How to File for Unemployment in Puerto Rico

Puerto Rico's Departamento del Trabajo runs its unemployment claims through a dedicated online portal that's open around the clock, though anything submitted after 5 p.m. on a weekday waits until the next business day to process — and as of mid-2026 the agency had pushed back the rollout of its newer 'Desempleo Digital' platform, so the existing claimant system remains the one to use. To qualify at all, you need work history spanning at least two calendar quarters in the past year and a half.

Updated July 2026

1. 1

   Confirm your work history qualifies

   You generally need to have worked in Puerto Rico during at least two quarters of the last 18 months and lost your job for reasons outside your control.

2. 2

   Gather your Social Security number and recent employer information

   Have your most recent employer's details and pay information on hand before you start.

3. 3

   File your Reclamación Inicial online

   Go to desempleo.trabajo.pr.gov/reclamantes, expect to spend around 30 minutes, and file before 5 p.m. on a weekday for same-day processing.

4. 4

   Or file by phone during business hours

   Call (787) 945-7900 between 7:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, excluding holidays, if you can't file online.

5. 5

   File your Reclamación Semana Subsiguiente each period

   Once your initial claim is established, log back into the same portal to claim subsequent weeks of benefits.

Verified against the official Puerto Rico unemployment agency site. View source