Answers to Questions about Applying for Unemployment Insurance Benefits

The following information is needed to file an application (initial claim) for benefits:

• Your Social Security Number
• State Identification Card (s)
• Your mailing address, city, state and ZIP code
• If you live in Arizona, know the county where you reside
• The names, addresses, and phone numbers of all your employers for the last 18 months
• The last day you worked immediately prior to filing your UI claim
• If you received severance, and/or unused vacation, holiday or sick pay give the amount (before deductions) and the date it was paid to you.
• The name and local number of your union hall, if applicable
• Alien Registration Number, if applicable
• Copy # 4 of your DD Form 214 if released from the military in the last 18 months (or Member 2 copy or DD 215 or NOAA 56-16, if applicable)
• SF 8 or SF 50 if employed in Federal Civilian service in the last 18 months
• If you are collecting a pension (other than Social Security), you will need the start date of the pension, the monthly benefit amount, and the percentage of your contribution

When you apply for UI benefits, you must provide the correct mailing address and telephone number for your most recent employer (the individual or company you worked for immediately prior to filing your application for benefits, as shown on your paystub).

Effective Date of Claim: The effective date of your claim is the start of your benefit year which is normally the Sunday of the week in which you file your initial application for Unemployment Insurance benefits. Your benefit year ends 365 days later. Your benefit year ending date will appear on your Monetary Determination.

Yes, you can. If all of your past employment was in another state and you now reside in Arizona, you can find information about that state's Unemployment Insurance Program at Careeronestop.com. If you have Arizona wages in your base period and also worked in another state, more information about your claim options can be found when you apply for UI benefits.

You should expect the following documents by postal mail within approximately one week (it may take longer for the documents to arrive if you live in another state):

These documents are sent to all applicants:

• A Guide to Arizona UI Benefit - English (UIB-1240A) or A Guide to Arizona UI Benefit - Spanish (UIB-1240A-S)
• Monetary Determination
• Certificate of Understanding - English / Spanish (UB-99Y)

Some applicants will receive:

• An Electronic Payment Card (EPC) which is like a debit card. The EPC is sent to new applicants who are monetarily eligible for benefits and is issued by Comerica. Note: Your card will be mailed in a plain envelope (may look like junk mail), so DO NOT discard! This does not mean you will receive benefits. More EPC information.
• Form UB-436 if eligibility issues were detected when you filed your application for benefits.
• Report of Illness or Physical Disability - English (UB-296) or Report of Illness or Physical Disability - Spanish (UB-296-S)

If you did not receive the documents you were expecting, contact the AZ Unemployment Insurance Call Center or send them an email, select "Documents Not Received by Mail" for the subject. Please see Actions Needed for more information about what is required once these documents are received.