For tips and best practices for selecting and uploading acceptable identity documents, click here.

For information on Native American / Tribal Documents as a form of evidence, click here.

Montana’s unemployment insurance (UI) program has partnered with ID.me to verify your identity for unemployment benefits.

To verify your identity:

1. You must start the identity verification process at the Montana Department of Labor & Industry (DLI) ID.me website. If you filed your claim online, follow the link in the banner or select the green "Verify with ID.me" box on the Claim Summary page. If you filed your claim over the phone, select the green "Verify with ID.me" box or the link in the email you received.
2. On the Montana DLI ID.me website, click the green "Verify with ID.me" box to start the identity verification process.
3. You will be directed to the ID.me sign-in page. You can sign in to your existing ID.me account, or create a new one.
4. Confirm your email address.
5. Select a multi-factor authentication option.
6. Verify your identity. Select Driver's license or state ID, Passport, or Passport card to upload. You can take a photo with your mobile device or upload from your computer.
7. If you chose to take a photo with your device, follow the onscreen prompts. You'll be asked to input your phone number. ID.me will send you a text message with a link to your smartphone to take photos of your ID. If you don't have a smartphone, click here to learn how to verify your identity without a smartphone.
8. When prompted, take and submit a selfie.
9. Enter all other requested information, including your Social Security number.
10. Review and confirm to make sure all your information is accurate. Then click "Continue" at the bottom of the screen.  After ID.me verifies your identity, you will receive a confirmation text message as a way to protect you from fraud. To learn more about this text message, click here.

Trusted Referee

If you are not able to complete the verification process due to an issue with your documentation, you will be routed to verify your identity over a video call with a Trusted Referee. Wait times may vary. You will need to show your identity documents to a Trusted Referee along with a selfie (a photo of yourself) to complete your verification. 

Click here to learn more about Trusted Referee.

After you've completed your verification with a Trusted Referee, follow the steps below to continue with your claim:

1. Return to the Montana DLI site.
2. Log in to your Montana DLI account.
3. Provide your ID.me credentials when prompted.
4. Follow the steps for Montana DLI, then click to Allow them to use your verified identity information.

What's Next

ID.me will alert Montana UI when your identity has been verified. Montana UI will release the Identity Hold on your claim. Please note, this process may take up to 72 hours to complete after ID.me has successfully verified your identity.

• Montana DLI will not be notified you completed your verification unless you started at the Montana DLI ID.me website and authorized ID.me AND allowed ID.me to share your information with MT DLI as shown in step five above. If you have an ID.me account for another reason you will still have to use the link provided.

Montana DLI representatives cannot access your ID.me account, help you with the ID.me verification process or tell you where you are in the process. If you have additional questions about ID.me or need further guidance, click here to open an ID.me support ticket. ID.me will reach out to you only regarding your ticket. Please have the support ticket number provided to you for additional assistance.

• If you have successfully completed identity verification with ID.me, there may be other issues holding up benefit payments on your claim. Log into your MontanaWorks.gov account to view your claim information, or call the DLI Claims Processing Center at 406-444-2545.

Step-by-Step Guides and Video:

• Step-by-Step Guide for Completing Identity Verification
• Step-by-Step Guide for Video Chat Identity Verification
• Verifying Your Identity for Unemployment Benefits Video

How to:

• How do I confirm my email address?
• How do I verify my identity using my driver’s license or state ID?

Troubleshooting Verification:

• Why were my identity documents not accepted?
• Why was my identity verification attempt unsuccessful?
• Why can’t my phone number be verified?
• I received a text message with a link, but my phone is not a smartphone. What should I do?