What Arkansas unemployment covers and who can file

Arkansas unemployment insurance is a temporary income replacement program run by the Arkansas Department of Workforce Services (DWS). The program pays a portion of your lost wages if you lose your job through no fault of your own — meaning you were laid off, your position was eliminated, or you were fired for reasons unrelated to misconduct. If you quit voluntarily or were fired for willful misconduct, you will likely be denied.

You must have earned enough wages in Arkansas during a specific lookback period (usually the past 12 to 18 months) to establish a claim. The state does not have a minimum income threshold published as a single dollar amount; instead, DWS looks at whether you earned wages in at least two calendar quarters during that period. Self-employed workers, gig workers, and independent contractors are not covered under regular unemployment insurance in Arkansas.

You can file online through the Arkansas DWS website, by phone, or by mail. Most people file online because it is the fastest route and you receive confirmation when ready. You do not need to visit an office in person to start your claim.

Key Takeaways

  • File your claim as soon as you lose your job, because benefits are backdated only to the week you file, not to the week you were laid off.
  • You will need your Social Security number, driver's license or ID number, and information about your last employer, including their address and phone number.
  • Arkansas pays a weekly benefit amount that varies based on your earnings history, with a maximum weekly amount that changes each year.
  • You must report any work or income you earn while receiving benefits, or you may be required to repay what you received.
  • Regular unemployment benefits in Arkansas last up to 13 weeks, though extended benefits may be available during periods of high unemployment.

How to file your claim online

Go to the Arkansas DWS website and select "File a New Claim" or "Unemployment Insurance." You will create an account or log in if you already have one. The system will ask you a series of questions about your employment history, the reason you are no longer working, and your personal information. Have your Social Security number, date of birth, and driver's license number ready before you start.

When you reach the section about your last employer, enter their legal business name, the address where you worked, their phone number, and the dates you were employed. If you worked for a large company with multiple locations, use the address of the specific site where you worked. The state will contact your employer to verify your employment and the reason for separation.

After you submit your claim, you will receive a confirmation number on screen. Write this down or take a screenshot. Arkansas will mail you a notice within 7 to 10 days confirming that your claim was received and telling you when your first payment should arrive. If you do not receive this notice, contact DWS to confirm your claim was processed.

What information and documents you need before you start

Gather these items before you begin your online claim:

  • Your Social Security number
  • Your date of birth
  • Your Arkansas driver's license number or state ID number
  • Your last employer's legal business name, street address, city, state, and ZIP code
  • Your last employer's phone number
  • The dates you started and stopped working for your last employer
  • Your job title and a brief description of what you did
  • The reason you are no longer employed (laid off, position eliminated, fired, etc.)

If you worked for multiple employers in the past 18 months, have that information ready as well. The state may ask about your work history beyond your most recent job. You do not need to upload documents like your W-2 or pay stubs at the time you file; DWS will request those later if they need to verify your earnings.

Weekly benefit amounts and how long you can receive them

Arkansas calculates your weekly benefit amount based on your earnings during the highest-earning quarter in the lookback period. The state divides that quarter's earnings by 13 to arrive at a weekly amount, then applies a percentage (currently 1/25th of your average weekly wage). The minimum weekly benefit is $30 and the maximum changes each year based on state wage data. For 2024, the maximum weekly benefit is $589, though this amount is updated annually.

Regular unemployment benefits in Arkansas last for up to 13 weeks. If you exhaust your 13 weeks and remain out of work, you may be able to extend your benefits through the federal Extended Unemployment Compensation (EUC) program, but this is only available when the state's unemployment rate meets a federal trigger. During periods of high joblessness, the state may set up extended benefits automatically; you do not need to reapply.

Your benefit year runs for 52 weeks from the date you file your claim. You cannot receive more than your total benefit amount during that year, regardless of how many weeks you are out of work. If you return to work part-time, you may still receive partial benefits, but you must report your earnings each week.

Your weekly reporting requirements and what happens if you miss a report

Once your claim is approved, you must file a weekly claim form every week you want to receive a payment. Arkansas calls this a "weekly claim certification." You can file this online through the DWS website, by phone, or by mail. Most people file online because it takes less than five minutes and you see confirmation when ready.

When you file your weekly claim, you will be asked whether you worked that week, how many hours you worked, and how much you earned. You must answer these questions honestly. If you worked and earned money, your benefit will be reduced or eliminated depending on how much you earned. If you lie about your earnings or work, you will be required to repay the benefits you received and may face fraud charges.

You must file your weekly claim by the important date each week, which is usually Sunday at 11:59 p.m. If you miss the important date, you will not receive a payment for that week. If you miss multiple weeks, contact DWS when ready to explain and ask whether you can file late. Some circumstances (illness, emergency, system outage) may allow DWS to accept a late filing, but this is not may provide.

Reasons your claim may be denied or delayed

The most common reason for denial is that you quit your job or were fired for misconduct. Arkansas defines misconduct as deliberate or willful violation of an employer's reasonable rules or deliberate disregard of the employer's interests. If you were fired for poor performance, inability to do the job, or a single mistake, you may still be approved. If you quit because of low pay, lack of hours, or a schedule you did not like, you will be denied.

Your claim may also be delayed if your employer disputes your account of why you left. When you file, DWS sends a separation notice to your employer asking them to confirm the reason for your departure. If your employer says you quit and you say you were laid off, DWS will investigate. This can take two to four weeks. During this time, you will not receive payments, but if you ultimately win the dispute, you will receive back pay for all the weeks you were waiting.

If you earned wages in another state during your lookback period, your claim may be filed as a combined-wage claim, which pools your earnings across states. This can help you meet the earnings threshold if you did not earn enough in Arkansas alone. You do not need to do anything special to trigger this; DWS handles it automatically if it detects out-of-state wages.

What to do if your claim is denied or you disagree with a decision

If DWS denies your claim, you will receive a written notice in the mail explaining the reason. You have 30 days from the date on that notice to file an appeal. You can appeal online through the DWS website, by mail, or by phone. Include any documents that support your case — for example, if you were denied because your employer said you quit, include emails or texts showing you were laid off.

After you file an appeal, DWS will schedule a hearing before a hearing officer. You will be notified of the date and time by mail. You can attend the hearing by phone or video conference; you do not have to appear in person. At the hearing, you will have a chance to explain your side of the story, and your employer will have a chance to explain theirs. The hearing officer will make a decision and mail it to you within a few days.

If you disagree with the hearing officer's decision, you can appeal to the Arkansas Board of Review. This is a second level of appeal and follows the same process. Most people do not win at the Board of Review level unless there was a clear error of law, so consider whether it is worth the time and effort.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I receive unemployment benefits if I was fired?

It depends on why you were fired. If you were fired for willful misconduct — meaning you deliberately broke a rule or deliberately acted against your employer's interests — you will be denied. If you were fired for poor performance, inability to do the job, or a single mistake, you may be approved. Your employer will have a chance to explain why they fired you, and DWS will decide whether it rises to the level of misconduct.

How long does it take to receive my first payment?

If your claim is approved with no disputes, you should receive your first payment within 7 to 10 days of filing. If your employer disputes the reason you left, the process can take 2 to 4 weeks while DWS investigates. During this waiting period, you will not receive payments, but if you win the dispute, you will receive back pay for all weeks you were waiting.

What if I find a part-time job while receiving benefits?

You can work part-time and still receive unemployment benefits, but you must report your earnings each week. Arkansas will reduce your benefit by a portion of what you earn. The exact reduction depends on how much you earned that week. If you earn enough, your benefit may be eliminated entirely for that week, but you can still file a claim for future weeks.

Can I file for unemployment if I worked in another state?

Yes. If you earned wages in another state during your lookback period, DWS can file a combined-wage claim that pools your earnings across states. This helps you meet the earnings threshold if you did not earn enough in Arkansas alone. You do not need to do anything special; DWS handles this automatically if it detects out-of-state wages on your Social Security record.

What happens if I do not file my weekly claim on time?

If you miss the weekly important date, you will not receive a payment for that week. Contact DWS when ready to ask whether you can file late. Some circumstances like illness or a system outage may allow a late filing, but this is not may provide. Missing multiple weeks in a row may result in your claim being closed.