How to file for unemployment in Arkansas
The fastest way to file for unemployment in Arkansas is online through Arkansas Division of Workforce Services (DWS) at www.ezarc.adws.arkansas.gov. Arkansas pays up to $451 per week, has one unpaid waiting week before benefits begin, and regular state benefits run up to 12 weeks. File the week your job ends, since claims generally do not backdate, and choose "laid off / no fault" as your reason.
HOW MUCH YOU CAN GET
Up to $451 / week
About half your average weekly wage during your past year of work, up to the cap.
Minimum: $81/week. Effective July 2026. Your exact amount comes from your wage history; Arkansas Division of Workforce Services (DWS) calculates it when you file.
OFFICIAL STATE PORTAL
Arkansas Division of Workforce Services (DWS)
File your claim in Arkansas
Official site: www.ezarc.adws.arkansas.gov
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Arkansas unemployment at a glance
Agency
Arkansas Division of Workforce Services (DWS)
Official portal
www.ezarc.adws.arkansas.gov
Ways to file
Online · In person
Max weekly benefit
$451/week
Waiting week
One unpaid waiting week
Max benefit weeks
Up to 12 weeks
Initial claims are filed online through the EZARC (Easy Arkansas Claims) portal or in person at a local Workforce Center; weekly certifications can also be filed by phone via ArkLine (501-907-2590).
File in the state where you worked, not where you live. Worked in more than one? Start with the agency where you live now.
Filing is always free. No real state or federal program charges a fee to file. If a site asks for payment, it's a scam.
How to file, step by step
1
Gather your documents (see the checklist below) before you start.
2
Go to the official state portal: www.ezarc.adws.arkansas.gov.
3
Create an account and complete any identity verification the state requires.
4
File your initial claim. For the separation reason, choose "laid off / no fault," not "fired" or "quit."
5
Then certify each week (answer the weekly questions) to keep benefits coming, and set up direct deposit.
What to have ready
Your Social Security number and a government photo ID.
Employer details for the last 18 months: each company's name, address, and your dates there.
The reason you left each job. For this one, that's "laid off / no fault," not "fired" or "quit."
Your most recent pay stubs and last year's W-2.
Bank routing + account number, if you want benefits paid by direct deposit.
Arkansas unemployment FAQ
How do I file for unemployment in Arkansas?
File online through Arkansas Division of Workforce Services (DWS) at www.ezarc.adws.arkansas.gov. Have your Social Security number, photo ID, and 18 months of employer details ready, and choose "laid off / no fault" as your reason for leaving. You can also file by in person.
How much is unemployment in Arkansas?
Arkansas pays up to $451 per week. About half your average weekly wage during your past year of work, up to the cap. Figure effective July 2026; confirm your exact amount with Arkansas Division of Workforce Services (DWS) when you file.
Does severance affect unemployment in Arkansas?
Under Ark. Code 11-10-517, a separation (severance) payment disqualifies the claimant for the number of weeks after separation equal to the number of weeks of wages the payment represents (armed-forces severance and back pay excepted), after which full benefits are available. File the week your job ends either way and answer the portal's questions honestly; the agency applies the rule. (Researched July 2026; confirm current treatment with Arkansas Division of Workforce Services (DWS).)
Is there a waiting week for unemployment in Arkansas?
Arkansas: one unpaid waiting week. A waiting week is an unpaid first week of a claim; where it applies you still file and certify during it.
How many weeks of unemployment can I get in Arkansas?
Arkansas pays regular state benefits for up to 12 weeks. Federal extensions can change this in a downturn; confirm the current rule with Arkansas Division of Workforce Services (DWS).
Official references
How unemployment insurance works (US DOL)
Plain-language overview of eligibility, the unpaid waiting week, and weekly certification.
Unemployment is taxable (IRS Topic 418)
Benefits count as income. Consider asking Arkansas to withhold so tax time isn't a surprise.
Keep going
The unemployment guide
Waiting weeks, weekly certification, and the timing that trips people up.
Not your state? See all states
The official place to file in every other state.
Reviewed July 2026. State rules change; confirm the current waiting week and benefit weeks on the official Arkansas portal (www.ezarc.adws.arkansas.gov) before you rely on them.