How to file for unemployment in South Dakota
The fastest way to file for unemployment in South Dakota is online through South Dakota Department of Labor and Regulation, Division of Reemployment Assistance at dlr.sd.gov. South Dakota pays up to $553 per week, has one unpaid waiting week before benefits begin, and regular state benefits run up to 26 weeks. File the week your job ends, since claims generally do not backdate, and choose "laid off / no fault" as your reason.
HOW MUCH YOU CAN GET
Up to $553 / week
1/26 of what you earned in your best quarter, capped at half the state's average weekly wage, recalculated each July.
Minimum: $28/week. Effective July 2025. Your exact amount comes from your wage history; South Dakota Department of Labor and Regulation, Division of Reemployment Assistance calculates it when you file.
OFFICIAL STATE PORTAL
South Dakota Department of Labor and Regulation, Division of Reemployment Assistance
File your claim in South Dakota
Official site: dlr.sd.gov
Just laid off? Unemployment is one of five clocks
Severance review, COBRA, health coverage, and the rest: every first-week deadline in one place. Free, no account needed.
South Dakota unemployment at a glance
Agency
South Dakota Department of Labor and Regulation, Division of Reemployment Assistance
Official portal
dlr.sd.gov
Ways to file
Online · Phone
Max weekly benefit
$553/week
Waiting week
One unpaid waiting week
Max benefit weeks
Up to 26 weeks
South Dakota calls unemployment “Reemployment Assistance,” filed online through the RA Benefits Portal or by phone at the Claims Call Center (605-626-3179).
File in the state where you worked, not where you live. Worked in more than one? Start with the agency where you live now.
Filing is always free. No real state or federal program charges a fee to file. If a site asks for payment, it's a scam.
How to file, step by step
1
Gather your documents (see the checklist below) before you start.
2
Go to the official state portal: dlr.sd.gov.
3
Create an account and complete any identity verification the state requires.
4
File your initial claim. For the separation reason, choose "laid off / no fault," not "fired" or "quit."
5
Then certify each week (answer the weekly questions) to keep benefits coming, and set up direct deposit.
What to have ready
Your Social Security number and a government photo ID.
Employer details for the last 18 months: each company's name, address, and your dates there.
The reason you left each job. For this one, that's "laid off / no fault," not "fired" or "quit."
Your most recent pay stubs and last year's W-2.
Bank routing + account number, if you want benefits paid by direct deposit.
South Dakota unemployment FAQ
How do I file for unemployment in South Dakota?
File online through South Dakota Department of Labor and Regulation, Division of Reemployment Assistance at dlr.sd.gov. Have your Social Security number, photo ID, and 18 months of employer details ready, and choose "laid off / no fault" as your reason for leaving. You can also file by phone.
How much is unemployment in South Dakota?
South Dakota pays up to $553 per week. 1/26 of what you earned in your best quarter, capped at half the state's average weekly wage, recalculated each July. Figure effective July 2025; confirm your exact amount with South Dakota Department of Labor and Regulation, Division of Reemployment Assistance when you file.
Does severance affect unemployment in South Dakota?
South Dakota deducts severance dollar-for-dollar and makes you ineligible for the number of weeks the payment represents beginning with your last day worked (partial benefits if under the weekly benefit amount). File the week your job ends either way and answer the portal's questions honestly; the agency applies the rule. (Researched July 2026; confirm current treatment with South Dakota Department of Labor and Regulation, Division of Reemployment Assistance.)
Is there a waiting week for unemployment in South Dakota?
South Dakota: one unpaid waiting week. A waiting week is an unpaid first week of a claim; where it applies you still file and certify during it.
How many weeks of unemployment can I get in South Dakota?
South Dakota pays regular state benefits for up to 26 weeks. Federal extensions can change this in a downturn; confirm the current rule with South Dakota Department of Labor and Regulation, Division of Reemployment Assistance.
Official references
How unemployment insurance works (US DOL)
Plain-language overview of eligibility, the unpaid waiting week, and weekly certification.
Unemployment is taxable (IRS Topic 418)
Benefits count as income. Consider asking South Dakota to withhold so tax time isn't a surprise.
Keep going
The unemployment guide
Waiting weeks, weekly certification, and the timing that trips people up.
Not your state? See all states
The official place to file in every other state.
Reviewed July 2026. State rules change; confirm the current waiting week and benefit weeks on the official South Dakota portal (dlr.sd.gov) before you rely on them.