Filing for Unemployment in Louisiana Through LaWorks

Louisiana's unemployment system is run by LaWorks, the state's workforce agency. You file through their online portal at www.laworks.net, by phone, or in person at a local LaWorks office. The online system is fastest — most people complete it in 15 to 20 minutes if they have their documents ready. You will need your Social Security number, driver's license or state ID, and information about your last employer: their name, address, phone number, and the dates you worked there.

Louisiana requires you to file within a specific window after your job ends. You can file as soon as you are laid off, furloughed, or have your hours cut to part-time. If you quit, you generally cannot receive benefits unless the employer cut your hours first or you left for "good cause" — which Louisiana defines narrowly, usually meaning unsafe working conditions or a substantial change in pay or duties without your consent. If you were fired, you can still file; LaWorks will contact your employer to ask why you were terminated.

The state processes claims within one to two weeks if everything is complete. You will receive a information letter by mail or email telling you whether you were found to have a valid claim. If approved, your first payment arrives within seven to ten business days after approval.

Key Takeaways

  • File online at www.laworks.net using your Social Security number, state ID, and your last employer's contact information and employment dates.
  • Louisiana pays a maximum of $247 per week for up to 26 weeks of regular unemployment, though the actual amount depends on your prior earnings.
  • You must file a weekly claim every Sunday through Friday to keep receiving payments; missing a week stops your benefits until you file again.
  • If your claim is denied, you have 30 days from the denial letter to request a hearing before an administrative law judge.
  • LaWorks offers free job search resources and training programs through their website, though using them is not required to receive benefits.

What Information and Documents You Need Before You Start

Gather these items before you log into the LaWorks portal. Having them ready cuts your filing time in half and reduces the chance you will miss a required field. You need your Social Security number, date of birth, and current mailing address. You also need a valid email address — LaWorks will send your information letter and payment information there.

For your employer information, write down the company name exactly as it appears on your pay stub, the street address, city, state, and zip code, the main phone number, and the dates you started and stopped working (month and year is enough). If you worked for a large company with multiple locations, include the specific branch or location where you worked. You will also need to describe why you are no longer employed: laid off, furloughed, hours reduced, quit, or fired. If you quit or were fired, be ready to explain the reason in a text box — keep it factual and brief.

If you worked for more than one employer in the past 18 months, have that information ready too. LaWorks uses your wage history to calculate your weekly benefit amount, so they need to know about all recent jobs.

Step-by-Step: Filing Online at LaWorks

  1. Go to www.laworks.net and click "File for Unemployment Insurance" or "Unemployment Insurance Claims." You will land on a page asking whether you are filing a new claim or reopening an old one. Choose "New Claim" unless you filed for unemployment in Louisiana within the past year.
  2. Create or log into your LaWorks account. If this is your first time, you will create a username and password. Write these down — you will use them to check your claim status and file weekly claims later.
  3. Enter your personal information: Social Security number, date of birth, full legal name, current address, phone number, and email. Double-check the spelling of your name and the accuracy of your Social Security number; errors here delay processing.
  4. Describe your employment separation. Select the reason you are no longer working from the dropdown menu. If you quit or were fired, you will see a text box asking you to explain. Write one or two sentences: "I was laid off due to lack of work" or "I was fired for being late; I had transportation issues." Do not argue or blame; just state the fact.
  5. Enter your last employer's information. Company name, address, phone number, and the dates you worked there (start month/year and end month/year). If you do not know the exact address, the city and zip code are usually enough for LaWorks to find them.
  6. Answer questions about your work history. LaWorks will ask whether you worked for other employers in the past 18 months. If yes, add each one with the same information: name, address, dates, and reason for separation.
  7. Review your answers and submit. The system will show you a summary of what you entered. Read through it carefully. Once you submit, you cannot change most fields without calling LaWorks or filing an amended claim.
  8. Save your confirmation number. After you submit, the system will give you a confirmation number and a date when you should expect your information letter. Write this down or take a screenshot.

Filing Weekly Claims and Staying on the Payroll

After your initial claim is approved, you must file a weekly claim every week to keep receiving payments. In Louisiana, the weekly claim window opens on Sunday at 12:01 a.m. and closes on Friday at 11:59 p.m. You can file any day during that window — it does not have to be on a specific day. If you miss the Friday important date, your benefits stop for that week, and you must call LaWorks to reactivate your claim.

To file your weekly claim, log into your LaWorks account, go to "File Weekly Claim," and answer a few questions: Did you work that week? How many hours? How much did you earn? Are you still looking for work? Are you available to work? The system takes about five minutes. After you submit, you will see a confirmation number. Save it.

If you worked during the week, report your earnings honestly. Louisiana allows you to earn up to one-third of your weekly benefit amount without losing any benefits. If you earn more than that, your weekly payment is reduced dollar-for-dollar. For example, if your weekly benefit is $247 and you earned $100, you lose $100 from that week's payment.

How Much You Will Receive and for How Long

Louisiana's maximum weekly benefit is $247, but your actual amount depends on how much you earned in the year before you lost your job. LaWorks calculates this by looking at your wages in the first four of the five calendar quarters before you filed. The more you earned, the higher your weekly payment, up to the state maximum.

You can receive benefits for up to 26 weeks in a benefit year (a 52-week period starting when your claim is approved). If you exhaust your 26 weeks and are still unemployed, you may be able to extend your benefits through a federal program, but this is not automatic — you must ask LaWorks whether an extension is available, and it depends on the state's unemployment rate at that time.

Your benefit year runs for 52 weeks from the date your claim is approved. After that year ends, you cannot file another claim until at least 52 weeks have passed since your last claim was approved, even if you have not used all 26 weeks of benefits.

What Happens If Your Claim Is Denied

LaWorks will mail or email you a information letter within one to two weeks of filing. If the letter says "Claim Denied," it will explain the reason. Common reasons include: you quit without good cause, you were fired for misconduct, you did not earn enough in the base period to may have access to, or you did not separate from your employer due to lack of work.

You have 30 days from the date on the denial letter to request a hearing. To request a hearing, call LaWorks at 1-866-783-5567 or file a written appeal through your online account. At the hearing, an administrative law judge will listen to your side of the story and your employer's side, then decide whether to overturn the denial. Bring any documents that support your case: pay stubs, emails, written warnings, or a letter from your employer confirming the reason for separation.

If you miss the 30-day important date, you lose the right to appeal that claim. You can file a new claim only after 52 weeks have passed.

Other Ways to File If You Cannot Use the Online System

If you do not have internet access or prefer not to file online, you can file by phone. Call LaWorks at 1-866-783-5567. The line is open Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Central Time. Wait times are often long, especially early in the week. Have all your information ready before you call.

You can also file in person at a local LaWorks office. Find the office nearest you at www.laworks.net under "Locations." Bring your Social Security card or state ID, your last pay stub, and your last employer's contact information. Walk-in hours vary by location, so call ahead.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I file for unemployment if I was laid off due to COVID-19?

Yes. Layoffs due to COVID-19 are treated the same as any other layoff. File through the regular system at www.laworks.net. If you were self-employed or a gig worker, you may be able to file under a federal program called Pandemic Unemployment information, but that program is no longer active as of 2024. Contact LaWorks to ask whether any federal extensions are currently available.

What if I was fired but I think it was unfair?

File anyway. LaWorks will contact your employer and ask why you were fired. If you were fired for "misconduct" — meaning willful or negligent violation of reasonable employer rules — you will be denied. If you were fired for poor performance, inability to do the job, or a reason unrelated to misconduct, you may be approved. Request a hearing if you are denied, and explain your side to the judge.

Do I have to look for a job while I receive unemployment?

Louisiana does not require you to prove you are looking for work, but you must answer "yes" to the question "Are you able and available to work?" on your weekly claim. If you are not actively looking for work and your employer or LaWorks finds out, your benefits can be stopped. It is safer to do some job searching — even a few applications per week — and keep records of where you applied.

What if I move out of Louisiana while receiving benefits?

You can continue to receive Louisiana unemployment benefits even if you move to another state, as long as you keep filing your weekly claims and remain able and available to work. However, if you move and take a job in another state, you must report your earnings. If you move and want to file a new claim in your new state, you will need to do that instead, and your Louisiana claim will end.

How long does it take to get my first payment?

If your claim is approved, your first payment arrives within seven to ten business days. The payment is deposited into a bank account or loaded onto a debit card, depending on how you set it up during filing. You will receive a notice in the mail telling you which method was chosen. If you do not receive payment within two weeks of approval, call LaWorks to check the status.