How to File for Unemployment in District of Columbia
How to apply for unemployment in District of Columbia, what you need, and what you must do each week to keep getting benefits.
Short answer: File a new claim online through the DOES portal (does.dcnetworks.org); DOES no longer takes new claims by phone. You must verify your identity through ID.me or at an American Job Center. DOES, Apply for Benefits
| How to apply | File a new claim online through the DOES portal (does.dcnetworks.org); DOES no longer takes new claims by phone. You must verify your identity through ID.me or at an American Job Center. Have your Social Security number, your most recent employer's name, address, phone and dates of employment, alien registration number if applicable, DD214 if ex-military, SF-8 or SF-50 if a former federal employee, and severance and pension information. Certify weekly starting the Sunday after you file, online or by phone at (202) 724-7000, no later than 7 days after the week-ending date. Source: DOES, Apply for Benefits |
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| Earnings needed to qualify | You need wages of at least $1,300 in one quarter of your base period and at least $1,950 in two or more quarters, and total base period wages of at least 1.5 times your highest-quarter wages. Re-verified 2026-10-27. Source: D.C. Code § 51-107(c)(1) |
| Work search requirements | Complete at least two verifiable work search contacts each week (such as job applications, job fairs, or contacting prospective employers) and keep a record of them. You must also register for work with the employment office as DOES directs. |
| Logging in and filing weekly claims | In the District of Columbia, unemployment claimants file a weekly continued claim (weekly certification) online through DCNetworks, the Department of Employment Services (DOES) Unemployment Insurance Benefits System, signing in with ID.me credentials; you can also certify by phone at (202) 724-7000. If you cannot file online or by phone, you may mail the form or file at any American Job Center in the District. The DOES line (202) 724-7000 also handles DC UI benefit issues (it cannot reset ID.me passwords); TTY (202) 698-4817. DCNetworks link on the page: https://www.dcnetworks.org/vosnet/Default.aspx |
Where to get help in District of Columbia
More District of Columbia unemployment benefits
- Logging In to Your District of Columbia Unemployment Claim
- Unemployment for Self-Employed and Gig Workers in District of Columbia
- Unemployment After Being Fired in District of Columbia
- Unemployment After Quitting in District of Columbia
- How Much Unemployment Pays in District of Columbia
- All District of Columbia unemployment benefits rules
FAQ
How do I apply for unemployment in District of Columbia?
File a new claim online through the DOES portal (does.dcnetworks.org); DOES no longer takes new claims by phone. You must verify your identity through ID.me or at an American Job Center. Have your Social Security number, your most recent employer's name, address, phone and dates of employment, alien registration number if applicable, DD214 if ex-military, SF-8 or SF-50 if a former federal employee, and severance and pension information. Certify weekly starting the Sunday after you file, online or by phone at (202) 724-7000, no later than 7 days after the week-ending date.
How much do you need to have earned to get unemployment in District of Columbia?
You need wages of at least $1,300 in one quarter of your base period and at least $1,950 in two or more quarters, and total base period wages of at least 1.5 times your highest-quarter wages.
What are the work search requirements for unemployment in District of Columbia?
Complete at least two verifiable work search contacts each week (such as job applications, job fairs, or contacting prospective employers) and keep a record of them. You must also register for work with the employment office as DOES directs.
Where do I log in to my unemployment claim in District of Columbia?
In the District of Columbia, unemployment claimants file a weekly continued claim (weekly certification) online through DCNetworks, the Department of Employment Services (DOES) Unemployment Insurance Benefits System, signing in with ID.me credentials; you can also certify by phone at (202) 724-7000. If you cannot file online or by phone, you may mail the form or file at any American Job Center in the District. The DOES line (202) 724-7000 also handles DC UI benefit issues (it cannot reset ID.me passwords); TTY (202) 698-4817.
General legal information, not legal advice. Laws change and local rules can differ; check the linked official source or talk to a lawyer about your situation.