How to File for Unemployment in Arkansas

Arkansas's Division of Workforce Services lays out unemployment filing as an explicit five-step path, starting with the EZARC online system and ending with your first weekly certification through the state's LAUNCH platform. What sets Arkansas apart is the identity-proofing step: after you file, you verify who you are through Login.gov, at one of over 200 participating Arkansas post offices, or in person at a workforce center.

Updated July 2026

1. 1

   File your initial claim online

   Go to ezarc.adws.arkansas.gov (available Monday-Friday 6 a.m.-6 p.m. and Sunday 7 a.m.-6 p.m.) and complete the roughly 30-minute application; don't pause partway through since incomplete claims are only saved for 24 hours.

2. 2

   Prove your identity

   Use the Login.gov link on your confirmation page, present a government ID with the confirmation barcode at a participating USPS location, or visit an Arkansas Workforce Center in person.

3. 3

   Create your Arkansas LAUNCH account

   Set up your account at launch.arkansas.gov, which becomes your hub for managing the claim going forward.

4. 4

   File weekly certifications

   Certify every week you're unemployed through Arkansas LAUNCH, or by calling Arkline at (501) 907-2590; the UI week runs Sunday through Saturday, and there's a one-week waiting period before benefits are payable.

5. 5

   Choose how you'll get paid

   Set up direct deposit through LAUNCH, or you'll default to receiving a debit card in the mail — so keep your mailing address current.

Verified against the official Arkansas unemployment agency site. View source