Personal Information

• If you’re ready to complete the application for benefits, you must provide certain personal information to the Department of Labor and Workforce Development. Military members and former government employees may also qualify for unemployment benefits through the Tennessee Federal Claims Unit. Personal information you'll need includes your full mailing address, your phone number and your Tennessee Driver's License number, if applicable.
  
  

Necessary Documentation

• When you apply for unemployment compensation in Tennessee, you’ll need your Social Security number. The state requires applicants to provide their Social Security numbers to comply with Internal Revenue Service regulations, because unemployment compensation is subject to federal income tax. Ex-military members must provide a copy of DD Form 214, Member 4 to complete an application with the Federal Claims Unit. Civilian government employees must present Form SF-50-b and a Standard Form 8 to apply for compensation.
  
  

Employer Information

• To apply for benefits, you must also provide information relating to your employer and the reason for your job loss. On the benefit application, you'll need to explain where you worked during the last 18 months, the last day you worked, and the circumstances surrounding your loss of employment. You must also provide the Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development with the full name, mailing address, and telephone number of your last employer. If your separating employer contests the validity of your claim or if the Department of Labor and Workforce Development disqualifies you for benefits, you may need to appeal the decision and present additional information, including eyewitness testimony, at an eligibility hearing.
  
  

Where to Apply

• The Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development allows claimants to apply for benefits online on their state website, over the phone, or in person at local unemployment offices. The state recommends filing online whenever possible, because this application is quicker and more convenient for claimants to use.