How unemployment works in New Hampshire
New Hampshire's unemployment program is run by the Department of Employment Security. You file your claim directly with them, either online through their website or by phone. The state pays benefits from a fund built from employer payroll taxes, not from general tax revenue.
The program has two parts: regular unemployment insurance for people laid off or whose hours were cut, and federal extended benefits during periods when the state's jobless rate is high. Most people file for regular benefits first. If those run out and you still have not found work, you may be able to continue on extended benefits — but only if the state's unemployment rate meets federal thresholds, which changes quarterly.
New Hampshire requires you to actively search for work while you receive benefits. You must report your job search activities when you file your weekly claim. The state also requires you to accept suitable work if it is offered to you. If you turn down a job without good cause, you can lose benefits.
Key Takeaways
- File your claim with the New Hampshire Department of Employment Security online or by phone as soon as you become unemployed, because benefits do not start until the week you file.
- You must have earned at least $3,600 in the past 12 months and worked for at least two different employers or for one employer for at least two calendar quarters to meet the earnings requirement.
- Weekly benefits range from $32 to $427, depending on your prior wages, and you receive them for up to 26 weeks if you remain unemployed and continue to search for work.
- You must file a new claim each week you want benefits, reporting your job search activities and any income you earned that week.
- If your claim is denied, you have the right to a hearing before an appeals officer, and you can bring evidence or a representative to argue your case.
Who can receive unemployment benefits in New Hampshire
You must meet three conditions: you must have lost your job through no fault of your own, you must have earned enough wages in the past 12 months, and you must be able and available to work.
The earnings requirement is $3,600 in the past 12 months, and you must have worked for at least two different employers or worked for one employer for at least two calendar quarters. A calendar quarter is three months: January–March, April–June, July–September, or October–December. If you worked part-time or seasonal work, the earnings still count toward the $3,600 total.
"No fault of your own" means you were laid off, your hours were cut, or you were fired for misconduct unrelated to your job duties. It does not include quitting, even if you had a good reason. If you quit, you are not usually may be able to access unless you left because of unsafe working conditions or domestic violence.
You must be able to work — meaning you are not hospitalized, caring for a child with no childcare, or unable to accept a job offer. You must also be actively searching for work. The state does not require you to explore to a specific number of jobs per week, but you must be able to describe your search activities when you file your weekly claim.
How much you receive and for how long
Your weekly benefit amount is calculated from your highest-earning quarter in the past 12 months. The state takes roughly one-third of your average weekly wage from that quarter and rounds to the nearest dollar. The minimum weekly benefit is $32 and the maximum is $427. These amounts change each year based on state wage data.
You can receive benefits for up to 26 weeks in a benefit year if you remain unemployed and continue to search for work. A benefit year runs for 52 weeks from the date you file your first claim. If you find work and earn money, your weekly benefit is reduced by 50 cents for every dollar you earn above $30 per week. This means part-time work does not eliminate your benefits entirely — it reduces them.
If you exhaust your 26 weeks of regular benefits and the state's unemployment rate is high enough, you may be able to continue on federal extended benefits. The federal program adds weeks of benefits, but only when the state's three-month average unemployment rate exceeds certain thresholds. This changes quarterly, so you should check with the Department of Employment Security to see if extended benefits are available when your regular benefits end.
What disqualifies you or stops your benefits
You lose benefits if you quit your job without good cause, are fired for willful misconduct, or refuse suitable work. "Willful misconduct" means you deliberately broke a rule or did something you knew was wrong — not that you made a mistake or were not good at the job. "Suitable work" means work in your field at a wage close to what you earned before, or work you could reasonably do given your skills and experience.
You also lose benefits if you are not actively searching for work or if you do not report your search activities on your weekly claim. If you fail to file your weekly claim on time, you do not receive benefits for that week. The state does not automatically extend your important date, so mark the filing date on your calendar.
If you receive benefits you were not may have access to to — for example, because you did not report income you earned — you must repay the money. The state can also impose a penalty on top of the repayment. If the overpayment was the state's error, you may not have to repay it, but you should contact the Department of Employment Security to ask.
If you are receiving benefits and find work, you must report your new job and your start date on your next weekly claim. Your benefits end the week you return to work, even if you work only one day that week.
How to file your claim
File online through the New Hampshire Department of Employment Security website at des.nh.gov. You will need your Social Security number, driver's license or state ID number, and information about your last job: the employer's name and address, your job title, the dates you worked, and your reason for separation.
If you cannot file online, you can call the Department of Employment Security at 603-271-3503. Phone lines are busiest early in the week, so calling on Wednesday or Thursday may be faster. Have your information ready before you call.
File as soon as you become unemployed. Benefits do not start until the week you file, so waiting costs you money. If you were laid off on a Monday, file that same week — do not wait until the following Monday.
After you file your initial claim, you must file a weekly claim every week you want benefits. You can file online or by phone. The weekly claim asks whether you worked that week, how much you earned, and what job search activities you did. You must describe at least one search activity per week — for example, "applied to three jobs on Indeed," "attended a job fair," or "contacted an employer about openings."
What happens after you file
The Department of Employment Security reviews your claim and contacts your employer to verify the information you provided. This usually takes one to two weeks. If there is a discrepancy — for example, your employer says you quit but you say you were laid off — the state will contact you to ask for more information.
If your claim is approved, you receive your first payment within one to two weeks of filing. Payments are made by debit card to an account set up by the state. You can also request a check instead, but debit card is faster.
If your claim is denied, the state sends you a written notice explaining why. You have 10 calendar days from the date on the notice to file an appeal. You can appeal online, by mail, or by phone. If you appeal, you will have a hearing before an appeals officer. You can represent yourself or bring a representative — a lawyer, union representative, or someone else who knows your case. The hearing is usually held by phone.
Special situations and exceptions
If you were laid off due to a plant closure or mass layoff, you may be may be able to access for Trade Adjustment information (TAA) in addition to regular unemployment benefits. TAA provides extra weeks of benefits and can pay for job training. You must have been laid off because your employer's production moved to another country or because of increased imports. Contact the Department of Employment Security to ask if you may have access to.
If you are self-employed or an independent contractor, you are not covered by New Hampshire's unemployment insurance program. Self-employed people do not pay into the system and cannot draw from it. However, if you worked as an employee for part of the year and were laid off from that job, you can file based on your employee wages.
If you are a seasonal worker — for example, you work in tourism or agriculture — you can still file for unemployment during the off-season if you meet the earnings requirement. The state recognizes that seasonal work is temporary, so you are not required to search for work in your off-season if you have a reasonable expectation of returning to your seasonal job.
If you are receiving workers' compensation for a work injury, you may not be able to receive unemployment benefits at the same time. Contact the Department of Employment Security to ask about your specific situation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I receive unemployment if I was fired?
You can receive benefits if you were fired for reasons unrelated to your job performance — for example, if the company laid off your department or eliminated your position. You cannot receive benefits if you were fired for willful misconduct, such as stealing, being violent, or deliberately breaking a rule you knew about. If you were fired for poor performance or a mistake, you may still be may be able to access.
What if my employer says I quit but I say I was laid off?
The state will investigate and ask both you and your employer for details. Bring documentation if you have it — a layoff notice, an email from your manager, a severance agreement, or a witness who can confirm what happened. If the state cannot determine what happened, it usually sides with the employer's account, so providing your own evidence is important.
Do I have to report my job search activities every week?
Yes. When you file your weekly claim, you must describe at least one job search activity. This can be explore for jobs online, attending a job fair, contacting employers, meeting with a career counselor, or taking a training course. If you do not report search activities, your claim may be denied for that week.
What if I find part-time work while receiving benefits?
Report the income on your weekly claim. Your benefit is reduced by 50 cents for every dollar you earn above $30 per week. For example, if your weekly benefit is $300 and you earn $100, your benefit for that week is $265 (you earned $70 above the $30 threshold, so $70 × 0.50 = $35 reduction). You can continue to receive partial benefits while working part-time.
How long does it take to get my first payment?
If your claim is approved, you usually receive your first payment within one to two weeks of filing your initial claim. Payments are made by debit card. If you requested a check instead, it may take longer. If your claim is delayed because the state is investigating, you may not receive payment for three to four weeks.