The Arizona unemployment program provides financial compensation to people who have lost their job through no fault of their own. In order to receive these benefits, however, you must submit a weekly claim to verify that you are still unemployed, and meet the eligibility criteria for the week in question.
Continued weekly claims maintain unemployment eligibility
Once you submit your initial application for Arizona unemployment benefits, you will need to file a weekly UI claim outlining your income and work search activities for the week.
Weekly claim reports start on Sunday at 12:01 am and end the following Saturday at midnight. You must wait until the week is over before you can file.
When submitting your continued weekly claim, the Arizona Department of Economic Security will ask you:
- Were you physically and mentally able to work every day?
- Were you available to work?
- Did you actively search for work during the week?
- Did you turn down any job offers or work referrals during the week?
- Did you work or earn any money, even if you didn’t get paid yet? If yes, then:
- How much did you earn before taxes and other deductions?
- Are you still working now? If no, then:
- Was your job loss due to a lack of work or a reduction in force?
- What was the name of the company you separated from?
- When was your last day of work?
- Have you returned to full-time work?
- Did you start attending school or training during the week?
- Do you want to skip filing for the week because you didn’t meet the work search requirements?
You need to answer truthfully and confirm your answers. If any answer raises an eligibility issue, you will receive a message saying that your UI benefit cannot be paid at this time due to an unresolved issue, but it doesn’t mean you have been denied benefits. It is important to provide complete information to avoid being suspected of Arizona unemployment fraud.
Your answers will help determine your eligibility, and you must file a claim each week to keep your claim active – this includes weeks where you may not meet the eligibility requirements.
How to file weekly claims online
To file a weekly claim online, visit azuiinternetweeklyclaim.azdes.gov and click “File Your Weekly Claims.” Then, enter your information according to the instructions on the screen.
How to file weekly claims by fax or mail
If you can’t use the internet, you can call the claims office and request a form be mailed to you. Once you fill out the form, you will need to mail or fax it back to the information provided in your letter. Due to the extra wait for the form to arrive and be processed, you will receive your benefits later than if you use the internet.
How do I know if my continued claim was successfully submitted?
You will receive a confirmation once your weekly claim has been successfully submitted. However, you can check the status of your unemployment claim by clicking “View Claim Info” from the File Your Weekly Claim portal.
You can also check the status of a claim by calling the Telephone Information and Payment System. This automated line is available 24 hours per day, seven days per week, and can tell you everything from the latest payment you received, information about the last week you filed, and the remaining balance on your current claim.
If you were not eligible for a weekly benefit, the line can also tell you why your UI claim was denied. At this point, you have the right to file an appeal and request a hearing.
How to collect payment
If you are eligible for UI benefits, you will be enrolled in the Way2Go electronic payment card program automatically. You should receive a Way2Go debit card by mail within a week after your initial application is processed, provided you meet the requirements. Your debit card will not have any money until your first benefit payment has been processed. You can estimate your weekly benefit amount by using the Arizona unemployment calculator.
Can I move funds to my personal checking or savings account?
Yes. If you wish to have your unemployment benefits deposited into your personal checking or savings account, you can set up a transfer of funds by visiting and creating an account with goprogram.com.
You can also fill out an Agreement for Direct Deposit form and submit it to the Arizona Department of Economic Security.
Who do I call if I haven’t received payment?
If you looked online or called to check your UI claim information and noticed that a payment was issued but you haven’t received it yet, you must contact the Way2Go card call center at 1-833-915-4041. If you opted to have your unemployment compensation deposited into your personal banking account, you will need to call your bank’s customer service hotline.
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