(Washington, DC) - The District of Columbia Department of Employment Services (DOES) announced, today, the implementation of a new Unemployment Insurance (UI) Interactive Voice Response (IVR) system designed to make filing for unemployment insurance benefits quick, easy, and convenient.

Claimants can file for unemployment benefits, enroll for direct deposit of benefits, and access information on current claims as well as from previous tax forms (Form 1099s) by using the telephone.  Access is available 24 hours per day, seven days a week.

“The agency has been working diligently to completely automate its unemployment benefits system,” said Summer Spencer, Director of the Department of Employment Services.  “Workers who’ve lost their jobs will have access to a seamless process for filing their initial claim for benefits and have more time to put toward job hunting.” 

The District of Columbia is one of the few UI systems in the country that offer claimants the choice of filing for unemployment and accessing information about their claims by telephone, Internet, and mail.

The Office of Unemployment Compensation operates under the auspices of the department’s Workforce Development Bureau. To access the DOES’ IVR system, claimants should dial (202) 724-7000 or visit dcnetworks.org and select from the menu of services.