especially since the pandemic.
Unemployment insurance takes tax money paid into the system by employers and uses it to provide benefits to employees who have lost their jobs. State governments run the unemployment insurance system, though the federal Department of Labor oversees it in all 50 states.
Here's everything you need to know about unemployment insurance in Kentucky.
To be eligible for unemployment insurance in Kentucky you must:
Be unemployed or working less than full-time
Have earned enough money to establish a valid claim
Be unemployed through no fault of your own
Be able to work, available for work, and looking for work
According to the Kentucky Career Center, applying for unemployment insurance could be up to a two week process.
Day one begins with your initial application. On day two, the Office of Unemployment Insurance will determine if you have a valid claim. If you meet all qualifications, you will receive a letter of the potential payment as early as day three or as late as day 12.
The day after you receive that letter you can request your first benefit payment. As long as there are no disqualifying factors, the first payment will be generated by either direct deposit or check within two to five days.
In order to file for unemployment insurance in Kentucky you will need the following information:
Personal information:
Social Security OR Alien Registration Number
Date of Birth
Complete Mailing Address
Phone Number
Employer information (for the past 18 months):
Business/Company Name
Business/Company Mailing Address
Business/Company Phone Number
Dates of Employment
The reason you are no longer working for EACH employer
You may also need:
​If you worked in other states: List of states in which you worked.
If you worked for a Temporary Agency: Name/Address of Temporary Agency.
If you worked for the Federal Government: Agency Name; Component name; Copy of your Standard Form (SF8, SF50).
If you were in the US Military: Copy of your DD214 Member 4.
If you worked through a skilled trade union: Name of contractor
Before accessing the Unemployment Insurance system to file a claim, every claimant must pass ID.me verification.
​To deter fraud, the Kentucky Office of Unemployment Insurance utilizes ID.me, a third-party vendor, to verify the identity of every Unemployment Insurance claimant.
You can file an unemployment insurance claim online, over the phone or in-person.
You can find the unemployment claims portal at uiclaimsportal.ky.gov.
Online filing hours are:
Monday-Friday: 7 a.m. – 7 p.m.Sunday: 10 a.m. – 9 p.m.
You can also apply by calling 502-564-2900 Monday-Friday from 9 a.m.- 5 p.m.
Anyone younger than 18 must file by phone using the number above.
If you'd like to apply in person the following Kentucky Career Center locations offer unemployment insurance services:
1324 Madison Ave., Covington
2473 Fortune Drive, Lexington
Fake unemployment filing websites have been reported in the past. These sites are designed to steal your personal information or charge you a fee, so it is important to be cautious when applying for unemployment and ensure you're on the right website.
The Kentucky Career Center recommends keeping the following points in mind in order to avoid scams:
​Make sure you are on a '.ky.gov' website when filing a Kentucky unemployment insurance claim.
KCC services are free.
KCC will never charge a fee.
Only trust unemployment insurance-related emails that are sent from an @ky.gov address. Example: [e-mail]
It is important that anyone receiving unemployment insurance benefits knows their Rights and Responsibilities.
You can read the full Claimant Guide here.
This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: Am I eligible for unemployment? How to file for unemployment in Kentucky