When an Alabama resident loses his job or has a non-solicited reduction of hours, he can file a claim for unemployment benefits to the Alabama Department of Labor.
The Unemployment Compensation Division is responsible for giving financial assistance to those workers that prove to have no-fault on their job separation.
If this is your first time claiming for unemployment compensation (UC) in the state of Alabama, take a look at all the requirements and steps to follow.
Eligibility Criteria
Employment History and Status
To qualify for unemployment compensation in Alabama, you must have been separated from your job for a reason that is not your fault, whether you were fired or voluntarily quit.
The Alabama Department of Labor will investigate about this regard with you and your latest employers. If your claim does not qualify, you will receive a written notification on either a reduction, suspension, or denial of the benefits.
On the other hand, you must be actively seeking a job and be available, able, and willing to accept a full-time offer if it is suitable for you. Therefore, you cannot claim these benefits if you are in the hospital or have any condition that will not let you work.
Monetary Requirements
The unemployment compensation in Alabama is specifically for people that were already working. This means that you must have registered wages in at least two quarters of your based period.
Your based period will be the first four calendar quarters completed before the week of your initial claim file; the following chart will help you to calculate it.
First, find the month when you made your initial claim in the white column; then, the grey boxes on the left side will represent the quarters of your based period.
Required Documentation
Before start your application, you should have all the following information:
- Your Social Security number.
- Your driver’s license or state ID.
- Work history from the last 18 months (including your employers’ business names, addresses, telephone numbers, and dates of employment).
- Information and related documents for any federal civilian employment, military service, or work performed in another state in the past 18 months.
- If you are not a citizen of the United States, you must provide your alien registration card and work authorization.
- If you choose to have your payment deposited directly into your bank account, you must have your routing number and checking or savings account number.
- A telephone number where you can be reached during normal business hours, (8:00 AM – 4:30 PM, Monday – Friday).
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Application Process
Online
You can apply to get unemployment compensation benefits in the Alabama Department of Labor website.
- First, go to the “Unemployment” section, and click “File a Claim”.
- Select “Establish a New or Reopen a UC Claim” and click “Continue” at the bottom of the page.
- Read carefully all the information that is presented to you and click “Proceed” when you are ready.
- Then you will see the “Login Information” page, where you must complete the boxes with your data; answer the questions, and follow the prompts.
The website takes claims from Sunday at 12:01 am through Friday at 5 pm.
Telephone
You can also file your claim by calling the toll-free number: 1-866-2-FILE UC (1-866-234-5382), through a touch-tone telephone (mobile phones are not recommended). You will answer a few questions by pressing the phone numbers and then be transferred to a claims specialist.
This telephone system is available from Monday through Friday, from 8:00 AM until 4:30 PM (Central Time).
Once you complete the process you will receive a form to make your monetary determination according to your base period. Be very careful about this part, and ask for assistance to the Call Center Inquiry Line (800-361-4524), or visit www.labor.alabama.gov if you have any doubts.
Weekly Claim certification
Once you have completed your claim, the system will instruct you to make your Weekly Claim certification. According to Alabama’s legislation, this should be made every week by telephone or online.
Payment reception
The verification process may take between 2 o 3 weeks if everything is in order with your file. If you qualify, you will receive weekly payments of a minimum of $45 up to a maximum of $275 calculated according to your earnings in the based period.
This money will be directly deposited to your bank account or in an AL Vantage Prepaid Benefits Card.
COVID-19 related information
The Alabama Department of Labor is offering special benefits to individuals who normally would not qualify to receive compensation under the CARES Act. If you want to know more about this subject, click here.