If you live in Arkansas and need to claim unemployment benefits, the website you should visit is www.arkansas.gov/esd. This website is the website for the Arkansas Department of Workforce Services.
The Arkansas Department of Workforce Services maintains the state records on unemployment insurance, so that the state can keep track of who is receiving unemployment checks and for how long. This is important because you can only collect unemployment benefits for a maximum of 26 weeks, although recent changes in law may now allow an extension of up to 20 additional weeks.
Furthermore, in order to collect unemployment checks, you have to demonstrate that you have been involuntarily fired (i.e. did not quit the job by choice), and that you are actively looking for a new job or attending approved schooling and training. This means that you may have to report your job search or training efforts and contacts on a weekly basis in order to continue your eligibility for unemployment benefits.
Lastly, the Department of Workforce Services also needs to have paperwork documenting your last drawn salary in order to calculate the amount of benefits to which you are entitled.
Because the process of applying for unemployment benefits complex and can be confusing, the Department has also created a centralized online site where you can access all the information regarding unemployment claims. You can access this site by clicking on the “Unemployment Services” section off the main page, and then on the “Claim Help” section. The very first document you should is the “UI Handbook”, which is a collection of very important information about the unemployment insurance program, including who is eligible and for how long. The first few pages also have a list of the addresses and phone numbers of the Department of Workforce Services local offices. This list is essential if you prefer to talk to a live person with you questions instead of slogging through a thick stack of information.
So if you are an Arkansas resident who needs help in claiming unemployment benefits, http://www.arkansas.gov/esd is one of the most important sites to visit.