Important Note: If you are experiencing delays in filing your claim online or by phone, please understand that your claim will be processed and backdated. Unemployment Benefit Disqualifications Generally, to receive unemployment benefits, you need to meet guidelines related to your length of employment, earnings, classification as an employee, and the circumstances of losing your job. To repay overpayments, mail payments directly to Benefit Payment Control, PO Box 8060, Little Rock, AR 72203-8060. This website and its contents are for informational purposes only. To do so, you must visit the nearest DWS local office and complete an appeal form, or you can mail an appeal in writing to, Arkansas Appeal Tribunal You were subject to unbearable or abusive working conditions such as sexual harassment or criminal behavior. If any information in your unemployment paperwork is inaccurate, you might be disqualified from receiving benefits. You must register with the DWS Employment Services and youll be required to contact a certain number of employers each week. You did not claim your weekly benefits in a timely manner. ARP makes PUA benefits available through Labor Day 2021, and increases the maximum duration of these benefits from 50 to 79 weeks. Call on a toll-free phone number. To file an initial claim, you must complete an Application for Unemployment Insurance Benefits via Easy Arkansas Claims (EZARC). You can search online to find out. Combined, the two bodies form the Arkansas General Assembly. You must be mentally and physically able to perform work that is similar to work you have done in the past or for other work that youre suitable for due to past experience or training youve received. Generally speaking, you will be eligible to receive unemployment benefits if you: Are unemployed through no fault of your own; Are ready, willing, and able to work; and. Report gross income earned by participating in military drill during the week being claimed whether you have received payment or not. Eric D. Hansen is an experienced Minnesota attorney within a number of varying and nuanced practice areas. Applicants may apply online 7 days a week from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. by visiting ARunemployment.com. EZARC (Easy Arkansas Claims) is a web-based application that allows anyone to file an initial or additional claim for Arkansas Unemployment Insurance via the Internet. Unemployment Eligibility Arkansas All unemployed workers are required to meet designated requirements in order to receive benefits. To keep collecting unemployment benefits, you must be able to work, available to work, and looking for employment. During this week, you must file a claim for benefits, but you will not be paid for that week. To file your claim using ArkLine, call (501) 907-2590. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google, There is a newer version of the Arkansas Code, Title 11 - Labor and Industrial Relations, Chapter 10 - Department of Workforce Services Law. COVID-19 UPDATE: Because the coronavirus pandemic has left so many Americans jobless, the federal government has given states more flexibility in granting unemployment benefits. A: Yes. File continued claims online using ArkNet. To be eligible, you must be: unemployed, physically and mentally able to perform suitable work, available for suitable work, making a reasonable effort to find work, There are reasons that your unemployment claim can be denied, and you can be disqualified from collecting unemployment. Do your best to keep track of what happened when your employment ended at your last job. Employers pay for UI benefits through a tax they are required to remit. You can also call the states ArkLine at 501-907-2590 to claim your week by phone. ArkLine is available for use on Sunday, 12:01 am to 6:00 pm, and Monday through Friday, 6:00 am to 6:00 pm. You can usually appeal the disqualification. Q: I filed my initial claim for unemployment benefits. Here is where you can find answers to general FAQs for unemployment: https://www.dws.arkansas.gov/employers/faq-2/. 5 minute read Upsolve is a nonprofit tool that helps you file bankruptcy for free.Think TurboTax for bankruptcy. . To see how much you qualify to receive, the unemployment office typically traces the gross earnings attributable to your Social Security number for your base period. DWS Protects Your Information. Benefits can only be paid to you if you meet all state legal requirements, and you are not under a disqualification. ADWS proporciona servicios de interpretacin y traduccin, sin costo alguno, para clientes que necesitan asistencia accediendo y participando en servicios y programas disponibles. Q: My employer is still open for business but I am not able to work at this time because I am in quarantine or am providing care for someone as a result of COVID-19. When You Can Collect Unemployment If You're Fired. Each state has its own eligibility requirements for unemployment benefits. yu cu thng dch vin hoc phin dch vin, yu cu lin lc vi vn phng a phng gn nht. Earning In The Past. (c) (1) No individual shall be disqualified under this section if he or she left his or her last work because he or she voluntarily participated in a permanent reduction in the employer's workforce after the employer announced a pending reduction in its workforce and asked for volunteers. You may file your claim for unemployment benefits online or by phone. If you worked in more than one state during your Base Period, you can combine your wages from all states into a combined claim, as long as you have at least one quarter of wages that you earned in Arkansas. You must meet several requirements to be eligible to collect unemployment insurance benefits in Arkansas: You may be denied benefits for several possible reasons. Can Self-Employed Workers Collect Unemployment? Eligibility.com is not a government website or a government agency. You can find online filing information, as well as regional telephone numbers for filing by phone, at the website of the Department of Workforce Services. Your appeal must be submitted within 20 days of the date that your denial decision was mailed to you. Upsolve is a life changer. Does Pregnancy Affect Unemployment Benefits? We make no warranties or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness, or adequacy of the information contained on this site or the information linked to on the state site. When you submit your initial claim, you have two choices for receiving benefit payments: Youll automatically receive your Unemployment Insurance Benefits on a debit card unless you choose to receive your benefits through direct deposit. For interstate claimants, use the UI Interstate Claimant Handbook. Providing false information. You must be either partially or fully unemployed. If you were laid off, lost your job in a reduction-in-force (RIF), or got "downsized" for economic reasons, you will meet this requirement. You will need the following information to file an Unemployment Insurance Claim online: Your Social Security Number. of the suspension, whichever. Disqualification -- Discharge for misconduct. Arkansas State law determines eligibility of Unemployment Insurance in Arkansas, the amount of compensation, and the amount of time benefits can be collected. http://www.lexisnexis.com/hottopics/arcode/, Arkansas-Unemployment-Insurance-Cards-4.23, File an Unemployment Claim (English Only), Komman am kileem in an jako am jerbal (English Only), Np n Yu cu Tr cp Tht nghip (bng Anh ng m thi), Cc Mu n cho ngi Yu cu Bo him Tht nghip, (), . Follow the prompts and enter your answers for the questions that pertain to the dates indicated. You must be able and available to work, and you must be actively seeking employment. If you are denied benefits, you have the right to appeal. For example, if you file your claim in August of 2019, the base period would be from April 1, 2018, through March 31, 2019. Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information, Arkansas, the Department of Workforce Services, Unemployment Compensation: Understanding the Base Period, If you were laid off, lost your job in a reduction-in-force (RIF). Learn More, Unemployment vs. Paycheck Protection Program, Food Stamps for Seniors and Disabled Individuals. In Arkansas, the base period, four . (For more information, see Nolo's article, Unemployment Compensation: Understanding the Base Period). What Happens to My IRS Tax Debt if I File Bankruptcy? Q: Will I need to search for work after filing my claim for unemployment benefits? We make no warranties or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness, or adequacy of the information contained on this site or the information linked to on the state site. You can also call the Arkansas Division of Workforce Service customer line at 855-225-4440 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. (Monday to Friday). Youll have to report your job contacts beginning with the 13th or 19th week of unemployment compensationthe week you start reporting your contacts depends on the area where you live or work. If you wish to file an appeal to the Appeal Tribunal, follow the instructions on your Notice of Agency Determination or download a Request for Appeal to Appeal Tribunal form at www.dws.arkansas.gov/unemployment/ui-claimant-forms/. After you file an Initial Claim, your Notice of Monetary Determination will show the amount of wages that have been reported by your employers during the quarters in your Base Period. Click here to view and download the Unemployment Insurance Handbook. General Unemployment Insurance Inquiries: UI.General.Questions@arkansas.gov - This email address SHOULD NOT be used to file a claim. After you submit your application, youll get a confirmation page which you should print out and save for your records. Also: Also report any receipt of retirement pay or separation pay to your local office as this may affect your eligibility for unemployment benefits. Applicants must meet the following three eligibility requirements in order to collect unemployment benefits in Arkansas: Virtually all states look at your recent work history and earnings during a one-year "base period" to determine your eligibility for unemployment. We are a team of experts dedicated to finding the right government programs for you. Our mission is simple: help people quickly and easily understand which programs they might be eligible forall in one place. On February 21, 2023, Arkansas adopted the Prohibiting Unemployment Claimants from Ghosting Employers Act of 2023 (PUCGEA). Abusive or unbearable working conditions. Your states unemployment insurance agency may be within your states department of labor, department of economic development, or department of industry. Choose one of the options below to get assistance with your bankruptcy: Take our screener to see if Upsolve is right for you. To qualify for benefits, you need to be actively hunting for a job, and youwill need to document your job search for your state unemployment office. When filing for Arkansas unemployment insurance benefits, you must supply correct and complete facts. You already receive all suggested Justia Opinion Summary Newsletters. It also means that you are in contact with people in your professional network and asking around if there are jobs available and if your contacts would give you a referral for that employer. www.ArkNet.Arkansas.gov. If you get tax deductions when you file your taxes, you are an independent contractor or self-employed. Claim Help: This guide to understanding Arkansas Unemployment Insurance program makes it easy to learn about the filing process for new or additional claim benefits. You can find the most recent benefit-and-earnings table on the ADWS website. To reactivate your claim, you must submit another application through EZARC. You must have earned enough wages during your Base Period to meet the monetary eligibility requirements. Q: How will I receive my unemployment benefits? The Alternate Base Period is the four completed calendar quarters immediately preceding the quarter in which the initial claim is filed. Learn more here. You can explore additional available newsletters here. What do I do next? Unemployment disqualification in Arkansas is based on the length of the suspension, or the lesser of the two measures. The reason for your job loss is important to the state unemployment insurance agency and how they interpret state law. If you quit for good cause, it is up to you to demonstrate that you did have an illness, for example. Not all out-of-work Arkansas residents are . physically and mentally able to perform suitable work, free of participation or direct interest in a labor dispute, and. If you are claiming unemployment benefits, you could be selected to participate in the RESEA program. These cards must be issued by a bank and mailed to you. ), Keep in mind that you usually have to try to resolve these issues before you quit for them to qualify as good cause.. Disqualification Provisions: . . The law also extended two unemployment programs originally created by the CARES Act in March 2020: Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) and Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation (PEUC). Remember to file your claim each week that you are unemployed to claim benefits! You will need to provide written verification to DWS from the employer with the job offer and the start date. You will need to begin filing your weekly claims on the Sunday following the day that you filed your initial claim for unemployment benefits. Arkansas Eligibility Guide AR (Rich Text). Your claim will become inactive if you do not claim benefits for one or more weeks. You must contact DWS if there are any circumstances that affect your availability for work. The following circumstances may disqualify you from collecting unemployment benefits: Insufficient earnings or length of employment. Quitting your job without good cause inconnection with the work. The most common circumstances that can lead to a disqualification are: Quitting your job without good cause in connection with the work. The General Assembly passes the statutes which are compiled and written in the Arkansas Code Annotated (ACA). If you quit your job without good cause or youre fired for misconduct. PUCGEA expands disqualifications to include failing or refusing to: To encourage unemployment claimants to pursue employment and facilitate the enforcement of unemployment benefits laws, PUCGEA allows employers to report individuals who meet the disqualification requirements detailed above. Below you'll find information on collecting unemployment in Arkansas. However, different situations may exist that could delay receipt of benefits. Misconduct connected with Benefits deferred for eight. Independent contractors are technically self-employed, so they typically cannot receive unemployment benefits. It is necessary for ADWS employees to have access to your information to provide service to you. Penalties can be assessed for willfully withholding information. This article will help you better understand how unemployment benefits work, who qualifies for compensation, and what might disqualify you.. Youll need to keep a record of your contacts and present them as required by DWS, who will verify your efforts. If you were fired for not meeting the companys or your bosss performance standards, making honest mistakes, excused absences with proper notice to your employer, then you probably wont be disqualified from unemployment benefits. Receiving unemployment benefits and maintaining your eligibility are important for your financial well-being after a job loss. Click here to go to ArkNet! Suspension for. Affected workers should be encouraged to file their unemployment insurance claims with the Arkansas Division of Workforce Services. Copyright 2023 Arkansas House of Representatives. Before filing your claim, review the eligibility information and the 5 Steps to Filing for Unemployment Insurance Benefits below. Arkansas Employment Security law 11-10-314, Disclosure of Information, provides in part that information obtained by the Division of Workforce Services from any employing unit or individual, pursuant to the administration of a claim for unemployment benefits or any determination as to rights or status of the employing unit or individual, shall be held confidential and shall be protected by government privilege. It's one of the greatest civil rights injustices of our time that low-income families cant access their basic rights when they cant afford to pay for help. Is Upsolve real? Or if there were abusive or unsafe working conditions, you need to show that you attempted to address them before quitting and that your former employer failed to do anything about it. TAA benefits are for those workers who lose their jobs or whose hours of work and wages are reduced due to increased imports. Call 1-844-908-2178. An employer may say you acted inappropriately when you really didnt, or they may indicate that you quit a job when you were actually laid off or fired without a good reason. Youll need to report your earnings and whether youre working full- or part-time. Q:If I report to my regular job for a short period of time during the week while I am drawing unemployment insurance, do I have to report the wages I make each week? If you have filedan unemployment benefits claimand your claim is turned down or contested by your employer, you have the right to appeal the denial. You can file your ongoing weekly claims through ArkNet. After a reasonable amount of time, you must expand your efforts and seek work in related fields which utilize a lesser skill. To qualify for benefits in Arkansas, you must have earned wages in at least two quarters of the base period. CNN Pandemic unemployment benefits must restart in Arkansas while a lawsuit works its way through the court system, a state judge ruled in a decision filed Thursday. Theft of public benefits of more than $500.00 is a FELONY. Report Those Who Cheat! Participants are obligated to meet various program requirements. On February 21, 2023, Arkansas adopted the Prohibiting Unemployment Claimants from Ghosting Employers Act of 2023 (PUCGEA). Good cause usually has to be a work-related reason for leaving. Get free education, customer support, and community. Q: Ive claimed my first week of unemployment. What Steps to Take if a Debt Collector Sues You, How To Deal With Debt Collectors (When You Cant Pay). Here's an overview of the guidelines for qualifying for unemployment and the circumstances that can disqualify a worker from receiving compensation when they are out of work. You should be advised of how to proceed with an appeal when you receive the notice from the unemployment office. Reporting Information Accurately. Chapter 7 vs. Chapter 13 Bankruptcy: Whats the Difference? This assistance is provided through a Job Search Workshop that helps sharpen your skills in arranging job interviews, filling out applications, and much more. You should stop filing for benefits when you go back to work full-time. If your claim requires adjudication, it will require investigation and a written determination will be issued to you regarding your eligibility for unemployment benefits. How Much Debt Do I Need To File for Chapter 7 Bankruptcy? The penalty for being disqualified for a year is eight weeks in prison. These wages are what is used to determine how much your Weekly Benefit Amount will be. The Unemployment Insurance (UI) program requires a State Quality Service Plan (SQSP) on a 2-year planning cycle that is a condition of receipt of administrative funding to administer the program. Arkansas Title 11. All rights reserved. However, typically, examples of leaving a job due to good cause includethefollowing: Illness or emergency. What Is Chapter 7 Bankruptcy & Should I File? If youre currently a member in good standing of a trade union that maintains a full-time hiring hall, your union hiring agent may act as your agent to help you meet work search requirements. While youre filing an appeal, you should continue to claim benefits for each week you are unemployed. While youre claiming benefits, you must actively seek full-time work. work-related misconduct - eight weeks or the duration. If you have out of state wages, there may be a slight delay in receiving benefits if you file a combined wage claim, which is where you combine your wages from all states. He has operated his own solo practice as well as worked at small suburban boutique firms and large diversified downtown law firms. Visit www.arknet.arkansas.gov or call ArkLine at 1-501-907-2590. Every question I needed an answer to was right in the program. Do You Have to Go To Court to File Bankruptcy? To file your claim using ArkNet, go to www.ArkNet.Arkansas.gov. You Can Get a Mortgage After Bankruptcy. How long will I have to wait to receive my benefits? ABLE TO WORKmeans being physically and mentally able to perform work similar to work you performed in the past or other work for which you are fitted by experience and training to perform and have a reasonable expectancy of obtaining. Final Payment: The last payment to a claimant which exhausts the individual's maximum potential benefit entitlement under a specific program. Recent Bill Activity for the 94th General Assembly, Recently Filed Bills for the 94th General Assembly, https://www.dws.arkansas.gov/unemployment/arknet/, https://www.dws.arkansas.gov/unemployment/, https://www.dws.arkansas.gov/employers/arkansas-claim-help/, https://www.dws.arkansas.gov/src/files/500-BOOKLET-8X11-ART-v05-29-2018-1.pdf, https://www.dws.arkansas.gov/src/files/direct-deposit-brochure-2018.pdf, https://www.dws.arkansas.gov/src/files/debit-brochure-2018.pdf, https://www.dws.arkansas.gov/employers/faq-2/. Little Rock, AR 72203. To select Direct Deposit, you must enter your account and routing numbers after logging into your account on. You must have earned at least a minimum amount in wages before you were unemployed. Information is also available at any of the Arkansas Division of Workforce Services Local Offices. This specific form of Trade Adjustment Assistance is paid to an eligible adversely affected worker every week after he/she exhausts entitlement to regular unemployment compensation, including state and federal extensions. These types of income have to be reported: If you do not report these earnings, you can be guilty of fraud. Each state has a different definition and that can affect a claimants application for unemployment compensation. Getting a legal professional, creating a scheduled visit and going to the office for a private conference makes doing a Arkansas Unemployment Form 502 from start to finish stressful. What Are the Pros and Cons of Filing Chapter 7 Bankruptcy? Heres a quick overview of how the unemployment insurance process works in Arkansas: Several online serviceslike FlexJobs, 360training, or MyPerfectResumecan help you find work-from-home jobs, build a better resume, or earn training certifications. You may also be disqualified from receiving unemployment compensation if you refuse an offer of suitable work. If your employment or self-employment has been lost or interrupted as a direct result of the tornado that occurred on March 31, 2023,click here. Your weekly claim for benefits must be filed within the 7-day period immediately following the Saturday of the week youre claiming. Verify your ID during the claim filing process using the Login.gov link on your confirmation page o present your ID in person at a local DWS office. 1. To learn more, read why we started Upsolve in 2016, our reviews from past users, and our press coverage from places like the New York Times and Wall Street Journal. Actively looking for a job means that you are looking through job sites like Indeed or LinkedIn and applying to job listings. This law will become effective on January 1, 2024. (This only applies if youre not an at-will employee. Filing a claim online should take about 30 minutes. Claims must be filed through the Arkansas Division of Workforce Services, and certain conditions must be met during each week for which benefits are payable. He has operated his own solo practice as well as worked at small suburban boutique firms and large diversified downtown law firms. If you do not meet minimum wage requirements during your Base Period, youll be allowed to use earnings from an Alternate Base Period to help you qualify for benefits. You may receive benefits for a maximum of 25 weeks. If you have Social Security taxes and unemployment insurance taxes taken out of your earnings, then you are an employee. If you have any questions about Unemployment Insurance, contact the UI Service Center. (a) (1) If so found by the Director of the Department of Workforce Services, an individual shall be disqualified for benefits if he or she is discharged from his or her last work for misconduct in connection with the work. However, common examples of quitting without good cause include leaving to get married or to attend school, or resigning because of a labor dispute (such as a strike). Deliberately giving false information to receive benefits is a crime in Arkansas: El Fraude, Es Un Crimen (Fraud Newsletter). Your email address will not be published. Is not able to work or isnotavailable for work. Any information collected via the Internet between DWS and our customers relies on industry-standard SSL (Secure Socket Layer) encryption. Employers can submit these reports through a designated online portal, email, or telephone. Disclaimer: These codes may not be the most recent version. How Long Do You Have To Work To Collect Unemployment? A: No. This can include starting a new business or becoming self-employed, working on a contract or commission basis, or attending school or training of any kind. (In times of very high unemployment, additional weeks of benefits may be available.). For example, if your employer alleges misconduct (such as violating a company policy) or some other inappropriate or illegal behavior leads to you being fired, you will likely not receive unemployment benefits. Under the PUA program, self-employed workersusually excluded from unemployment benefitsare entitled to unemployment if they meet certain criteria. If you quit without good cause, you arent eligible for unemployment compensation. You must be unemployed through no fault of your own, as defined by Arkansas law. The process takes 1015 minutes to complete. You can find the setup for the payment method on the Confirmation Page. This is a good first place to look for this information. Youll be paid a benefit based on how much your employer paid you during a 12-month period called your Base Period. Privacy Policy | Alerts | Security Policy | Acceptable Use | Transparency. If your appeal is approved, youll be paid for those weeks only if youve claimed them. The status of unemployment claims in Arkansas can get checked by contacting the Arkansas department of workforce services. Arkansas. Locate helpful UI handbooks and other beneficial information about UI claims. Sign up for our free summaries and get the latest delivered directly to you. Employers should become familiar with these new requirements and monitor the DWS website for updates on the process they should follow to report job applicants who ghost them. Workers may receive assistance in skill assessment, job search workshops, job development/referral, and job placement. Q: What types of income do I need to report when filing my weekly claims? ARP increases the maximum duration of PEUC benefits from 24 to 53 weeks, with an expiry date of September 4, 2021. Written by Attorney Eric Hansen.Updated October 24, 2021. Follow the prompts and enter your answers for the questions that pertain to the dates outlined.