Arkansas unemployment: what to file, what you will receive, and what comes next.
The key numbers
The numbers you can expect.
- Weekly amount
- Up to roughly $451 per week, calculated from your base-period earnings — confirm current figure with the state agency
- Duration
- Up to 12 weeks of regular state benefits, after a 2023 reduction from 16 weeks
- Waiting period
- One unpaid waiting week after your claim is approved
How to file
The filing order.
- 01
Gather your information before you start
You will need your driver's license or state ID, your Social Security number, your most recent employer's name and address, your last day of work, and the reason for separation (layoff, reduction in force, or position eliminated).
- 02
Create an account on EZARC
Arkansas uses an online portal called EZARC at ezarc.adws.arkansas.gov. Create an account, verify your identity, and link your contact information before starting the claim.
- 03
File your initial claim
The claim takes about thirty minutes. Be precise on dates and reason for separation — most delays come from inconsistent dates between your application and what your former employer reports.
- 04
Certify weekly
Arkansas requires a weekly certification confirming you are unemployed, able to work, and have searched for work. Miss the window and your payment pauses. Set a recurring calendar reminder.
- 05
Track your work-search activities
Arkansas requires multiple work-search contacts each week, plus registration with Arkansas JobLink. Keep a simple log of applications, networking calls, and workshops — the agency can ask to see it during a review.
Official state resource
File and manage your claim at Arkansas Division of Workforce Services (dws.arkansas.gov).
A note on health coverage
Before the gap opens.
Health coverage usually ends at the end of your separation month. You will be offered COBRA — the right to keep your employer plan for up to 18 months at the full premium plus a small admin fee. COBRA is often two to three times what you were paying. Before signing up, compare it to a HealthCare.gov plan with an income-based subsidy. Arkansas uses the federal marketplace, and most laid-off Arkansans qualify for a real subsidy that makes a marketplace plan cheaper than COBRA. You have 60 days from the loss of coverage to enroll either way.
This page is for general guidance only and is not legal, tax, or financial advice.
Questions
Common questions
How much is unemployment in Arkansas?
How long can I receive Arkansas unemployment?
Is COBRA worth it in Arkansas?
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