Wisconsin Unemployment Laws In 2026: The Complete Guide

Lost your job in Wisconsin? You’re probably wondering what happens next. Unemployment benefits can help you keep the lights on while you search for new work. But the rules can be confusing.

Let’s break down exactly how Wisconsin’s unemployment system works. Stay with me here. This stuff matters.

What Is Unemployment Insurance?

Unemployment insurance gives you temporary money when you lose your job through no fault of your own. Think of it as a safety net while you hunt for your next position.

The Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development runs the program. Employers pay into it. You don’t. So when you claim benefits, you’re not taking charity. This is money set aside specifically for workers who need it.

Who Qualifies for Unemployment Benefits?

You need to meet three basic requirements. First, you must have earned enough wages. Second, you must have lost your job for an approved reason. Third, you must be able and willing to work.

Wondering if this applies to you?

Wage Requirements

Wisconsin looks at your earnings during something called the base period. This is the first four of the last five complete calendar quarters before you filed your claim.

Here’s an example. Say you file in January 2026. Your base period would be September 1, 2024, through August 31, 2025. Pretty straightforward.

You need to have worked in at least two quarters during this time. Your highest-earning quarter must show at least $1,350 in wages. Your total base period wages must equal at least 35 times your weekly benefit rate. And your three lowest quarters combined must equal at least four times your weekly benefit rate.

Sounds complicated? It’s actually not. The Department of Workforce Development has a calculator on their website that does the math for you.

Approved Reasons for Job Loss

Getting laid off? You qualify. Company downsized? You qualify. Business closed or relocated? You qualify.

Getting fired is trickier. If you were fired because you lacked the skills or weren’t a good fit, you can still get benefits. But if you were fired for what Wisconsin calls “misconduct,” you might be disqualified.

What counts as misconduct? Things like stealing, being drunk at work, or deliberately violating company policy. Missing work a few times probably won’t disqualify you. Punching your boss definitely will.

Quit your job? You generally won’t qualify unless you had good cause. Wisconsin law recognizes several valid reasons. These include being asked to do something illegal, facing sexual harassment after you reported it, following a military spouse who relocated, escaping domestic violence, or handling certain caretaking responsibilities.

Hold on, this part is important. If you’re unsure whether your situation qualifies, apply anyway. The Department will investigate and make a determination. You lose nothing by trying.

Able and Available to Work

You must be physically and mentally able to work. You also need to be available to accept suitable job offers. And you must actively look for work.

What’s a suitable job? Generally, it’s something reasonably related to your qualifications. The pay, hours, distance, and working conditions should be typical for your occupation.

You can’t turn down decent job offers and keep collecting benefits. That’s not how it works.

Major Changes in 2026: Disability Benefits

Okay, this one’s big. For over a decade, Wisconsin banned people receiving Social Security Disability Insurance from also getting unemployment benefits. Many people thought this made sense. It didn’t.

In July 2024, a federal judge ruled this ban violated the Americans with Disabilities Act. The law discriminated against disabled workers. In 2025, the court ordered Wisconsin to stop denying benefits to SSDI recipients.

Here’s the thing. SSDI allows people to work part-time and supplement their income. Many disabled workers do exactly that. When they lose those jobs, they deserve unemployment benefits like anyone else.

The Department of Workforce Development is now reviewing claims going back to September 2015. If you were denied benefits because you received SSDI, you might be owed money. The Department mailed notices to over 13,000 potentially eligible people.

If you think this affects you, call the Help Center at 414-435-7069 or toll-free at 844-910-3661. You have 90 days from receiving your notice to contact them.

How Much Money Can You Get?

Your weekly benefit equals 4% of your wages from your highest-earning quarter during the base period. The minimum weekly benefit is $54. The maximum is $370.

Yes, you read that right. The max is $370 per week. That hasn’t changed since 2013.

When you compare Wisconsin to neighboring states, it’s pretty low. Most nearby states pay almost twice as much. Honestly, this is the part most people complain about.

Benefits typically last up to 26 weeks. That’s six months. In periods of very high unemployment, the federal government sometimes extends this. But don’t count on it.

Sound complicated? Let me break it down with an example.

Say you earned $15,000 in your highest quarter. Your weekly benefit would be $600. But wait. The maximum is $370, so that’s what you’d actually get. You’d receive $370 per week for up to 26 weeks.

Filing Your Unemployment Claim

File your claim as soon as you lose your job. You should file within the same week or within seven days of that week ending.

Most people file online. It’s the fastest way. Head to my.unemployment.wisconsin.gov and create an account. You’ll need your Social Security number, driver’s license, work history dates, and employer information.

Within 14 days of filing, you must register with the Job Center of Wisconsin. This is required. Not optional.

Wisconsin has a one-week waiting period. You won’t get paid for your first eligible week. Basically, it’s like a deductible. Pretty much everyone finds this annoying.

After you file your initial claim, you need to file weekly claim certifications. Every single week. Even if nothing has changed.

These weekly certifications ask about your work search activities, any wages you earned, and whether you’re still able and available to work. Answer honestly. Always.

Work Search Requirements

While collecting benefits, you must actively look for work. Wisconsin takes this seriously.

You need to conduct at least four work search actions per week. What counts as a work search action? Applying for a job, going to a job interview, attending a job fair, or contacting an employer about openings.

Keep records of everything. Write down where you applied, when you applied, and who you talked to. The Department might audit your claim and ask for proof.

Not sure what counts as a valid work search? The Department has clear guidelines on their website. Check them out before you start filing.

Weekly Claim Certifications

Between seven and 14 days after the end of each week, you must file a weekly claim certification. This tells the Department you’re still unemployed and still looking for work.

The certification asks several questions. Did you work or earn any money? Did you refuse any job offers? Were you able and available to work all week? Did you conduct your required work searches?

Answer every question truthfully. If you worked a few hours or earned some money, report it. The Department will reduce your benefits accordingly, but you’ll still get partial unemployment.

Lying on your certification is fraud. Don’t do it. The penalties are severe.

Understanding Your Benefits Payment

You can receive benefits through direct deposit or a prepaid Visa debit card. Most people choose direct deposit. It’s faster and more convenient.

Payments usually arrive within a few days of filing your weekly certification. Set up your payment method when you file your initial claim.

Your benefits are taxable income. Yes, you’ll owe taxes on them. Wisconsin will send you a 1099-G form in January showing how much you received the previous year.

You can choose to have taxes withheld from your benefits. Many people do this to avoid a surprise tax bill later.

Partial Unemployment Benefits

You can collect partial unemployment if you’re working fewer hours than normal. Maybe your employer cut your hours. Maybe you found a part-time job while looking for full-time work.

Here’s how it works. Wisconsin lets you earn up to $500 per week before reducing your benefits. Once you earn more than $500, your benefits decrease by the amount you earned over $500.

If you work 32 hours or more in a week, you won’t receive any unemployment benefits that week. If you miss more than 16 hours of available work in a week, you also won’t receive benefits.

Report all earnings in the week you performed the work. Not the week you got paid. This trips people up constantly.

Penalties for Unemployment Fraud

Wisconsin doesn’t mess around with fraud. The penalties are harsh.

If you intentionally conceal information affecting your eligibility, you’ll face a Benefit Amount Reduction. This means you lose future benefits you would otherwise receive. The reduction equals two, four, or eight times your weekly benefit rate for each week of fraud.

You’ll also pay a civil penalty of 40% of the overpayment amount. And you must repay the entire overpayment itself.

The Benefit Amount Reduction stays in place for six years or until it’s completely offset by benefits you don’t receive. You cannot pay it off with cash. You have to forfeit actual benefits.

In serious cases, the Department can pursue criminal prosecution. Criminal penalties include fines from $100 to $500 and up to 90 days in jail for each offense.

Trust me, this works. Wisconsin has detection systems to catch people who fail to report work or wages. They cross-match payroll records with benefit payments. They audit random claims. They investigate tips from employers and the public.

What If You Get Overpaid?

Sometimes the Department pays you more than you should have received. This is called an overpayment. It happens.

If you weren’t at fault for the overpayment, you might qualify for a waiver. This means you won’t have to repay it. But you need to request the waiver and prove you weren’t at fault.

If you were at fault, you must repay the money. The Department will deduct it from future benefits if you’re still collecting. If not, they’ll send you a bill.

Can’t afford to repay it all at once? Call the collections department at 608-266-9701. They can set up a payment plan.

If you don’t repay, the Department can garnish your wages, intercept your tax refunds, or place liens on your property. Overpayments don’t accrue interest, but collection costs can add up.

Honestly, if you get overpaid, deal with it right away. Ignoring it only makes things worse.

Appealing a Denial

Disagree with a decision the Department made about your claim? You can appeal.

You have 21 days from the date of the determination to file your appeal. You can file online through your claimant portal or by mail or fax.

Your appeal goes to an Administrative Law Judge. You’ll get a hearing. You can present evidence and testimony. Your employer can too.

The hearing is your chance to tell your side of the story. Take it seriously. Bring any documents that support your case. Be prepared to explain what happened.

If the judge rules against you, you can appeal to the Labor and Industry Review Commission within 21 days. If that doesn’t work, you can appeal to a Wisconsin Circuit Court.

While your appeal is pending, keep filing your weekly certifications. If you win your appeal, you can only get paid for weeks you filed certifications for.

Unemployment Tax Information

Your unemployment benefits count as taxable income for both federal and state taxes. The Department sends you a 1099-G form in January.

You can access your 1099-G online through your claimant portal. The Department keeps them available for the past six years.

Some people forget about this and get hit with a big tax bill in April. Don’t be one of them.

Current Employer Tax Rates

This affects employers, not workers, but it’s worth knowing. In 2026, Wisconsin unemployment insurance tax rates remain at Schedule D. This is the lowest rate schedule.

The UI Trust Fund balance is over $2 billion. That’s healthy. It means the system is financially stable right now.

Employers pay into the system based on their experience rating. Companies with more former employees claiming benefits pay higher rates. Companies with fewer claims pay lower rates.

Reporting Unemployment Fraud

If you know someone is committing unemployment fraud, you can report it. Maybe they’re working full-time while claiming benefits. Maybe they’re lying about conducting work searches.

The fastest way to report fraud is online. Visit the Department’s website and submit a web form. You can also call the fraud hotline at 800-909-9472 or mail a report to the Program Integrity office.

All fraud allegations are investigated. But the Department can’t tell you about the outcome due to confidentiality laws.

You might also be a victim of identity fraud. If you receive a notice that someone filed for unemployment using your information, report it immediately. Call the Help Center and follow the instructions on the Department’s website.

Identity fraud is common. Criminals steal personal information and file fraudulent claims. If this happens to you, you won’t be held responsible for repaying the money.

Avoiding Unemployment Scams

Be aware of scams. Scammers send fake texts and emails pretending to be from the Department of Workforce Development.

Official messages from the Department always come from my.unemployment.wisconsin.gov. If you get a message from a different web address, it’s probably a scam.

The Department will never ask you to verify your identity through a text message link. They’ll never ask for your Social Security number over the phone unless you called them first.

If you’re unsure whether a message is real, contact the Department directly using the phone number on their official website.

Special Situations

School Employees

Work for a school during the normal school year? You’re ineligible for benefits during school vacation periods and between terms if you have reasonable assurance of returning to work.

This applies to teachers, aides, bus drivers, and other school employees. You can only collect benefits during these periods if you have qualifying wages from other employers.

Strike or Labor Dispute

You can’t collect benefits if you’re unemployed because of a strike or labor dispute. Unless it’s a lockout.

Employees not participating in the dispute but unemployed because of it might also be ineligible. If you work in covered employment after the strike starts and have qualifying wages from that work alone, you might be eligible.

Self-Employment

If you’re self-employed while claiming benefits, you might be disqualified. The Department will determine whether your self-employment prevents you from being able, available, and actively seeking work.

Income from self-employment isn’t considered wages. It won’t be deducted from your unemployment benefits. But if it shows you’re not truly available for work, you could lose eligibility.

Outside the United States

If you leave the United States, a U.S. Territory, or Canada for more than 48 hours, you’re not eligible for benefits that week.

Work-Share Program

Wisconsin has a Work-Share program that helps employers avoid layoffs. Instead of laying off workers, employers reduce everyone’s hours. Workers can receive partial unemployment for the reduced hours while staying employed.

This keeps people working and maintains employer-trained staff. It’s a win-win when business slows down temporarily.

How to Contact the Department

Need help with your claim? Here’s who to call.

Wisconsin Unemployment Help Center: 414-435-7069 or toll-free 844-910-3661. They’re open Monday through Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

For appeals: You can file online or mail/fax to the UI Hearing Office.

For overpayment questions: Call 608-266-9701, Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

For fraud reporting: Call 800-909-9472, Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

If you don’t speak English, free translation services are available. If you’re deaf or hard of hearing, dial 7-1-1 for the Wisconsin Relay Service.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I work part-time and still collect unemployment?

Yes. You can work part-time and receive partial unemployment benefits. Report all wages when you file your weekly certification. The Department will calculate your partial benefit amount.

What happens if I refuse a job offer?

If you refuse a suitable job offer, you could be disqualified from receiving benefits. A suitable job is one reasonably related to your skills and experience with typical pay and working conditions for your occupation.

How long does it take to get my first payment?

Most people receive their first payment within a few weeks of filing if they meet all eligibility requirements. Remember, there’s a one-week waiting period where you won’t get paid.

Can I collect unemployment if I was fired?

It depends why you were fired. If you were fired for lack of skills or not being a good fit, you can probably collect. If you were fired for misconduct like stealing or violating company policy, you probably can’t. The Department will investigate and make a determination.

What if I move to another state?

You should continue filing your Wisconsin unemployment claim even if you move. You must be available for work in your new location and meet all other eligibility requirements.

Final Thoughts

Wisconsin’s unemployment system exists to help workers during tough times. The rules can seem complex, but the basic idea is simple. If you lost your job through no fault of your own, you can get temporary financial help while you look for new work.

File your claim right away. Register with the Job Center. Conduct your work searches. File your weekly certifications. Answer all questions honestly.

Now you know the basics. Stay informed, stay honest, and when in doubt, call the Help Center or check the Department’s website. They’re there to help.

Wisconsin Unemployment Laws in 2026: The Complete Guide