Alabama Unemployment Eligibility Calculator
Unemployment benefits provide a vital safety net for Alabama residents who have lost their jobs through no fault of their own. Understanding the eligibility requirements can help you navigate the Alabama unemployment system so the process of claiming benefits goes smoothly.
How to qualify for Alabama unemployment insurance benefits
Your claim for unemployment benefits is subject to at least two determinations: a monetary determination and a non-monetary determination. The monetary determination will assess your eligibility for benefits based on your earnings history, while the non-monetary determination will evaluate the reason for your unemployment and make sure you are willing and able to work.
After applying for Alabama unemployment benefits, review your monetary determination carefully and contact the Alabama Department of Labor if you notice any missing or incorrectly reported wages. If your wage record needs to be corrected, you may need to provide proof of wages, such as a W-2 form, pay stubs, or a letter from your former employer.
If you have wages from another state, you may receive another monetary determination after these additional wages are recorded. Keep in mind that receiving benefits from multiple states at the same time constitutes Alabama unemployment fraud.
Monetary Eligibility Requirements
To qualify for Alabama unemployment benefits, the combined earnings from your two highest base period quarters must meet the minimum amount required by law. Your total base period wages must be at least one and a half times your high quarter earnings. This calculation determines both your eligibility for benefits and the amount you will receive.
Base Period
The base period used to determine your eligibility for benefits is the first four of the last five completed calendar quarters before that week. The wages paid to you during your base period are used to assess if you have enough wages to qualify for a claim and determine how much you can be paid in benefits.
The base period is calculated based on the date you file your claim. For instance, if your claim was filed October 5, 2022, your base period is the 12-month period beginning July 1, 2021, and ending June 30, 2022.
High Quarter
Your “high quarter” refers to the quarter in your base period when you received the highest amount of wages from covered employment.
Non-Monetary Eligibility Requirements
In addition to the monetary requirements, individuals applying for Alabama unemployment benefits in Alabama must also fulfill certain non-monetary eligibility requirements. These requirements include the reason for your job separation, and your willingness to work and be available for work. You must also be actively seeking employment each week.
To qualify for Alabama unemployment benefits, you must:
- Be unemployed through no fault of your own
- Be able to work
- Be willing to accept work
- Be available to work
- Immediately report any income
- Make 3 work search contacts each week
- Not refuse any offer of suitable work
- Attend any required interviews and appointments with the ADOL
- Be a citizen of the United States or be legally allowed to work in Alabama
Job Separation Requirements
One of the primary eligibility requirements for Alabama unemployment compensation is that you must be unemployed through no fault of your own.
Quitting your job
You may be disqualified from the UI program if you voluntarily quit your job without a good work-connected reason. Personal reasons like lack of transportation or moving are not considered good work-connected causes, regardless of how valid they may seem. This rule ensures that individuals who quit their jobs for non-work-related reasons do not abuse the unemployment benefits system.
If you voluntarily quit your job, the burden of proof is on you to show that you quit for a good work-connected reason. Examples of good reasons include:
- Unsafe working conditions: If the working conditions are dangerous or pose a risk to your health and safety, you may be able to quit and still receive benefits.
- Discrimination or harassment: If you are being discriminated against or harassed on the job due to your race, gender, age, religion, or any other protected characteristic, you may be able to quit and still receive benefits.
- Domestic violence: If you are a victim of domestic violence and leaving your job is necessary for your safety, you may be able to quit and still receive benefits.
Getting fired
If you were fired from your job due to misconduct in connection with the work, you may be denied unemployment benefits. Misconduct includes failing to obey an employer’s work rules and policies, endangering the safety of others, disregarding orders or instructions, and committing dishonest or criminal acts.
The severity of the misconduct, prior warnings, and corrective actions taken before discharge will affect the severity of the disqualification. For instance, a person discharged for committing a dishonest or criminal act may have wages reported by that employer removed from their base period wage file.
Additional Eligibility Requirements
To be eligible for benefits, you must legally reside within the United States. Additionally, you need to be available for work during each week that you wish to receive benefits. This means being able, available, seeking, and willing to accept full-time work, during the hours, days, and shifts that are typically worked in the industry or trade for which you have the necessary training or experience.
You must be able to work in order to qualify for benefits. If you are unable to work due to sickness or injury, benefits may be denied until you can provide proof of your ability to work.
Work Registration Requirement
Another eligibility requirement is that you must register at a local Alabama Career Center or online at the Alabama Works website. You will be required to post your resume online. Your Career Center registration will remain active for a minimum of 90 days, and you must ensure that it remains active during the weeks you receive unemployment benefits.
Mandatory Interviews
While receiving unemployment benefits, you may be selected to participate in an eligibility review interview. You must participate in all requested fact-finding interviews, profile interviews, and eligibility reviews. You also need to register with the Employment Service. If you fail to take part or report, as instructed, to a call-in notice to an Alabama Career Center, or for a fact-finding or eligibility review interview, benefits can be denied. This eligibility review interview will be conducted prior to filing your weekly claim certification.
Work Search Requirement
In Alabama, you must make 3 work search contacts each week that you claim benefits. These contacts must be reported during the weekly certification process. Include the date of contact, the employer’s name, city and state, method of contact, and contact results. When applying for jobs, it’s important to ensure that they are within the normal commuting distance of your home, and that you are qualified for the job.
You must log in to Alabama Works or visit a local Alabama Career Center at least once a week while claiming unemployment benefits or your benefits may be denied.
Refusing a Job Offer
You must accept any suitable job offer. Suitability is determined based on your past training and experience, the details of the job, and the local labor market. Your benefits can be delayed if you refuse a job offer or fail to respond to a job referral from the Alabama Career Center.
If you refuse a referral to a job, fail to keep an appointment with a prospective employer, or refuse suitable work from an employer, your benefits can be delayed or denied. Any job referral or refusal must be immediately reported through the UC Claimant Inquiry Line.
Reporting Income
You must report any income when certifying your weekly claim. Certain types of payments such as vacation pay, holiday pay, workers’ compensation pay, or sick pay may be disqualifying or deductible. Always provide honest, accurate information to avoid charges of Alabama unemployment fraud. If you earn less than your weekly benefit amount, you may be eligible to receive partial benefits. Use the Alabama unemployment calculator to estimate your weekly UI benefit.
Attending School
You can go to school and collect unemployment, but only if you are available to work full time. This means you may need to change the hours of your classes or quit school temporarily. If you are a regular, full-time student attending high school, you will be disqualified from receiving benefits until you are no longer attending high school.
Benefit Year
Your benefit year is the 52-week period starting from the week you first apply. Your benefit year will expire one year after you file your initial UI claim. You can stop and start claiming weekly benefits at any time during this period until your benefits are exhausted. However, once your benefits are exhausted or your benefit year expires, you will no longer be eligible for any further benefits under that claim.
How long will my benefits last?
Benefits typically last between 14-20 weeks unless the state of Alabama or the federal government authorizes a benefit extension due to a high unemployment rate. For example, during the COVID pandemic, benefits were extended through programs like Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation (FPUC), Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA), and Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation (PEUC). These programs have expired and are no longer available.
Disaster Unemployment Assistance is available when the President of the United States declares a disaster in a specific region. Currently, Alabama does not offer any extended UI benefits.
If your Alabama unemployment claim is denied
If you are disqualified from receiving Alabama unemployment benefits, there are a few steps you can take. You can appeal the decision within 15 days of the date the determination was mailed to you, or 7 days if the decision was handed to you in person.
During the hearing, you can present evidence and arguments to support your claim for benefits. Additionally, you can seek assistance from an attorney or legal aid organization to help with the appeals process. If you are still denied benefits after the hearing, you may be able to appeal the decision to the Alabama Circuit Court. It’s important to understand the specific reasons why you were disqualified, as this may determine the best course of action for your appeal.
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