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File an initial claim online using EZARC (EZ Arkansas Claims): www.ezarc.adws.arkansas.gov
Monday – Friday: 6am - 6pm Sunday: 7am – 6pm
File an initial claim at your local Arkansas Workforce Center office
Monday – Friday: 8am – 4:30pm
Find an Arkansas Workforce Center near you: www.dws.arkansas.gov/contact
You will need to file continued claims for each week you are unemployed to receive benefits.
File continued claims for regular unemployment benefits online or over the phone:
ArkNet: www.arknet.arkansas.gov
ArkLine: 1-501-907-2590
Monday – Friday: 6am – 6pm Sunday: 12:01am – 6pm
To speak to a specialist, reset your PIN, or change your address, call 1-844-908-2178
Monday – Friday: 8am – 4:30pm
Please do not call the 844-908-2178 phone number to file an initial claim for regular unemployment or PEUC. All initial claims for regular unemployment or PEUC must be filed online by the applicant.
Effective week-ending January 2, 2021, the Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation (PEUC) program was extended. If you have an active regular unemployment insurance claim or PEUC unemployment insurance claim, continue to file your weekly claims as usual.
If you are unemployed or partially unemployed and have a PEUC claim with a remaining balance, but the claim is inactive, report to your local Workforce Center to reopen your PEUC claim. The PEUC program expires on March 14, 2021. However, due to a phase-out provision in the new law, if you receive a PEUC payment for the week ending March 13, 2021, and still have benefits on your PEUC claim, they may be available through the week-ending April 10, 2021. Otherwise, the last payable PEUC week is the week-ending March 13, 2021.
The Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation (FPUC) program has been extended under the Continued Assistance for Unemployed Workers Act of 2020. FPUC will be available to those receiving benefits starting with the week-ending January 2, 2021, and ending with the week-ending March 13, 2021. FPUC will provide an additional $300 weekly benefit to eligible claimants. A claimant must be eligible through a separate unemployment program to receive FPUC.
Click here to view the 2021 Guide to Unemployment Programs.
Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) is a federal program created by the CARES Act for workers who are not eligible for regular state unemployment benefits or Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation (PEUC) and have become unemployed, partially unemployed, or unable to work due to qualifying reasons related to COVID-19.
PUA has been extended under the Continued Assistance for Unemployed Workers Act of 2020. We are in the process of building programs and updating our systems according to implementation guidance from the U.S. Department of Labor. We will update this page once the systems are ready to accept applications and weekly claims again.
Once implemented, PUA will provide additional weeks of benefits, to a maximum of 50 weeks, ending with the week-ending March 13, 2021. Weekly certification, identification and documentation will be required.
You will be required to verify your ID using the new UIdentify process to receive PUA benefits. You will receive notice in the mail and/or via email with instructions on how to complete the process. If you have already verified your ID using the UIdentify process, you do not have to do it again.
You will be required to provide documentation showing proof of employment/ self-employment or planned employment/ self-employment. Claimants receiving payment on or after December 27, 2020, will be required to provide documentation of eligibility within 90 days to qualify for PUA. New claims after January 31, 2021, must provide documentation within 21 days of application.
You will need to file continued claims for each week you are unemployed to receive benefits. The work search requirement is now in effect, and you must report the number of job contacts when filing your weekly claim. The one-week waiting period is also back in effect.
Submit your application and file weekly claims for PUA benefits online at www.pua.arkansas.gov/home
Sunday – Saturday: 6am – 6pm
If you have trouble filing online, or if you have questions regarding your account, you may call the hotline:
844-908-2178 Monday – Saturday: 6am - 6pm
Those eligible will also receive the additional $300 FPUC for weeks claimed starting with the week-ending January 2, 2021, and ending with the week-ending March 13, 2021.
Click here to view the 2021 Guide to Unemployment Programs.
MEUC is a new, temporary program created by the Continued Assistance Act. DWS is working to build this program and will provide updates soon.
Once implemented, the program will provide $100 in additional benefits to certain individuals with self-employment income.
The additional benefit payment is targeted to individuals that received at least $5,000 of net self-employment income in the most recent taxable year ending prior to the individual’s application and will be paid on top of regular UI benefits, PEUC, and FPUC.
Documentation of income will be required.
Click here to view the 2021 Guide to Unemployment Programs.
Unemployment forms and handbooks can be found here.
Scheduled hours of operation for Arkansas Workforce Centers: Monday – Friday: 8am – 4:30pm
To find a local Arkansas Workforce Center location near you, click here.
Report unemployment insurance fraud and identity theft. Click here to learn more.
Search and apply for jobs and training opportunities on Arkansas JobLink.
Find labor market information on Discover Arkansas.
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