Knowing how to file for unemployment in Arizona could be a lifesaver in the midst of this economic downtime. This unemployment benefit enables you to have some cash available to cater to your needs while waiting for a new job offer.
To qualify for benefits in Arizona, you must have worked for an employer who is up to date with unemployment tax. You as an employee must have earned at least the Arizona minimum wage 390 times 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.
Read: How to File for unemployment in North Carolina
Even though you meet these criteria, there are other factors that could make a claimant disqualified from receiving unemployment benefits. If an employee voluntarily leaves work without a good cause or is discharged due to misconduct, he/she is not eligible to receive unemployment insurance benefits until he/she has earned wages in an amount equivalent to five times his/her weekly benefit amount.
How to File For Unemployment in Arizona
You can file for unemployment in Arizona online. When you apply for Unemployment Insurance Benefits in Arizona, you are required to verify your identity. You will also verify your Social Security Number through a computer match with the Social Security Administration.
The Arizona DES uses a debit card system for payment of Unemployment Insurance (UI) benefits—paper checks are no longer issued. The Electronic Payment Card (EPC) is made available through Comerica Bank and provides a safe and convenient way to receive weekly UI benefit payments.
When you complete and certify your application for UI benefits, you will be authorizing the AZ DES, Employment Administration to make an automatic deposit of the full amount of any UI weekly benefit payments you are entitled to an Arizona EPC.
Below are the things needed to file for unemployment in Arizona
- Your Social Security Number
- Arizona Identity card or driver’s license.
- Mailing address, city, state, and ZIP code.
- Names and addresses of past employers in the last 18 months
- If you received severance, lieu of notice, or dismissal pay; payment for unused vacation, sick, or holiday leave; or payment for military accrued leave, the amount (before deductions) and the date it was paid to you.
- The name and a local number of your union hall, if applicable.
- Your Alien Registration Number if you are not a citizen of the United States.
- Copy # 4 of your DD Form 214 if released from the military in the last 18 months.
- 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 and the monthly benefit amount.
