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Visit an ARIZONA@WORK Job Center
If you are an unemployed worker who needs cash assistance while looking for a new job, you’ll need to fill out the Arizona unemployment insurance application to start your claim for benefits.
How to apply for Arizona unemployment benefits
Apply online
Applicants can apply for unemployment insurance benefits online by visiting azui.com and clicking “Apply for UI benefits” anytime between 12:00 a.m. on Sunday through 6:00 p.m. on Friday.
Apply by phone
People who don’t have an internet connection or who would like the assistance of a live representative can call the Arizona UI call center to apply for benefits by telephone.
Apply by mail
If you want to apply for UI benefits by fax or mail, you can visit des.az.gov/documents-center and download form UB-105. You will need to send this form to:
Fax:
- General: (602) 364-1210
- Phoenix: (602) 364-1211
- Tucson: (520) 770-3358
Mail:
Department of Economic Security
Unemployment Insurance Administration
MD 5895
PO Box 29225
Phoenix, AZ 85038-9225
Information needed to file for benefits
Before you file your initial unemployment claim, you will need to make sure you have the following information ready:
- Social Security number
- Mailing address and county of residence
- AZ Driver’s License or AZ state-issued ID number
- Employment history, including the names, addresses, and phone numbers of all employers you’ve had in the past 18 months
- Last day worked
- Amount you were paid (before deductions) and the date of any severance, vacation, holiday, or unused sick pay
- Name and number of your union hall, if applicable
- Start date and monthly amount of any pension (other than Social Security)
- Alien Registration Number if you’re not a citizen of the United States
- If you were released from the military within the last 18 months, a copy of your DD214 form
- If you were employed in federal civilian service within the last 18 months, a copy of your Standard Form 8 (SF8) “Notice to Federal Employees About Unemployment Insurance” or Standard Form 50 (SF50) “Notice of Personnel Action.”
After submitting your application for benefits
After you file your initial claim for Unemployment Insurance, you’ll receive some important information from the Arizona Department of Economic Services in the mail within about a week.
This will include:
- A Guide to Arizona Benefits (UIB-1240)
- A Wage Statement (UB-107)
- A Certificate of Understanding in English and Spanish (UB-99Y)
You’ll need to print out the Certificate of Understanding, sign it, and send it back to the address or fax number listed on the form. If the Arizona Department of Economic Services needs more information to process your claim, they’ll send you a questionnaire to fill out and return.
Verifying your identity for Arizona unemployment benefits
You will be asked to verify your identity using the ID.me system. ID.me is a safe and secure online service that verifies people’s identities. It’s available 24/7 and can be used on a computer, tablet, or smartphone.
The Arizona Department of Economic Security uses ID.me to make sure that only the real claimants are getting their unemployment insurance benefit, and not someone committing unemployment fraud by applying with a stolen identity.
What to do after submitting an initial application for Arizona unemployment insurance
In order to receive unemployment compensation, you must file a weekly claim to confirm you still meet the eligibility requirements. The Arizona Department of Economic Security also requires you to make work search contacts on four separate days of the week.
How to register for work
When you apply for Arizona unemployment insurance, you will automatically be registered with Arizona’s largest job database, Arizona Job Connection. This database allows you to create a resume, search for jobs, and get matched with companies that are hiring.
If there is a problem with your registration, you will receive a notice with steps to complete the process.
Why would a UI application be denied?
There are many reasons someone might be denied Arizona unemployment benefits, including:
- You quit your job without good cause or were fired for misconduct
- You are self-employed or an independent contractor
- You are not available or actively looking for work
- You did not earn enough wages during your base period
- You did not provide accurate information on your application or weekly certifications
- You refused suitable work or training opportunities offered by the unemployment department
- You are participating in unemployment fraud
What happens if my unemployment application is denied?
If your Arizona unemployment application is denied, you have the right to appeal the decision. Once your appeal is received, a hearing will be scheduled before an administrative law judge.
When will I start receiving UI benefits?
After you submit your initial application for benefits, you should receive your first unemployment payment within 10 business days, provided there are no eligibility issues. This is typically paid after you meet the waiting week and file your second weekly claim for benefits.
Visit our Arizona Unemployment Calculator to get an estimate of how much unemployment compensation you can receive each week.
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