Arkansas Unemployment Insurance Benefits Eligibility

To be eligible for unemployment insurance benefits in Arkansas, you must meet the following criteria:

Basic Requirements:

  • Unemployed: You must be totally or partially unemployed through no fault of your own. This means you lost your job through no fault of your own, such as a layoff, company closure, or reduction in hours. Quitting voluntarily, being fired for misconduct, or refusing suitable work will generally disqualify you.
  • Wages: You must have earned sufficient wages in your base period, which is typically the first four of the last five completed calendar quarters before you filed your claim. The minimum amount of wages you need to have earned depends on your average weekly wage.
  • Work Search: You must be actively seeking work each week you are collecting benefits. This means you must contact at least three potential employers each week.
  • Availability: You must be physically and mentally able to work and available for suitable work. This means you cannot be on vacation or unavailable due to childcare or other personal reasons.
  • Labor Disputes: You cannot be involved in a labor dispute, such as a strike or picket line, unless you were locked out by your employer.

Additional Requirements:

  • Claim Filing: You must file your claim online or in person at your local Arkansas Division of Workforce Services (DWS) office.
  • Weekly Certification: You must certify each week that you are still unemployed and meet the eligibility requirements.
  • Disqualifications: Certain events can disqualify you from receiving benefits, such as quitting your job without good cause, refusing suitable work, or fraudulently receiving benefits.

Here are some helpful resources for learning more about Arkansas unemployment insurance benefits:

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