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Louisiana Gets Stricter on Job Search Requirements for Unemployment Benefits

After cutting the duration of unemployment benefits earlier this year, Louisiana is again taking a swing at unemployment benefits; this time to put more pressure on benefit recipients to prove they are actively seeking employment.

Currently, eligibility for unemployment benefits requires a claimant to prove that they are able to work, available for work, and are conducting an active search for work. This generally requires claimants to contact at least three different employers each week that benefits are received.

During the 2025 Regular Session, the Louisiana Legislature passed Act No. 151 which will take effect on December 31, 2025. The Act  modifies the work search requirement to provide that claimants must conduct at least five (5) work search actions each week that a claim for benefits is made. What constitutes a valid work search will be determined by rules to be prescribed by the Secretary of the Louisiana Workforce Commission at a later date. The Act also empowers employers that suspect that a claimant has violated the work search provisions to report such violations to the Louisiana Workforce Commission. 

Additionally, reasons for disqualification of benefits have been expanded to include not attending a previously scheduled job interview or participating in approved training programs without good cause. 

While Louisiana’ s job search requirements for unemployment benefits are not yet ironclad, a new reality is forming that sends a very clear message: unemployment aid in Louisiana is becoming both shorter and stricter, with mounting pressure on recipients to return to work and close their claims, thus saving state taxpayer funds.

Louisiana Gets Stricter on Job Search Requirements for Unemployment Benefits

After cutting the duration of unemployment benefits earlier this year, Louisiana is again taking a swing at unemployment benefits; this time to put more pressure on benefit recipients to prove they are actively seeking employment.

Currently, eligibility for unemployment benefits requires a claimant to prove that they are able to work, available for work, and are conducting an active search for work. This generally requires claimants to contact at least three different employers each week that benefits are received.

During the 2025 Regular Session, the Louisiana Legislature passed Act No. 151 which will take effect on December 31, 2025. The Act  modifies the work search requirement to provide that claimants must conduct at least five (5) work search actions each week that a claim for benefits is made. What constitutes a valid work search will be determined by rules to be prescribed by the Secretary of the Louisiana Workforce Commission at a later date. The Act also empowers employers that suspect that a claimant has violated the work search provisions to report such violations to the Louisiana Workforce Commission. 

Additionally, reasons for disqualification of benefits have been expanded to include not attending a previously scheduled job interview or participating in approved training programs without good cause. 

While Louisiana’ s job search requirements for unemployment benefits are not yet ironclad, a new reality is forming that sends a very clear message: unemployment aid in Louisiana is becoming both shorter and stricter, with mounting pressure on recipients to return to work and close their claims, thus saving state taxpayer funds.

Louisiana Gets Stricter on Job Search Requirements for Unemployment Benefits

After cutting the duration of unemployment benefits earlier this year, Louisiana is again taking a swing at unemployment benefits; this time to put more pressure on benefit recipients to prove they are actively seeking employment.

Currently, eligibility for unemployment benefits requires a claimant to prove that they are able to work, available for work, and are conducting an active search for work. This generally requires claimants to contact at least three different employers each week that benefits are received.

During the 2025 Regular Session, the Louisiana Legislature passed Act No. 151 which will take effect on December 31, 2025. The Act  modifies the work search requirement to provide that claimants must conduct at least five (5) work search actions each week that a claim for benefits is made. What constitutes a valid work search will be determined by rules to be prescribed by the Secretary of the Louisiana Workforce Commission at a later date. The Act also empowers employers that suspect that a claimant has violated the work search provisions to report such violations to the Louisiana Workforce Commission. 

Additionally, reasons for disqualification of benefits have been expanded to include not attending a previously scheduled job interview or participating in approved training programs without good cause. 

While Louisiana’ s job search requirements for unemployment benefits are not yet ironclad, a new reality is forming that sends a very clear message: unemployment aid in Louisiana is becoming both shorter and stricter, with mounting pressure on recipients to return to work and close their claims, thus saving state taxpayer funds.

Louisiana Gets Stricter on Job Search Requirements for Unemployment Benefits

After cutting the duration of unemployment benefits earlier this year, Louisiana is again taking a swing at unemployment benefits; this time to put more pressure on benefit recipients to prove they are actively seeking employment.

Currently, eligibility for unemployment benefits requires a claimant to prove that they are able to work, available for work, and are conducting an active search for work. This generally requires claimants to contact at least three different employers each week that benefits are received.

During the 2025 Regular Session, the Louisiana Legislature passed Act No. 151 which will take effect on December 31, 2025. The Act  modifies the work search requirement to provide that claimants must conduct at least five (5) work search actions each week that a claim for benefits is made. What constitutes a valid work search will be determined by rules to be prescribed by the Secretary of the Louisiana Workforce Commission at a later date. The Act also empowers employers that suspect that a claimant has violated the work search provisions to report such violations to the Louisiana Workforce Commission. 

Additionally, reasons for disqualification of benefits have been expanded to include not attending a previously scheduled job interview or participating in approved training programs without good cause. 

While Louisiana’ s job search requirements for unemployment benefits are not yet ironclad, a new reality is forming that sends a very clear message: unemployment aid in Louisiana is becoming both shorter and stricter, with mounting pressure on recipients to return to work and close their claims, thus saving state taxpayer funds.

Louisiana Gets Stricter on Job Search Requirements for Unemployment Benefits

After cutting the duration of unemployment benefits earlier this year, Louisiana is again taking a swing at unemployment benefits; this time to put more pressure on benefit recipients to prove they are actively seeking employment.

Currently, eligibility for unemployment benefits requires a claimant to prove that they are able to work, available for work, and are conducting an active search for work. This generally requires claimants to contact at least three different employers each week that benefits are received.

During the 2025 Regular Session, the Louisiana Legislature passed Act No. 151 which will take effect on December 31, 2025. The Act  modifies the work search requirement to provide that claimants must conduct at least five (5) work search actions each week that a claim for benefits is made. What constitutes a valid work search will be determined by rules to be prescribed by the Secretary of the Louisiana Workforce Commission at a later date. The Act also empowers employers that suspect that a claimant has violated the work search provisions to report such violations to the Louisiana Workforce Commission. 

Additionally, reasons for disqualification of benefits have been expanded to include not attending a previously scheduled job interview or participating in approved training programs without good cause. 

While Louisiana’ s job search requirements for unemployment benefits are not yet ironclad, a new reality is forming that sends a very clear message: unemployment aid in Louisiana is becoming both shorter and stricter, with mounting pressure on recipients to return to work and close their claims, thus saving state taxpayer funds.

Louisiana Gets Stricter on Job Search Requirements for Unemployment Benefits

After cutting the duration of unemployment benefits earlier this year, Louisiana is again taking a swing at unemployment benefits; this time to put more pressure on benefit recipients to prove they are actively seeking employment.

Currently, eligibility for unemployment benefits requires a claimant to prove that they are able to work, available for work, and are conducting an active search for work. This generally requires claimants to contact at least three different employers each week that benefits are received.

During the 2025 Regular Session, the Louisiana Legislature passed Act No. 151 which will take effect on December 31, 2025. The Act  modifies the work search requirement to provide that claimants must conduct at least five (5) work search actions each week that a claim for benefits is made. What constitutes a valid work search will be determined by rules to be prescribed by the Secretary of the Louisiana Workforce Commission at a later date. The Act also empowers employers that suspect that a claimant has violated the work search provisions to report such violations to the Louisiana Workforce Commission. 

Additionally, reasons for disqualification of benefits have been expanded to include not attending a previously scheduled job interview or participating in approved training programs without good cause. 

While Louisiana’ s job search requirements for unemployment benefits are not yet ironclad, a new reality is forming that sends a very clear message: unemployment aid in Louisiana is becoming both shorter and stricter, with mounting pressure on recipients to return to work and close their claims, thus saving state taxpayer funds.