District of Columbia unemployment benefits
In District of Columbia, unemployment benefits last up to 26 weeks and pay up to $444 a week (as of July 1, 2026). There is an unpaid waiting week, and you file with the Department of Employment Services.
By Justin KullaLast updated
Last verified October 6, 2026 against official sources.
File a claim with the Department of Employment Services →
District of Columbia benefits at a glance
| Maximum weekly benefit | $444source, July 1, 2026 |
|---|---|
| Minimum weekly benefit | $50source, July 1, 2026 |
| Maximum weeks of benefits | 26 weeks (26 weeks for all eligible claimants (uniform duration))source, July 1, 2026 |
| Weeks depend on the state unemployment rate | Nosource, July 1, 2026 |
| Unpaid waiting week | Yessource, October 6, 2026 |
| Severance pay | The weekly benefit is reduced by the weekly prorated amount of the payment.source, January 1, 2023 |
| Pay in lieu of notice | D.C. Code 51-107(c) says benefits are reduced by wages received in lieu of notice of dismissal. That provision describes these as dismissal payments the employer is not legally required to make.source, October 6, 2026 |
| Work-search requirement | Claimants must complete at least 2 work search activities per week.source, January 1, 2023 |
| Extended benefits | Not available nowsource, October 4, 2026 |
| How to file | the Department of Employment Servicessource, October 6, 2026 |
Weekly amounts exclude dependents’ allowances. Severance, pay in lieu of notice and work-search entries dated January 1, 2023 come from the Department of Labor’s latest Comparison of State UI Laws, which reflects state law on that date; confirm them with the Department of Employment Services.
Severance and unemployment in District of Columbia
Severance pay: The weekly benefit is reduced by the weekly prorated amount of the payment.
Pay in lieu of notice (including WARN Act pay): D.C. Code 51-107(c) says benefits are reduced by wages received in lieu of notice of dismissal. That provision describes these as dismissal payments the employer is not legally required to make.
File as soon as you are out of work even if you received severance. The agency decides how payments affect your claim, and most states pay only from the week you file.
Local workforce boards in District of Columbia
Public workforce boards run American Job Centers, which offer free help with job search, training and benefits.
If you’re a laid-off professional
Sources: U.S. Department of Labor, Significant Provisions of State Unemployment Insurance Laws and Comparison of State Unemployment Insurance Laws, the DOL Extended Benefits trigger notice, and the Department of Employment Services. Where official sources disagree or a figure could not be confirmed, this page says to check with the agency rather than estimate. Rules change; the agency’s decision on your claim is what counts. See our editorial standards.