Arkansas Unemployment Insurance Benefits Eligibility

Claims must be filed with a Arkansas State Department of Workforce Services office. Certain conditions must be met during each week for which benefits are payable.

In Arkansas To be eligible, you must be:

A. Unemployed,

B. Physically and mentally able to perform suitable work,

C. Available for suitable work,

D. Making a reasonable effort to find work,

E. Free of participation or direct interest in a labor dispute, and

F. Free of disqualification

In addition to the above, a waiting period of one (1) week must be served before Unemployment Insurance benefits are payable to you. A week to be used as a valid waiting period must be a valid week of unemployment. A valid week of unemployment must be a week you have claimed subsequent to filing your Initial Claim, in which you did not have any earnings or had earnings of less than 140% of your Weekly Benefit Amount, met all Eligibility Requirements, and week for which you are not disqualified. read more

ABLE TO WORK means 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.

AVAILABILITY FOR WORK means being ready to accept work at once, and there are not circumstances, personal or otherwise, which would prevent you from accepting suitable work.

REASONABLE EFFORT TO FIND WORK means making personal efforts to secure suitable work by contacting persons with hiring authority, union local, etc., or doing those things reasonable for you to do in regard to your occupation which would result in your finding employment as soon as possible.

After a reasonable period of time, you must expand your efforts and seek work in related fields which utilize a lesser skill.