Arizona Department of Economic Security
Your Partner for a Stronger Arizona

AZ At Work Logo

Main menu

Arizona's Back to Work Program

Back to Work Banner

Announcement

Notice: The Return-to-Work Bonus program is no longer accepting new applications. Applicants with pending activity may update their account information until January 21, 2022.

On May 13, 2021, Governor Doug Ducey and DES announced Arizona's Back To Work Program to help individuals transition from unemployment and return to the workforce. This program includes return-to-work bonuses, education incentives, and child care assistance. With this new program, Arizona will stop administering the federal government’s supplemental pandemic unemployment benefit effective Saturday, July 10, 2021.

If you applied for unemployment benefits on or before May 15, 2021, were eligible for unemployment benefits for the benefit week from May 9 - 15, 2021, and have found employment, you may be eligible for Arizona’s Back to Work Program.

Services

office workers looking at a laptop screen

Unavailable

Return-to-Work Bonus

Full and part-time workers will receive $2,000 for completing 8 weeks of employment.

Learn more about the bonus

college graduates holding diplomas

Available Now

Educational Opportunities

Get financial aid for community college and High School Equivalency test vouchers.

Learn more about High
School Equivalency Vouchers

Workforce Services

[email protected] and DES provide no-cost employment services that job seekers can access from home as they safely prepare to return to Arizona’s workforce. DES offers virtual appointments for employment services including resume, interview, and job search assistance online at workappointment.azdes.gov or by calling 1-833-762-8196.

Job seekers can acquire new skills with [email protected]’s no-cost guidance to help job seekers return to the workforce stronger. The Return Stronger Upskilling website provides the tools job seekers need to elevate existing skills, obtain new certifications for their next job and connect with local career counselors to map their goals. Job seekers can explore online training tools and attend workforce readiness workshops and hiring events online or in person. A full list of upcoming events can be found on the events page of our website. 

Additionally, DES reinstated the Reemployment Services and Eligibility Assessment (RESEA) program, which assists UI claimants in overcoming barriers to employment.

To learn more about ways that [email protected] and DES can help job seekers return to work, please visit www.ARIZONAatWORK.com.

Additional Child Care Assistance

The DES Child Care Administration provides child care assistance to eligible families to support their employment or education and training activities related to employment by providing financial support intended to offset a portion of child care costs. This financial support allows families better access to high-quality, early care and education settings for their children. For more information about child care assistance, please visit des.az.gov/child-care.

In 2020, both the March 2020 federal CARES Act and the December 2020 Consolidated Appropriations Act-2021 appropriated additional supplemental Child Care and Development Fund (CCDF) discretionary funding, providing states with additional funds to prevent, prepare for, and respond to COVID-19, and expanded flexibility to provide child care assistance to families and children. These 2020-2021 grant and scholarship programs support growth and sustainability of Arizona’s quality child care system, ensuring widespread access to quality child care across the state, providing support to low-income working families. Learn more about the available grants and scholarships.

Employer Assistance

The DES Employer Engagement Administration provides numerous business services to employers, including:

  • Writing effective job orders and descriptions
  • Assistance with mass recruitments
  • Information about employment-related laws
  • On-site visits
    And more

Learn more about the services available to employers.

Additionally, the Arizona Commerce Authority has supported Arizona employers by providing services and resources throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. For more information on business support, please visit their website.

Back to Top