Unemployment in Arkansas can be tough. With this guide, we are going to help you get through with information about how you can get help in Arkansas when you are unemployed,
So, where do you start? First, the deductions and taxes you have paid over your working time count for something.
That is why you have a right to receive unemployment benefits in Arkansas as you look for another job.
There are various ways you can receive help to keep you going during this low moment. This guide contains the information you need about unemployment benefits in Arkansas and other ways to get help when times are tough.
Unemployment Insurance Claim
The benefits you get after you lose your job are known as unemployment insurance.
Eligibility of Unemployment Insurance Benefits
In Arkansas, you are supposed to apply for unemployment insurance with the state division of the workforce services office. For each week that benefits are payable to your debit card, you are supposed to meet these requirements:
- You should be unemployed
- You should be mentally and physically able to work
- You should be making reasonable efforts to find work
- Not participating or directly interested in any labor dispute
- Free of disqualification
- You should reside in Arkansas
- You must have held a job for the past 12 months before becoming unemployed
How to Apply for Unemployment Benefits in Arkansas
There are two ways of filing unemployment benefits claims.
The first way is to visit the Arkansas Workforce Center office. Ensure you bring all the required documents and give the correct information, so your application gets approved.
The second way of applying is by visiting the EZARC website and filling in your details. Be sure to have the following ready as you click on the site:
- Your name and mailing address
- Your social security number
- Name and address of your last employer
- The last day you worked and why you are no longer working
How Long Will You Wait For Unemployment Benefits in Arkansas?
When you need help, especially when you are not waiting for a paycheck, a few days can feel like forever.
There is a one-week waiting period before your unemployment benefits claim is approved.
Additional Forms of Unemployment Benefits
Disaster Unemployment Assistance
DUA is a federally funded program that offers financial assistance to employees and self-employed people when they lose their jobs/income due to a major natural disaster.
Trade Adjustment Assistance
TAA benefits workers who lose their jobs or work for reduced hours due to increased imports.
Trade Readjustment Allowance
TRA is paid to eligible workers who have been affected by job loss and have exhausted their entitlement to regular unemployment benefits.
Reemployment Services and Eligibility Assessment Program
Help that You can Get While you Wait for Unemployment Benefits in Arkansas
After you apply for unemployment benefits and submit all the needed documents, the only thing left to do is wait for approval. However, this does not mean you won’t face challenges and emergencies.
As a resident of Arkansas, you can receive help in various ways. Let’s take a look at the different types of services you can receive during challenging economic times for free:
Easy Wireless Free Smartphone and Free Data
When you lose your job, you are more worried about paying rent and buying groceries than upgrading your phone or paying phone bills. That is why the federal government came up with the Lifeline and Affordable Connectivity Programs to help low-income households stay connected with their loved ones.
When you are unemployed, you can also seek support from programs such as Medicaid, supplemental security income, etc. As long as you are receiving support from such government programs, you qualify for the Lifeline program.
Qualifying for Lifeline means you also qualify for ACP, and get these amazing free goods and services:
- FREE Smartphone
- FREE Unlimited Text
- FREE Unlimited Talk
- FREE Unlimited Data
Don’t qualify for Lifeline? Because there are more programs and different income levels that make you eligible, you may still be able to qualify for ACP even if you don’t qualify for Lifeline. Programs such as WIC, National School Lunch, and Pell Grant qualify you for ACP. ACP-only plans available through Easy Wireless will help meet your family’s wireless needs:
- Free Smartphone Plan
- FREE SMARTPHONE
- FREE Monthly Talk & Text
- FREE Monthly 5 GB Data
- Free Unlimited Data Promo
- Keep Your Phone & Number
- FREE Unlimited Data
- FREE Unlimited Talk & Text
So even as you wait for unemployment benefits, you can still stay connected to your loved ones. Additionally, you do not have to miss online interviews because of a lack of data.
You can enroll online now by entering your zip code and email below.
Free Dental Services
Some dental health emergencies and services cannot wait for your unemployment benefits. The good news is that various dental clinics in Arkansas offer deserving patients free dental services.
Some organizations offer free services to children, others to adults, and others to adults and children. So make sure you confirm their services and how to qualify before visiting them.
Apart from qualifying for free dental services, check the services they offer for free and see if they provide the service you need.
Free Health Clinics in Arkansas
Free medical clinics in Arkansas offer a wide range of free services to qualifying patients. There are no complicated requirements, so check out the free clinics and visit the one closest to you for free treatment.
Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF)
As the name says, TANF targets needy families to make them more economically stable. Apart from offering them financial assistance, the program also provides transitional employment assistance to reduce their dependence on support.
So who is eligible for TANF?
- Be a resident of Arkansas
- Be a US citizen
- Be responsible for a child aged 18 years or below
- Qualify as a low-income family
Frequently Asked Questions
- How long can you collect Unemployment benefits in Arkansas?
- When you apply for unemployment insurance and qualify, you can receive up to 26 weeks of benefits. First, however, you must keep trying to secure your job and fulfill other requirements of receiving UI. If you fail to satisfy the requirements, the benefits can stop coming.
- What happens if you are collecting unemployment benefits while employed?
- Receiving unemployment benefits while employed can land you in trouble. For example, if Arkansas authorities discover you are receiving unemployment benefits and secured a job, you may be charged with fraud. So make sure you cancel your claim after landing a job.
