How to File for Unemployment in Arkansas
Updated July 2026
Quick Answer
In Arkansas, unemployment claims are filed through Division of Workforce Services. Most initial claims are processed within two to three weeks, though it can take longer if there's an issue with your claim.
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.
What You'll Need
- Social Security number
- Mailing and physical address, and phone number
- Last employer's name and address
- Government-issued ID for USPS or in-person identity verification
- Labor union name and number, if applicable
- Bank account and routing number for direct deposit
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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.
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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.
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3
Create your Arkansas LAUNCH account
Set up your account at launch.arkansas.gov, which becomes your hub for managing the claim going forward.
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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.
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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.
File Your Claim
Compare Other States
Unemployment rules, benefit amounts, and filing steps are set state by state. These share Arkansas's census region — useful if you're moving, or comparing how another state runs the program.
Helpful Guides
Unemployment Eligibility Requirements: Who Qualifies
The three tests every state uses to decide unemployment eligibility, and the separation reasons that typically help or hurt your claim.
Learn more →How Unemployment Benefits Work
A plain-English overview of how the joint federal-state unemployment insurance system works, from filing your first claim to your last payment.
Learn more →Unemployment Benefits for Self-Employed and Gig Workers
Regular unemployment insurance is built around W-2 payroll taxes, which is why freelancers and gig workers usually do not qualify — here is what does apply.
Learn more →Partial Unemployment Benefits: Working Part-Time While on Unemployment
Taking part-time work does not automatically end your unemployment claim — most states let you keep a reduced payment if you report your earnings correctly.
Learn more →