Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development (TDLWD)

Tennessee · Unemployment

tn.gov/workforce/unemployment.html

State Unemployment Benefits in Tennessee

The Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development administers unemployment compensation through Jobs4TN.gov. When a claimant dies after completing a week of unemployment for which benefits are payable, Tenn. Code 50-7-708(d) lets the Division of Employment Security designate a person to receive those benefits. The estate representative reports the death to the claims line.

Steps to takeKey facts

Steps to take when someone dies

1
Contact the Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development at 844-224-5818 (Option 1) to report the claimant's death.
2
Identify any week of unemployment the claimant completed before death for which benefits were payable — those are the benefits Tenn. Code 50-7-708(d) reaches.
3
Ask the Division of Employment Security to designate the person who should receive those benefits, and provide whatever proof of death and relationship the Division requires.

State Unemployment Benefits in Tennessee: key facts

What Tennessee says4

Benefits at and after the death

Tenn. Code 50-7-708(d) reaches the benefits of a claimant who had filed a claim and died after the close of a week of unemployment in which the claimant was eligible and for which benefits were payable.1, 2

Who may claim a final payment

Under Tenn. Code 50-7-708(d), the Division of Employment Security may designate any person it judges should properly receive those benefits, and that person's receipt or endorsement discharges the fund from liability for them.1, 2

Reporting a death

A claimant's death is reported to the Department of Labor and Workforce Development on its unemployment claims line, Option 1.3

Claimant portal

Claims are filed and certified online at Jobs4TN.gov, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.3

Governing law: Tenn. Code 50-7-708(d)

Not in Tennessee's published guidance1

  • A deceased-claimant procedure beyond section 50-7-708(d)

Sources3

  1. 1.Tenn. Code 50-7-708(d), Tennessee Code Unannotated (official)
  2. 2.Tenn. Code 50-7-708 (Justia, 2025 edition)
  3. 3.Unemployment (Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development)

Tennessee unemployment benefits

Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development (TDLWD)

Phone

1-844-224-5818 (Option 1 for assistance with an unemployment claim)

Hours

Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–4:30 p.m. Central
Verified Aug 2026

Tools for Settling an Estate in Tennessee

Free tools for settling an estate in Tennessee: whether probate is needed, executor and trustee pay, creditor deadlines, and inheritance taxes.

How Do I Settle an Estate?

Settling an estate in Tennessee: the personal representative files the estate inventory within 60 daysTenn. Code Ann. § 30-2-301Verified Sep 15, 2026View source of appointment; creditors have 4 monthsT.C.A. §§ 30-2-306, 30-2-307, 30-2-310, 30-2-314, 30-2-317Verified Oct 19, 2026View source to present claims; a simple estate closes in 6 months to 9 months.

Get Plan

Do I Have to File Tax Returns for Someone Who Died?

Tennessee has no state income tax, so only the federal final Form 1040 is due for the decedentTenn. Const. art. II, § 28 (Amendment 3, 2014) — no tax on payroll or earned personal income; Tenn. Code Ann. § 67-2-102(5) (Hall income tax rate 0% for tax years beginning on or after Jan. 1, 2021) and § 67-2-124(c) ("The income tax levied by this chapter is eliminated for tax years that begin on or after January 1, 2021")Verified Sep 10, 2026View source; a federal estate tax return (Form 706) is required only for estates above $15,000,00026 USC 2001(c), 2010; P.L. 119-21 §70106Verified Sep 15, 2026View source.

Check Requirements

Hire a Probate Attorney

Browse vetted attorneys handling probate matters across all 50 states.

Browse firms

All Tennessee tools