How to File for Unemployment in Alabama
How to apply for unemployment in Alabama, what you need, and what you must do each week to keep getting benefits.
Short answer: File online through the Claimant Portal at workforce.alabama.gov or by phone at 1-866-234-5382, Monday to Friday, 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Central. Alabama Department of Workforce, Unemployment Guidebook (Benefit Rights and Responsibilities)
| How to apply | File online through the Claimant Portal at workforce.alabama.gov or by phone at 1-866-234-5382, Monday to Friday, 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Central. Have your Social Security number, driver's license or state ID, alien registration card if applicable, full information on your last two employers, and bank details for direct deposit. File as soon as you become unemployed; claims are not backdated. File a weekly certification online or by phone between 12:01 a.m. Sunday and 5:00 p.m. Friday (Central) each week. |
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| Earnings needed to qualify | The base period is the first four of the last five completed calendar quarters before you file. You must have insured wages in at least two quarters of the base period, the average of your two highest quarters must meet the minimum set by law, and your total base period wages must be at least 1.5 times your highest-quarter wages. |
| Work search requirements | You must actively look for work each week you claim benefits (unless told the requirement is waived) and report your work search contacts on each weekly certification. Alabama residents must register with the Alabama Career Center (online at AlabamaWorks or in person) and keep the registration active; it expires after 90 days unless renewed. You should log in to AlabamaWorks or visit a Career Center at least once a week to log work search activities. |
| Logging in and filing weekly claims | Alabama unemployment claims are handled through the Department of Workforce (formerly the Alabama Department of Labor) UI Claimant Portal, where unemployed workers file a new claim, file weekly certifications and get information on their claim. Portal address linked from the agency page: https://uiclaimantportal.labor.alabama.gov/Home. General department line: (334) 309-9000. |
Where to get help in Alabama
More Alabama unemployment benefits
- Logging In to Your Alabama Unemployment Claim
- Unemployment for Self-Employed and Gig Workers in Alabama
- Unemployment After Being Fired in Alabama
- Unemployment After Quitting in Alabama
- How Much Unemployment Pays in Alabama
- All Alabama unemployment benefits rules
FAQ
How do I apply for unemployment in Alabama?
File online through the Claimant Portal at workforce.alabama.gov or by phone at 1-866-234-5382, Monday to Friday, 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Central. Have your Social Security number, driver's license or state ID, alien registration card if applicable, full information on your last two employers, and bank details for direct deposit. File as soon as you become unemployed; claims are not backdated. File a weekly certification online or by phone between 12:01 a.m. Sunday and 5:00 p.m. Friday (Central) each week.
How much do you need to have earned to get unemployment in Alabama?
The base period is the first four of the last five completed calendar quarters before you file. You must have insured wages in at least two quarters of the base period, the average of your two highest quarters must meet the minimum set by law, and your total base period wages must be at least 1.5 times your highest-quarter wages.
What are the work search requirements for unemployment in Alabama?
You must actively look for work each week you claim benefits (unless told the requirement is waived) and report your work search contacts on each weekly certification. Alabama residents must register with the Alabama Career Center (online at AlabamaWorks or in person) and keep the registration active; it expires after 90 days unless renewed. You should log in to AlabamaWorks or visit a Career Center at least once a week to log work search activities.
Where do I log in to my unemployment claim in Alabama?
Alabama unemployment claims are handled through the Department of Workforce (formerly the Alabama Department of Labor) UI Claimant Portal, where unemployed workers file a new claim, file weekly certifications and get information on their claim.
General legal information, not legal advice. Laws change and local rules can differ; check the linked official source or talk to a lawyer about your situation.