How Do I File for Unemployment Insurance?

There are certain requirements that you must meet before you can receive unemployment insurance benefits. Among these are the following:

1. You must be totally or partially unemployed through no fault of your own and be approved for benefits.
2. You must have worked in employment that is covered by unemployment insurance.
3. You must be physically able to work at the time you file your first claim.
4. You must be available to accept suitable work offered to you.
5. You must have earned enough wages at your work to qualify for benefits.
6. After filing your claim, you must serve one week of waiting for which no payment is made.
7. Each week, you must report the gross amount of any money you have earned during that week, even if you are not paid until later.

Depending on where you live, Unemployment Insurance Claims are either filed in person at the Labor and Workforce Development Benefit Office nearest you or by telephone at the Call Center.

Benefit Offices and the Call Center are open from 8:00a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, except holidays. Call Center
PO Box 280870 Nashville, TN 37228
Phone: 253-0800
Fax:615-253-0808 or 615-253-0809
1-877-813-0950 toll-free

Call 253-0800 to file a claim for unemployment insurance if you live in the following Tennessee counties:

You call (toll free) 1-877-813-0950 to file a claim for unemployment insurance if you live in the following Tennessee counties:

If you live in a Tennessee county not listed above, you file your unemployment insurance claim at your nearest Labor and Workforce Development Benefit Office. For a Directory of Benefit Offices, Choose Benefit Offices under the Claimant Services menu.

You call (toll free) 1-877-813-0950 to file a claim for unemployment insurance if you live outside of Tennessee and are filing a claim against Tennessee.