Federal Government Shutdown Information

In New Mexico you may apply for benefits on or after the first day you are furloughed. Furloughed employees should be eligible as long as all other state eligibility factors are met.

Unemployment Insurance (UI) claims are processed by the New Mexico Department of Workforce Solutions (NMDWS). There are two ways to file:

• ONLINE
  You may file your new (initial) Unemployment Insurance (UI) claim online by going to the New Mexico Jobs at www.jobs.state.nm.us. Computers are available at your local America's Job Center New Mexico and local libraries. The UI Tax & Claims System is available to take initial claims and weekly certifications anytime, 7 days a week, 24 hours a day.
  
  All individuals applying for and receiving unemployment benefits are required to log into the New Mexico Jobs (www.jobs.state.nm.us) first in order to access the UI Tax & Claims system.


• 1-877-664-6984 TOLL-FREE TELEPHONE
  You may also file by phone by calling 1-877-664-6984) After following the automated prompts, your call will be transferred to a Customer Service Agent (CSA) who will complete your claim. The UI Operations Center is open 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m., Monday - Friday.

PLEASE NOTE the following special instructions when filing your initial claim or completing your weekly certification:

• Initial Claims - Collect Employment Details
  • When asked "In the last 18 months, have you worked for a New Mexico employer?” - if you have only worked for the federal government, answer "No" to this question. Only answer "Yes" to this questions if you worked for a non-federal New Mexico employer (including federal contractors) in the last 18 months.

After you have applied for and have been determined eligible for benefits, a weekly certification must be filed for each week for which you are applying for benefits. You must submit your weekly certifications on time by certifying online Sunday through Saturday or by phone Monday through Friday of each week.

PLEASE NOTE: The first eligible week of any new claim is a “waiting week.” You will not receive benefits for this week and it is not included in your weeks of payment. For eligible individuals, NMDWS issues most benefit payments within 14-21 days after a claim is filed. New Mexico will pay a maximum of 26 weeks of regular benefits.

Employees who receive unemployment benefits and also later receive a retroactive payment from their employer for the same time period, will be required to repay the Department for the UI benefits received.

Whether over the internet or by telephone, you will need the following information to file a new claim:

• Social Security Number (SSN)
• Mailing address and phone number(s) of employer(s) you worked for in last 18 months
• The starting and ending dates of your last job (or jobs if more than one employer in last 18 months)
• If you are a non-citizen, have your alien registration number and expiration date
• If you worked during the week you are filing your claim, be sure you know the gross amount (total dollars and cents before any deductions) of your pay before filing.
• Pencil and paper to write down questions and instructions
• Furloughed Federal Employees must provide their recent Standard Form (SF)-50, an SF-8 (if issued), their most recent federal W-2 form, and recent federal earning and leave statements.
• a Claimant's Affidavit of Federal Civilian Service, Wages and Reason for Separation, ETA-935 form.