• Unemployment

  • ARKANSAS DIVISION OF WORKFORCE SERVICES

    Employers Shared Work Unemployment Compensation Information and Application here.

    New Links to apply for unemployment, file weekly claim, updates for self-employed and more here.

    Job Search https://www.arjoblink.arkansas.gov  and  NeedAJobNow.usNLx.com

    New Update for self-employed  Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) Now Open! File here today or call 1-833-920-1699 to get directly to an agent. Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) is a program under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act of 2020 that provides temporary income to eligible individuals who became unemployed as a result of the novel COVID-19 pandemic and are either self-employed, do not have sufficient work history to be eligible for a claim, or have exhausted other forms of unemployment insurance benefits. It is funded by the federal government, not by state unemployment taxes paid by employers.

    Self-employed workers, freelancers and others newly eligible for unemployment insurance benefits can sign up to receive direct notice of when their application procedure is ready here.

    Secretary of Commerce Mike Preston said federal money will be available for freelancers, independent contractors and other self-employed Arkansans. However, the state will need to build a new system to process the claims, which will take around three weeks. “We just received our guidance from the federal Department of Labor on this on Sunday night, and what it’s going to require us to do is to build an entire new system to be able to process and handle these types of claims,” Preston said. “Arkansas is not unique in this; every state is going through the same process.” That funding will come from the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) program, which is part of the $2 trillion federal CARES Act, Preston said. Though those funds will be delayed, Arkansans will be able to receive payments back-dated to when anyone's loss of employment began.

    Watch the Governors daily update, where Mike Preston discusses PUA claims process. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NycGkHbx4s0

    Please note, the office is experiencing all time highs in filings. Delays should be expected. As they have gone from 1,000 claims a week to 30,000 claims a week. 

    UNEMPLOYMENT

    You can file online for unemployment at https://www.ezarc.adws.arkansas.gov/.  Then call the office AT 501-268-8601 for further instructions.
    By phone by calling  1-844-908-2178 from 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. 

    If at all possible try to file online or through the phone line. You can connect the Searcy Office during normal business hours 8:00AM to 4:30PM.

    Those going in to the office should try to practice social distancing.

    Searcy Office 501-268-8601  /  AR Rehab Services 501-268-4542  /  WIOA 501-305-7225   /   TEA 501-268-8601  / RESEA 501-268-8601  /  Unemployment 501-268-8601

    For more information about how to file.

    Job Search https://www.arjoblink.arkansas.gov  and  NeedAJobNow.usNLx.com

     

  • A Natural Fit.