If you recently lost your job through no fault of your own, you may qualify to receive Unemployment Insurance Benefits payments.
Be prepared with the following information before to file your initial claim:
NOTES:
DES is analyzing changing state and federal guidance and updating its eligibility requirements accordingly. These requirements may continue to change as the government response to COVID-19 evolves.
Applicants are also automatically registered with Arizona’s largest jobs database, Arizona Job Connection (www.AZJobConnection.gov). By completing their registration, job seekers can create a digital resume, search for jobs, and get matched with hiring employers.
To maintain Unemployment Insurance benefits, you are required to file weekly claims confirming that you continue to meet the requirements to receive Unemployment Insurance.
You must file a claim every week you are unemployed, or underemployed.
The benefit week starts on a Sunday and ends on Saturday.
Learn about Arizona’s work search requirements on the work search web page.
ID.me is a federally-certified identity verification provider specializing in digital identity protection. It is a secure, online service available 24 hours a day and can be accessed on a computer, tablet, or smartphone. This service helps the Arizona Department of Economic Security (DES) verify legitimate claimants are the ones applying for benefits – and not someone who has stolen a claimant's identity. Find more information about ID.me and its privacy policy.
Within approximately one week of filing your initial claim, you will receive the following information from DES in the mail:
Please print, sign, and return the Certificate of Understanding to the address or fax number listed on the form.
If we need more information to process your claim, we will mail you a questionnaire to complete and send back.
DES is doing everything possible to get Arizonans benefits as soon as possible. However, DES is experiencing an influx of claims due to COVID-19 and processing times may vary. Additionally, if there are issues with your claim, such as incomplete information, processing the claim may be delayed.
Direct deposit is available at www.AZUI.com. You may also receive an Electronic Payment Card (EPC) issued by Comerica. Your EPC card will have a zero balance until your first benefit payment has been processed.
Additional information about Arizona Unemployment Benefits can be found in the A Guide to Arizona Benefits handbook that applicants receive in the mail.
ARIZONA @ WORK staff can provide job seekers with no-cost job assistance to help them get back to work. Learn more about the services available and view a list of jobs with immediate openings by visiting, www.ARIZONAatWORK.com.
You may qualify for other benefits such as:
Program | FPUC | UI | PUA |
---|---|---|---|
AHCCCS Medical Assistance | Not Counted | Counted | Counted |
Nutrition Assistance | Counted | Counted | Counted |
Cash Assistance | Not Counted | Not Counted | Not Counted |
You can apply for one or more of these programs online at www.healthearizonaplus.gov. Find more contact details regarding Nutrition, Cash, and Medical Assistance Benefits.
It is a felony to misrepresent or fail to disclose facts or to make false statements in order to obtain or increase benefits. If you knowingly make a false statement or withhold information in order to collect unemployment insurance benefits to which you are not entitled, the Arizona Department of Economic Security may take civil or criminal action against you. Criminal action may result in a fine and/or imprisonment. In addition, you will be required to repay the amount you received illegally as well as penalty amounts which are added to each week that was fraudulently claimed. As part of our fraud prevention efforts, the Department regularly conducts several types of audits to detect improper benefit payments. View more information about Unemployment Insurance Fraud.
Connect with Us!
Stay up-to-date with news and updates delivered straight to your inbox
Pursuant to Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and other nondiscrimination laws and authorities, ADES does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age, or disability. Persons that require a reasonable modification based on language or disability should submit a request as early as possible to ensure the State has an opportunity to address the modification. The process for requesting a reasonable modification can be found at Equal Opportunity and Reasonable Modification.