
States That Pay The Lowest Unemployment Insurance Compensation
- Mississippi – $235
- Arizona – $240
- Louisiana – $247
What is the maximum unemployment benefit in Arizona?
You are eligible for FPUC if you receive any of the following benefits:
- Unemployment Insurance (UI)
- Unemployment Compensation for Federal Employees (UCFE)
- Unemployment Compensation for Ex-Servicemembers (UCX)
- Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation (PEUC)
- Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA)
- Extended Benefits (EB)
- Shared Work (SW)
- Trade Readjustment Allowances (TRA)
- Disaster Unemployment Assistance (DUA)
How do I apply for unemployment benefits in Arizona?
To apply for Arizona benefits online, you'll need the following information:
- Your Social Security number or Alien Registration Number
- Your Arizona driver's license number or state-issued ID
- Your mailing address
- Your employment history for the past 18 months, including employer names, addresses, phone numbers, and your last day of work
- Bank account information for direct deposit
Is Arizona unemployment benefits taxable?
State Taxes on Unemployment Benefits: Arizona generally taxes unemployment compensation to the same extent as it is taxed under federal law. The state also adopted the federal exemption for up to...
How much money do you get from unemployment benefits?
You can collect benefits if you meet a series of legal eligibility requirements:
- Have earned qualifying wages
- Are unemployed through no fault of their own
- Are able and obtainable to work full-time and
- Are keenly looking for full-time work

How much will my weekly unemployment benefit amount be in Arizona?
Your weekly Unemployment Insurance Benefit Amount (WBA) is calculated on wages you earned from employers who paid Unemployment Tax to the State of Arizona. The WBA is 4% of the wages paid in the highest quarter of your base period. The current maximum WBA is $240.
Are there wage requirements associated with my eligibility for unemployment benefits in Arizona?
See full answerWhether you receive Unemployment Insurance benefits and how much you're entitled to each week depends on how much you earned during your base period. All states have similar wage requirements which are determined by the laws in each state. To qualify for benefits in Arizona, you must have worked for an employer who paid unemployment tax and you must have earned:At least 390 times the Arizona minimum wage in your highest earning quarter and the total of the other three quarters must equal at least one half of the amount in your high quarter. For example, if you made $5000 in your highest quarter you need to have earned a total of $2500 within the remaining three quarters combined,Or at least $7000 in total wages in at least two quarters of the base period, with wages in one quarter equal to $5987.50 or more.
What do I do if my unemployment benefits in Arizona are denied?
If you are disqualified/denied benefits, you have the right to file an appeal. You must file your appeal within an established time frame. Your employer may also appeal a determination if he/she does not agree with the determination regarding your eligibility.
Am I eligible for unemployment benefits in Arizona if I've also worked in another state?
If you have Arizona wages and also worked in another state, or currently reside in Arizona and have earnings from employers in two or more other states (within the base period), you may choose to combine these wages to establish monetary eligibility. If you were employed in more than one state at any time during the current base period, you may have the option of:Filing a claim against any state in which you were employed using only the wages from that state, orFiling a claim against any state in which you were employed, using the wages from all states in which you earned wages.
What happens if you misrepresent your unemployment claim in Arizona?
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.
When will the unemployment search be reinstated?
New! On May 3, 2021, Governor Ducey rescinded Executive Order 2020-11 and reinstated the requirement for unemployment claimants to search for work. In order to be eligible for unemployment benefits, claimants receiving benefits from any unemployment program must complete work-search activities during the week that begins May 23, 2021, and log those work search activities when they file their weekly claims on May 30, 2021. To learn more, visit our Work Search web page.
How long does Extended Benefits last?
Extended Benefits (EB) provides up to an additional 13 weeks of benefits to eligible claimants who have exhausted both their regular Unemployment Insurance (UI) benefits and Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation (PEUC) assistance.
What happens if you make a false statement on unemployment?
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.
What is MEUC in unemployment?
The MEUC program was created as part of the federal Continued Assistance Act (CAA) and provides an additional $100 per week in supplemental unemployment benefits to individuals who receive regular unemployment benefits ( UI), Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation (PEUC) or Extended Benefits (EB) who also have at least $5,000 in net income from self-employment during the most recent tax year that ended prior to their application for Unemployment Insurance (UI).
How long can I get unemployment?
How long will I receive benefits: Usually, most states permit an individual to obtain unemployment for a maximum of 26 weeks, or half the benefit the benefit year. A few states have standardized benefit duration, while most have different durations depending upon the worker.
How is unemployment computed?
Unemployment is computed and one half of what your weekly pay was at the time of the discharge up to your state's maximum benefit. You will have to verify with your state's unemployment office to see what the highest payout for your state is. For further details refer unemployment benefits article.
What Happens When The Des Denies Benefits
You have the right to appeal any decision by the DES. The DES will mail a Determination of Deputy informing you of the circumstance. You will have 15 calendar days from the mailing date of the determination to file your appeal.
When Will You Get Your Benefits
Although the federal government is authorizing these extensions immediately, that doesnt mean your unemployment benefits will be delivered seamlessly.;
Amount And Duration Of Unemployment Benefits In Arizona
If you are eligible to receive unemployment, your weekly benefit in Arizona will be 4% of the wages you earned in the highest paid quarter of the base period. The most you can receive per week is currently $240; the least you can receive is $122.
Reasons For Denial Of Benefits
The DES will deny your claim for unemployment if you do not meet the wage earnings requirement. The DES will issue a Wage Statement that tells you how they determined whether you qualified and the potential WBA you would receive if you qualified. You may file a wage protest if you disagree with math on your Wage Statement.
How Much Will I Be Paid By Arizona Unemployment
The amount of your unemployment insurance benefit is calculated by the amount of insured wages paid to you during a one-year period called a Base Period. Insured wages are defined as those wages that are paid by an employer who pays unemployment insurance taxes.
Arizona Unemployment Benefits And Eligibility
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.
Return To Work Guidance For Employers
As Arizona begins to re-energize our economy and more Arizonans return to work, many employers and employees may have questions about how resuming operations may affect Unemployment Insurance benefits. View guidance for returning to work in a safe and healthy way.
When is the base period for Arizona unemployment?
The base period is the first four of the five complete calendar quarters before you filed your benefits claim . For example, if you file your claim in May 2020, the base period would be from January 1 through December 31, 2019. To qualify for benefits in Arizona, you must meet either of the following criteria:
When does Arizona unemployment expire?
ARP increases the maximum duration of PEUC benefits from 24 to 53 weeks, with an expiry date of September 4, 2021. For up-to-date information on Arizona's rules on unemployment eligibility and amounts during the COVID-19 pandemic, visit the state's Unemployment Insurance Benefits page.
What is the job of the Arizona Department of Economic Security?
The Arizona Department of Economic Security (DES) handles unemployment compensation and decides whether claimants are eligible for benefits. Under the state's normal eligibility rules, you must meet the following three requirements to collect unemployment benefits: You must be unemployed through no fault of your own, as defined by Arizona law.
How long do you have to appeal unemployment?
If your unemployment claim is denied, you have 15 days to appeal the decision online, by telephone, or in writing. A hearing will be held on your appeal, at which you may testify, present witnesses, and offer evidence before an administrative law judge (ALJ).
How long does unemployment last?
Benefits will continue until you've received the equivalent of 26 weeks of your weekly benefit amount or one-third of your total base-period wages, whichever is less. (In times of very high unemployment, federal and state programs may make additional weeks of benefits available.)
How to keep collecting unemployment?
To keep collecting unemployment benefits, you must be able to work, available to work, and looking for employment. If you're offered a suitable position, you must accept it. Whether a position is suitable depends on how similar the job is to your previous employment, how much you will be paid, the working conditions, and the skills, experience, ...
Is unemployment the same in Arizona?
The basic structure of the unemployment system is the same from state to state. However, each state sets its own rules for eligibility, benefit amounts, filing procedures, and more. This article explains how unemployment benefits work in Arizona.
Eligibility Requirements For Arizona Unemployment Benefits
The Arizona Department of Economic Security handles unemployment compensation and decides whether claimants are eligible for benefits. Under the state’s normal eligibility rules, you must meet the following three requirements to collect unemployment benefits:
About State Unemployment Tax
When you have employees, you must pay federal and state unemployment taxes. These taxes fund unemployment programs and pay out benefits to employees who lose their jobs through no fault of their own.
Do You Meet The Minimum Earnings Requirement
Like every state, Arizona looks at your recent work history and earnings during a one-year “ base period ” to determine your eligibility for unemployment. The base period is the first four of the five complete calendar quarters before you filed your benefits claim.
How Far Back Can I Claim The Retroactive Unemployment Benefits
As discussed in this article, the new $300 FPUC payment for 2021 will only beretroactive to the start date of the new program coverage period in the same manner as previous supplementary UI benefit programs.
Are You Available And Actively Searching For Work
To keep collecting unemployment benefits, you must be able to work, available to work, and looking for employment. If you’re offered a suitable position, you must accept it.
How To Appeal A Denial Of Unemployment Benefits In Arizona
If your unemployment claim is denied, you have 15 days to appeal the decision online, by telephone, or in writing. A hearing will be held on your appeal, at which you may testify, present witnesses, and offer evidence before an administrative law judge . You may have a lawyer represent you at the hearing, although it’s not required.
Pandemic Unemployment Benefits Expired On Labor Day Could They Be Renewed
Millions of Americans lost jobless benefits this month. Some lawmakers are proposing that aid be reinstated in an upcoming spending package. Here’s the latest.
How is Arizona unemployment calculated?
The weekly benefit amount, or WBA, is determined by calculating 4 percent of earnings during the most lucrative quarter during the base period. A person who earned at least $5,987.50 during the highest-earning quarter, is eligible to receive the state's maximum WBA of $240.
How many times can you claim unemployment?
Benefit awards cannot exceed 26 times the WBA. Unemployment recipients can continue receiving benefits until they reach their benefit award or the benefit year ends, whichever comes first. The benefit year is a 52-week period beginning the Sunday of the week when the initial claim is filed.
Is Arizona unemployment based on earnings?
In Arizona, unemployment benefits are based on earnings during a base period, which is the first four of the last five completed calendar quarters before a claim is filed, explains Arizona's [unemployment guide] (https://www.azdes.gov/InternetFiles/Pamphlets/pdf/pau-007-PD.pdf).
